Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1867-01-23

for surprise had slavery been permitted to
increase and multiply
Boast as we may of our material and our
moral victories, yet is it not true that there
is no such thing as a Republican govern
ment in the ten States that began and car
riedou the war? There is not, to-day,
despotic State In Europe where the rights OF
the individual man are so deiantly tram
pled under foot, as in the sections which
were supposed to have been brought into
full submission to the Government of the
United States. But the desire has sugges-
ted its Proyidential cure.
The abhorrent doctrine, that defeated
treason shall not only be magnanimously par
,doned, but introduced to yet stronger privi-
: leges, because of its guilty failure, seems to
have been insisted upon, as if to strengthen
the. better and the contrasting doctrine,
that nation, having conquered its freedom,
is its own best guardian, and that those who
were defeated in honorable battle should be
constrained to submit to all the terms of the
conquerer.
The violators of the most solemn obliga-
tons, the perpetrators of the most atrocious
crime in the annels of time, the murderers
Of our heroic soldiers on fields of battle, and
inloathsome dungeons and barbarous prisons.
they must not. shall not, re-appear in the
council chambers of the nation, to aid in its
legislation, or control its destenies, unless it
shall be on conditions which will preserve
our institutions from their balefull purposes
and influence, and secure republican forms
Of government, in their purity and yigor, in
every section of the country.
That they are indisposed to accept such
conditions, is manifest from their recent and
even arrogant rejection of the proposed
amendments of the Nationals Constitution
true and patriotic citizens and statesmen, to
be too mild and generous.
They have, however, been fully considered
by the people during the late elections, and
approved by majorities so large as to give
them sanction which it would be improper
to either overlook or disregard. And GER
tainly, In view of this fact, none Of the late
rebel States should be admitted to their for
mer practical relations to the General
Government, while they continue to oppose
those amendments
To the Congress Of the United States the
heartfelt sympathies and overwhelming suf-
frages Of the people have been generously
given. They have fearlessly proclaimed
their unequivocal-"Well done, good and
faithful servants" Upon the deliberations
and actions of congress our present interest
and future welfare depend. In its irmness
and courage the whole experiment of gen
uine repubhcanism is indisolubly involved
That this firmness and couragewill be fully
exhibited by its controlling majorities, in the
origination and adoption of measures of wis
dom and discretion, even more radical and
decisive, if necessary, than those ofthe past,
entertain no doubt. Such measures will
meet with my cordial approval And l
may well add, that while Pennsylvania will
con6de in loyal Congress, she viii not hes
itate to sustain it with her entire influence
and power.
That in the administration of the Govern
ment may err. is only what should be ex-
pehted from the infrmities of the human |
mind; but as enter upon the discharge of |
my responsible duties with firm resolution |
to act with honesty and impartiality, trust |
my errors viii be regarded with charity and |
treated with the gentlencss of magnani- |
nous forgiveness.
And earnestly hope that my intercourse |
with my fellow citizens of the Senate and |
House of Representatives will be 80 frank |
and cordial fbot o,,r drf;as 20 n oo,o,no, |
constituency win be pleasantly and faithfully
discharged. Different branches of the Gov
ernment as we are, with distinctive duties, |
we are nevertheless parts of one organized !
and well regulated system, and as we coop
crate or disagree, the interests of the State
viii be promoted or retarded Elected by
the people, desirous to promote the welfare
Of every citizen, mere party differences should
not be allowed to interfere with the mainte-
nance of q generous, true and comprehep.
sive public policy.
1t was the illustrious Washington, equally
distinguished as warrior and a statesman,
who gave utterance to the declaration, that
the propitl0us smiles Of Heaven cannot be !
expected on a nation that disregards the
eternal rules of order and right and JEFF
erson who asserted that whatever is NOR
ally wrong cannot be politically right
These utterances express my deepest con-
victions of the rules and principles which
should permeate all and control all govern
ments. Let us, fellow citizens, adhere to
them, be governed by them, and our efforts
viii be happily united in surrounding the
institutions of our State, as well as those Of
our nation, with rampant of truth that
win repel the madness of ambition, the