The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-01-10

tONN py tht N'u'lNtlluNlOl, luCluGlUS even
those of property and life, the work Of
restoration for these States rests with
the National Government, and it should
be faithfully and learlcssly performed.
BY their passage by Congress, and
the declaration OF the people at the iatc
elections, the faith Of the nation is pledg.
ed to the amendments, and they will be
fairly carried out, and the benefits given
to the rebelliou5 States. But when the
amendments shall have passed into the
organic law, should the people lately in
rebellion persist in their rejection, and
in continued disobedence, aud the ob.
struction of the execution of the Nation
al laws, it will be an admonition to the
nation that the uRiRags and force OF
treason still exist among a people who
enjoy none Of the privileges of the Coy
ernment save OF its generous tolerance.
With their rejection, all hope Of recon-
struction, with the corporation Of the
rebellious States, on the basis that would
secure to the Republic the logical results
Of the war will have vanished, and the
duty must then devolve upon the Gov
ernment, Of adopting the most ef'ectual
method to secure for those States, the
character OF governments demanded by
the Constitution.
They are without lawful governments
they are without municipal law, and
without any claim to participate in the
Government.
Ga what principle Of Jaw or justice
can the rebr.,;aas States complain, if. af
ter they have rejected the fair and mag
unanimous terms upon which they are Of
feled brotherhood with us, and o parti-
cipatio1 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 re,
construction at the very foundation ? and
then the necessity will be iorcel upon
US to discard all discrimination in favor
of 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
insurrection, by war, if necessary. 1t
has not provided, in detail, the terms to
be granted alter such Il war. How could
il do so? 1t would PROBABLY not be
contended By the widest partisan, that
these States had right to be represen-
ted in Congress ut time when they
were carrying on open war against the
government or that Congress was not
then a lawful body, Notwithstanding
their exclusion. How then have they
regained the right of representation q?
Surely not by simply laying down their
arms when they could no longer hold
them. The Upitel States have the
right, and it i, their duty, to exact such
securities for future GOOD conduct as
they may deem Sufficient, and the often
ders, from whom they are to be exacted,
can have no right to participate, in our
councils in the decision of the question
of what their punishment shall be.
Practically, common sense deterrainci
the question of their right 50 to partici.
pate, when Congress proceeded in the
enactment Of laws, after the surrender
Of the last rebel military force. 1t was
determined again, when the now pend,
ing amendments were proposed by Con-
gress. If two thirds OF Congress, as
now constituted, could lawfully propose
these amendments, then three-tourths of
the States, not excluded from rcprescn-
tation in Con lress. from a sufficient ma,
jovity to effect their lawful adoption.
1t was determined again by the formal
sanction of both the great political par
ties, when Congress by an all1ost unan-
imous vote, declared the rebellious
States without the right Of representa-.
tion in the Electoral College of 1864.
We ought to 20 on iesoutely and rap.
idly with all measures deemed necessary
to the future safety Of the country, so
that all parts OF it may, at the earliest
day, be restored to just and equal polti-
cal privileges,
The annual report of Hon. Thomas
H. Burrowes, Superintendent of the
and education of the sol,
iiers' orphans, will exhibit the present
condition and the result thus far of that
Nearly three thousand of |
he destitute children of the bravo men |
who laid down their lives that the nation
might live, are now not on y comfortably |
provided for and gulrded frOm tempta-
ion, but are living an education
which will hit them to repair the care of |
he State.
The appropriation made for this pur-
pose, at the last session, has been sufIi
,ient to meet all expenses of the fnan. |
,ial year just closed Aud I recommend |
whatever appropriation may be necessary
o continue and perfect the system under
which the schools are conducted.
There can be no doubt that the appro-
,riation will be made. Were TO select
my State interest which would more
warmly commend to your prompt atten.