American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-17
GEN. RAWLINGS'S SPEECH |!
Gen. Grants Views Reflected !!
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
[Yrom the Chicago Tribune.


the present condition of political affairs
This speech has peculiar significance
General Rawlings is the Chief of Staff to
General Grant. He was Gen. Grants
personal friend, and Chief of Staff du,
ring the entire war. He shares the con-
fidence Of the General of the army more
than any other man in the country, and
he merits that confidence because of his
ability as soldier and an executive
officer The speech of General Rawl>
ings is careful and deliberate review,,of
the political history of the last six years,
and, while it will excite especial interest
as coming from gentleman Of his stand
ing and attainments, it will not be less
interesting when accepted by the public
as an exposition, to some extent, OF the
views and opinions of General Grant,
General Rawlings's speech will be
welcomed BY every Republican and Union
man, North and South, who wishes order
and peace restored on right principles,
the Union once more in harmonion oper'
alton, and civil and political equality
enjoyed by the whole people freely, and
without partiality or obstruction. 1t is
the voice of the army calling for that
peace and union which its valor conquer
ed, and for the extinction OF every trace
of the rebellion whose armed force it
subdued. Il afirms
1. The power and duty Of Congress
and the President as the law making
power to protect and guard the Ameri>
can Union, and to preserve inviola'e the
Republican form of the National and
State Governments, and the rights, lib
critics and property of this whole people.
2. That the condition of the country
after the close of the war, and the refusal
of the provisional or temporary governs
ments to secure and protect the rights
and liberties of the freedmen, demanded
of Congress the enactment of the Civil
Rights Bill without which these people
would have remained subject to all the
disabilities, with none of the protection
of slavery.
3. That the rebellion was undertaken
to establish a Government having as its
basis the perpetuity of human slavery.
That in dealing with the rebellion the
United States, with great forbearance,
during nearly three years, omitted to
strike slavery, as it might have done, and
then when it did so, it destroyed the
chattel character of the slave made him
a full freeman. and as such, entitled to
an equality in political and civil rights
with all other freemen. To have given
the negroes freedom, without political
equality, would have exhibited the
anomaly Of four millions of freemen,
neither citizens nor aliens, subject to the
flaws and yet not entitled to their full
protection. ..-.
a. That the governments instituted by
the President in the rebel States, having
failed in almost every essential to adapt
their constitutions to the republican fern
made necessary by the change in the
political character of SO many millions
Of the people of those States, 1t was the
duty Of Congress to inquire into these:or-
CARNATIONS, and, finding them both ille-
gal and anti>repubhcan, to refuse them
representation. That it was in the power
and it was the duty Of Congress to sweep
from existence any and all governments
in any States which were anti-republican,
ms these governments in the rebel States
were, and to provide for the establishs
ment of other governments therein, on
the basis of republican equality.
s. That Congress was correct In its
decision that any governments in these
States denying suffrage to all freemen,
without distinction of race or color, were
illegal and anti-republican, and is justi-
fed in denying representation to those
States until they do grant suffrage to the
people without such distinctions.
6. The right of suffrage is the only
secure means by which any person can
protect his liberty, and that it cannot be
denied to the colorcd people, who, in
most Of the States, if no, all, constitute
the majority of those who proved stead>
fast to the Union, and fought in the
ranks of its armies, without denial of
The republican principles upon which the
Government is founded.
Z. That the Coustitutional Amend
msnt proposed by the last Congress, was
an indis pensable necessity created by tho
war; that Congaess did right in propo-
sing it, and In making its ratification a
prerequisite Of the recognition of any
Government in the rebel States. That
the amendment in all its parts-the dec
laration of citizenship, the limitation of
representation of those admitted to suf-
frage, the inviolability of the national
debt, the reputation of the rebel debt,
the disfranchisement of those rebels who
had added official perjury to treason
was wise and just, and of its necessity
there can be no doubt.
8. That the Reconstruction Acts of
the last Congress were the result of
wise exercise Of the unquestionable power
of the Law making branch of the Gov
ernmeut that the military provisions Of
the acts are no more violations of liberty
than the employment of the army for the
suppression Of the rebellion, and that the
South must accept the situation fully and
unreservedly. 1a1
0. That reconstruction and restoration
of the whole Union are emincntly desi-
rable; that it must be accomplished be-
fore there can be full return to all the
blessings of a wise and economical admin
;etration of the affairs of the Govern.