The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-27


81 from April LIST to May LIST are Geo. Stubbs and
lady, Mr.. and Mrs. John Marshall Brown, Geo
II. Halves, Thomas S. Lang and wife, +. W
Libby and wife, Miss j. Il. Libby, Miss A. G.
Castro, G. H. Blake and wife, w. A. Blake.
ALPHEUs.
An Address TO the People of the South
BY THE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN COM
MTEE.
The Congressional Republican Committee
have just issued an address to the Southern
people, entitled ''rhe Policy of Congress in
Reference to the Restoration of the Union -
The two reconstruction acts are prefixed to
the address, which is said TO have been writ
ten by Gov Boutwell, of Massachusetts,. Sew.
eral hundred thousand of these documents
have been printed for distribution at the South.
The committee represents various sections
of the dominant party in Congress, and its de-
hberate statement of the purposes of that party
must be accepted as authentic. 1t is encour-
aging to find in this address so forcible a pre-.
sentation Of the necessity of educating the en-
franchized population of the South. The decla-
ration, that f the people of the States lately in
rebellion shall cheerfully and in good faith
organize their governments upon the princi-
pies of the laws passed by Congress, there will
then remain no causes of difference between
the various sections of the country" is as ex-
plicit a rejection of the project of sweeping
confscation introduced by Mr. Stevens, as
could be expected in a document OF this kind
We copy the address
The preceding acts of Congress (meaning
the two Reconstruction acts) We're designed
as measures of benefcence and restoration. and
not of revenge or punishment. They are
me assures looking to the restoration of the
Union in the spirit OF justice and equality
Slavery has passed away, aud it only remains
J TO destoy its spirit and to crush institu-
tons which it established and nurtured The
republican party expects and desires the res
tOration OF the Union, but upon such terms
and conditions only as shall render it impos-
slble tor its enemies to renew the civil war or
to involve the country in sectional strife 1t
will b. true to its friends in the South, with
out regard to color previous condition The
republican party is the party of freedom and
progress; it is It's purpose to aid in securing
for the South freedom of speech, a free press,
and system of tree schools. These desirable
results will be sought through tho action OF
Congress as far as possible, but our main reli-
apce must be upon the wisdom and virtue of
the people of the respective STATES.
BY the acts of the I'd of March and the Sd of
nudTCH LOU, pTONlsOu is 1naue 1Or the oQIOV-
ment of the right of voting by all male citi-
zens of q years of age, except those who have
been convicted of feiony--and small class OF
rebels who are excluded from office by the
proposed amendment to the Constitution of
the United States. The negroes of the Soutb
by the measures of the republican party, as
expressed in the acts of Congress are elevated
to the full and equal rights of
CT tizens of the States to which they
belong, and of the country which
hereafter will recognize no distinction on ac-
count of race or color. The nation is indebted
to the negro race for services rendered durino
the late war. The negro race is indebted to
the country, controlled in its policy by the re-
publican party, for the emancipation of the
race from slavery, and now by these acts OF
Congress, for its elevation of position Of
equality. From these reciprocal services arise
mutual Obligations and the nation can no long
err hesitate. 1t will at once and freely, CON
cede to the colored race every political and
public right that is enjoyed by any class OF
citizens. The negroes, on their side, cannot
hesitate to support the party and principles by
whose labors and influence their redemption
has been accomplished Thus, by this natural
and necessary union Of forces in the South,
and throughout the whole country peace pro-
gress and prosperity are secured
Nor is there in these suggestions any food
Tor hostility between the races. The wants OF
black man and the wants of white man are
precisely the same Their interests are the
classes. The laboring man, whether white or
black, needs the protection of law; he needs
the ballot as means by which he secures
equal laws and the just administration of them
BY the ballot he rebukes or rejects unfaithful
servants; by the ballot he arraigns and con-
dennis corrupt or tyrannical Judges: by the
ballot he organizes and maintains schools for
the education of his children and inspires the
police and magistrates with due respect for his
personal and family rights.
While the measures of COnprac avfand tb;a
great right TO new and numerous class of
men, there is no invasion of the rights of 9th
ers.l The white people of the South, with few
exceptions comparatively, are to enjoy the same
Just and equal political rights and privileges
Freedom has gwen to the North uuexampled
prosperity and constantly increasing wealth
and power; freedom and free institutions will
secure for the South the same results. But
there must be cooperation of the races, and
there must be cooperation upon the principles
which prevail in the North, and to which the
republican party is fully committed For more
than 2O0 years the Slaveholdino aristocracy of
the South originated its policy and controlled
us destimes The result is seen in its exhaust
ed and barren fields; in the condition of its Ia
boring people, white and black; in the relativ.
poverty OF the Inhabitants of all classes; in the
absence OF public schools, of commerce, of
lanulactures, and of an enlightened system OF
aI ~ tn. we then earnestly invite and i'm
plore the people of the South, of all classes-
nrst, TO accept the plan of universal suffrage
az the pasls OF political, educational and in
dnstrlal prosperity and power. The black man
WI soon prove mat he is more to the State as
a citizen than he was as a slave The Jahora,
whether black or white, with aancat;nn III
culture, vii elevate and enrich the comu,pn;t
which in bis Ignorance he dishonored and Lnr,
dened. ''t w.
Secondly, upon the basis of un;yer,o, ,,,s
frage, we urge the people of the south to d;-
rect their efforts to the establishment and
maintenance of system of public schools for
the education of the children of all classes
Finally, public policy should stimulate the la
boring people to become landholders. The
owners of large estates should divide and sub
divide their lands, and sell them at reasonable
rates to those who need them and who can i'm
prove them. In the South there is land
enough Tor all, and all who desire should be
permitted to obtain homes. This il common
human night, which cannot be denied with
fety to society," "
In these measures Of justice we expect and
snail welcome the aid of many who formerly
T we're slaVenoiders, and participated in the re-
peIloh' by the acts herewith presented II
Will be seen that Congress reserves To ;tseif
1e luIl and unrestricted right of iudgment
whenever State presents itself for sd,n;ss;o
into the Union. That right will be exercisod
la. ian ~ anu generously. But yet, in the inter
est Oh peace ana loyalty, certain conditions and
precedents are laid down in laws These mnst
be met. But beyond these conditions Cnnl ,ase
must be sats1ed also that the people Of tbo
proposed otdIeS are, ana are likely ia ha lovoJ
to The Union, by decisive and trustwor ri, ioyal
jorities; that the institutions are framed mon nl
the basis of equality, and that they will, rom
year to year, and from age to age, contribute f.
the peace, progress and prosperity of the States
and of the country, III
If the people OF the States lately in rebellion
shall eheerlully and in good faith reorganize
their governments upon the principles of the
laws passed by Congress, there will then re-
man no causes of difference between various
sections Of country The republican party is
nostile TO slavery and opposed to its spirit and
PURPOSES If the spirit of slavery is permitted
70 70 cSllut9l the institutions and civilization of
M Ifle SOUTH i mere can be no restoration of the
onion IN lact, If there should be in name. The
restoration of the Union means the astol.,;sI
m me OF those relations of friendship between
now subsist between the States of the Nj mi'n
When that moment arrives, as it will soon a.
rive ifthe purposes of Congress are met i; ar
proper spirit by the people of the South "a "a d
nation will at once employ its immense rue
sources and power for the development of ii at
region OF country, and in short period of go