The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-30

To the Senate:
| l have received and given due considera>
ton to the joint resolutions adopted BY the
General Assembly relative to Federal leeisia'
ton Affecting injurionsly the State md ~
people Of Loaisana, and providing means 9!
projection and redress against the same, ana
the acts Of any officers or agents of said Gov.
eminent, or of sny, other person, or OF any
State. The nmble TO tnese resolutions as.
sumes 10 pronounce, in the name of the peo-
pie of the State, that the law recently enact
ed by Congress, entitled Gan act for the
more efficient government of the rs6el
States, y 10 aneeRsttn.i onal, oppressive. sad
| injurious to them, and on that foundation
goes on to provide for the appointment OF .
committee CT persons whose duty il shall be
10 lake The necessary steps 10 teet The eensti-
nationality of the said law before the courts,
and appropriates thirty thousand dollars for
that purpose.
| In returning these resolutions, though |
may differ with the Legislature in its denun-
Citations Of the law, yet do not deem 1t nee
esssry 10 enter into an argument on these
points. II may be proper, however, for me
to state that DO not regard the law uncon-
ssitutional, oppressive and injurious TO the
people OF this State. This is q matter Of
mere opinion, and eencede to the people
the largest latitude to think a. they please
upon the subject. The question OF resistance
10 the law is another matter. On this point
must take issue with the resolutions. II
the tone Of the public press in Louisiana, As
well as other Southern States, and the opin>
ions Of prominent public men ~ promulga-
ted, are 10 bs taken as an index Of public
sentiment, am warranted IN coming to the
conclusion that there 10 not only no intention
a. f.t. .t.t - "a. ,ut
anee to the law, but ,hey intend honestly 10
accept the law, and will proceed to reorgan-
ize the State IN accordance with It's provls-
ions.
The sober, second thought OF the people
has convinced them that il is their true policy
TO accept the terms offered by Congress in
the bin. instead OF engaging in wrangling and
vain resistance TO the sovereign will and
power of the nation, which might have justly
imposed on o rehelious and conquered PEG.
pie additional guarantees for the security Of
the peace ofthe country. The DISTINGUISHING
clause OF the law, which, when presented in
the form Of an amendment to the ConstItu-
ton Of the United States for adoption by ske
several States. invoked suca fierce dennbcia-
ton from the Southern press and politicians,
upon investigation proves TO be most lib,
eral feature of the bill, as compared 10
Numerous exceptions contained in the general
amnesty proclamation of May 90 1865, aud
tit is q matter for surprise that the people
should have been deuded so long.
Believing as do that the people of the
Soath have been at last awakened TO q true
sense Of their political situation, and that
they intend to accept and carry out in good
faith the terms offered in the Congressional
bill, cannot approve the JOINT resolutions
H. l. =.
the people to resistance, but involves large
expenditure of money, which, if it ever
reached that point it is plain TO be foreseen,
would result in nothing.
J. MADISON WELLS.
Governor of Louisiana