The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-01-10

of the Southern Confederacy, Jefferson Da-
Wis, while he remained in the Senate of the
United States and until his State passed her
ordinance of secession, made as patriotic
and earnest efforts to have the difficulties of
the country adjusted and prevent disunion
as any man in the American Stateo at the
time.
Now, sir, suppose that the Southern peo-
pie were wrong in the action which they
took, and that it was both inexpedient and
unauthorized, yet this does not justify you
in the past and the intended treatment of
the excluded States If they erred in the
attempt to carry their States out of the
Union, is that sufficient reason why now.
the hostile spirit engendered by the war
should be continued? Now, when peace is
restored, Why should we not endeavor by
every possible means to restore peace to the
country " Ah," say you, # we do not
keep these people muzzled-if we do not de-
ny them any share or influence in the Gov
ernment refuse them their share of repre-
sentation in the Halls of Congress, our party
predominance will pass away" That is the
fear Now, is that motive by which
statesmen should be influenced? Our object
should be peace-a peaceable reunion of the
States-or rather union of them, because
deny that the Union has ever been divi-
dcd; deny that any of the States have
ever been destroyed. There can be no such
thing as Reconstruction" unless there has
been structure demolished. The name of
the committee who seems to- have charge of
this whole subject is therefore not appropri-
ate. There is no reason or necessity for any
committee on reconstruction, because there
is nothing to reconstruct. The Union has
been preserved. Certain States that att
tempted to get out Of the Union by force
failed in that attempt and are still in the
Union. All the acts by which they attempt
ed to get out are null and void, being in
conflict with the Constitution of the United
States, "the supreme law of the land"
Now, sir. how does Congress propose to
treat those States2 It has treated them as
States in the various particulars and modes
pointed out in the Presidents message
Gentlemen clamor here because those States
have not adopted the proposed Constitution
al amendment, by which their whole social
system and fabric OF society would be de-
bauched, deInoralized and reversed. Yet
they have no authority to act ON that Con-
stitutional amendment unless they be States
of the Union. Inmany other particulars, as
stated i'll the Presidents message, Congress
has treated them as States. Yet it is now
insisted that they are not States, and not
being States they are not entitled to repre-
sentation upon this floor. Tt is pretended
that they have relinduished and forfeited
their rights as States. Why, sir, such a
thing is impossible Where is the law or
the reasoIlforit2 Why, sir, during the wars
of the French revolutions there was one por-
ton of France, on the coast Of Brittany
called, I believe, La Vendee-whose people
fought on the side Of the monarchy aud
against the Revolutionary party; yet never
learned, from my reading of French history,
that when the revolutionary party had prov
ed successful the people of the iHsurgent
districts were DISTINGUISHED. How was it in