American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-01-09


ands of millions of tr assure, would be
rewarded by giving .hem vast increase
of political power. This absurdity. the
second clause of the proposed amend
\ ments designs to prevent, by the just,
equal and moderate provision, that in fu-
ture, the representative population of each
State shall lie ascertained by making
proportiohate deduction from the whole
popa1ation thereof, if its laws exclude
from the privilege of voting any male
citizens, or criminals, of the age of twen-
ty-one years. | have yet to learn that
any plausible objection can be offered to
such provision.
The third clause ofthe proposed amend
nends excludes from Congress, and from
the College of Electors, and from all Of
6cers, civil and military, of the United
States, or of any State, persons who, as
funetiouaries Of the United States, or as
Executive or Judicial officers of any
State, have heretofore sworn to support
the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards violated their oath by en-
gazing in rebellion against the same, un-
less Congress, by vote of two-thirds,
shall have removed the disability of any
such persons.
The fourth clause afirms the validity
Of the debt of the United States, and
prohibits the assumption or payment of
the rebel debt, or of any claims for the
loss or emancipation of any slave.
The fifth clause provided chat Con-
gress shall hsye power to enforce The pro-
visions of the other clauses ty aPpropri-
ate legislation.
That these wise apd moderate provis-
ions will meet the hearty appreciation of
the Legislature, | cannot doubt. Ifpro.
posed by two thirds Of each House OF
Congress and ratified by three fourths of
the Legislatures Of the States, the Con-
stitutiou provides that they should stand
as adopted amendments Of tht instrq-
ment.
A question has been raised whether
the States lately in rebellion, and not yet
restored to their privileges by Congress,
are to be counted on this vote-in other
words, whether those yko, have rebelled
and been subdued shall be entitled to a
potential voice in the question of the
guarantees to be required Of them for
future obedience to the laws. So mon
strous proposition is. it appears to me,
not supported by the words or spirit of
the Constitution. The power to sup.
press insurrection, includes the power of
making provision against its breaking out
afresh. These States have made an un>
just war upon our common Government
and their sister States, and the power
given by the Constitution to make war
on our part, includes the power to disi
tate, after our success, the terms of.pcace
and restoration. g
The powes Of Congress TO guarantee to
every State a Republican form of Coy,
ernmeut, would cover much more cogent
action than has yet been made.
The duty imposed upon Congress, to
provide and maiutain Republican Cow
ernments for the States, is to be accepted
in the broadcst meaning Of the term. 1t
is not mere formal or unnecessary pro-
vision. The power was conferred, and
the duty eRjoined, to free institutions
against all encroachments or the more vi
olent elements of despotism and sasrchy.
An now that treason has, BY rebellion,
subverted the governments of number
of States, forteitiug for the people ali'the
rights guaranteed by the Constitution,in.
cluding even those of property and life,
the work Of restoration for these States
rests with the National Govern m , IN
it should be faithfully aud fear.essiy per-
formed
by their passage by Congress, and the
declaration of the people at the late cleo
tions, the faith of the Nation is pledged
to i6s amendments, and they will be fairs
ly carried out, and their benefits given to
the rebellious States But when the
amendments shall have passed into the
organic law. should the people lately in
rebellion persist in their rejectian, and in
continued disobedlenco, and the obstruc-
tion Of the execution of the national laws,
it will be an admonitiou to the Nation
that the anin,us and force Of treason still
exist among a people who ENJOY Dobe Of
the privileges Of the Goyermhent, save
of its generous tolerance. With their
rejection, all hope of reconstruction, with
the cooperation Of the rebellious States,
on basis that would secure to the Re
public the logical results of the war, will
have vanished, and the duty must then
devolve upoE the Government, ofa dopt-
ing the most effectual method to secure
for those States the character of Govern
ments demanded by the Constitution.
They are without lawful governments
they are without municipal law, and
without any claim to participate in the
government.
On what prinsiple of law or justice
can the rebellious States complain; if, af>
ter they have rejected the fair and .psg
unanimous terms upon which they are off.
cred brotherhood with Us, aud a partici-
patton in all the blessings of our free
dom, and they have refused, if the gov
ernment, in the exercise of its powers,
should enter anew upon the work of rs.s
construction at the very foundation? and
then the necessity will be forced upon us
to discard all discrimination in favor ofI
the enemies of our nationality, to give
US and them enduring freedom and i'm
partial justice.
The Constitution has defined treason,
and has given express power to suppress
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