American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-04-06

such Consiltu'lon VIII De accepted by Con
gress and the State restored to her position
AS a member of the Union. The question of
the approval of the Constitution, a. we'll as
that of restoration tests ABSOLUTELY n TIE discrt-
.on of Congress and it -ahundantly clear that no
restoration will be permitted unless it will suit the
political puip ,Ses OF the Dinant party In Con
gress aud unigss its IF CT ,rH be 10 establish the So
prsmaey Of Notkrrn influence in our political
action and to suppress the just rights and infu.
enee Of true Syuthern men in controlling our affairs
| TINS distinctly svowei in substance. at the
time the act ptssed the Wise of Repre- entatives.
| In the coure 0t tie debate, Thid. Stevens urged
against the hill that it pledged CJngess that if the
southern people did certain things, they shall be
| admitted to representation and that tbs wis "a
pledge to all tn, rebels IA rebeld Jm 20 that Their
nay be 40 escape from It," M. Blanc replied
that this cutlery about the right OF rebels to vote
WIS mere hnrahnr. The inquest WAS left abso-
lately in The hands Of congress; and the inquest
,oen to s,ery fact and circumstance connected nth
the formation Of Cons'itutionsiu those 5 rates.
| II III the jld -meut u Congress. how c nsitu
t'on' should enjr.nehi,e rebels, or enianqer the
stab'!tty cfths State Government, By lett,Hg uful
into rebel hands, COayr.,, wCutd not apprars
hem. Similar declarations were made bg other
Importers If the hill, and with these announce
ments it rassed. Absolute discretion. tbera
! fore, is reserved TO Congress to reject the Const
! tuition. and If they blink that it enrranrhises
! rebels''-thit is gives TO Southern men their Just
rights as citizens aud supporters OF the Constjtu-
ton OF tue United States or, that the State Gov
eminent will ..tlIl into the hands Of yebes"-that
| s that Southern men will have the control Of the
political affrs OF the state notice is given that it
will be rejected So that are not to be admitted
| With any substantial rights az Ir@emen Of the State
| under the proposed Constitution
| With these coHdHioas, whas hope can there he
fer the e>toru:ioH Of the State to the Union unless
| il hr done in such manner and under such cir
| cun-ia ns to depri~e Of or dearest rights
and reduce rs TO a condition of slavery The dec
| aiatonS aIlrded to, and the course OF the DOM
nint patty sine. the surrender of our armies show
| plainly that they would never admit US except
| uad+I such circumstances as would secure their
absolute snpr macy over the political affairs of the
Site. and that the hopes INDUCED by certain per.
Sous. Of the establishment Of eur rights. TO such
AN r1tent az should satisfy free people, are vain
ard l-lasss, Nothing Is more certain thea that it
u the purpose Of the dominant party that the
southern States shall not be adnitted in time to
yte at The hext Presidential election, unless made
| u eervient to theit interests.
, We are asked to gre our consent to the out
ages upon our rights to the violations of the Con-
,trutian OF the United State, and to the social
icgrad lton enacted b. this bill. Ii we do so, W
uop only sisl the warraat Of oEr owa Disgrace Of
orr accord, and with our oTl hands, but we pre-
cude ourselves Of all right to call in question the
crustitut onaIity Of the provisions OF the bill before
| the Supreme Court Of the United States For II W.
receipt the bill, and act under il, we can rails no
objection to its validity. Now, tie right to relief
against tie enorrnites of this bill, by having it de-
Glazed v"d as to tho rights of the STATE, by the Su
irene Court surely gives better hope Of the res.o-
ration Of our rights thla the false exp ctaton. held
| out under the bill It cannot be doubted that the
Supreme Court would decide the bill to be uncon.
-ttutional and void in several respects, if not i,
| toto;
| l. Because It asserts the power in Congress t"
ei It State from the U1ion, that is, to dissolve
2 II assumes the power to control the reserved
rights oftha States n regulate their domestic afln"
and the private rights and duties Of its nhihitan
3. I! Claims the power to Congress to anthorz
the appointment Of military tribunals by VIII b
citizens not belonging to the military service % u
country, can be tried summsrly withou, Law. AMI
deprived Of the right of trial by Jury. This que.
ton has recently been decided by the Supreme
Court and is not now an open one.
Fhe sd7Ocqtes Of cur precipitate acceptance ~
these things argu that ave no alternative bu'
these expressions and. if We refuse them create
expressions from Congress. But We have the Con
Sttution as a protection, and the Supreme Cont
which has the right T. pronounce the edo of Con
gress void, And it il submitted to The solemn con
sideraton OF Southern p'triot' Supporters n tho
Consttntion of fathers that it il snfrr 10 st,nd
on our Just rights secured by that Constitution
and under the protection Of the Supreme Court Of |
the United States than upon tie uncertain course
o'l mere political party which seems to be actna'od
mainly by the purpose q destroying US. And how
can Ve "a patriots flithFul 10 the Con,tifu iIr
,,ree 10 accept what We honestly think grant
violation Of ii in giving the power n Congress TO
-estrny States of the U1ion, power which tins
conceded may AT any time, in the discretion o.
Congress he employed to suhvert the Consti'utior
md To p-odnce a tntal revolution of The Govern
nent' 7, DESTROYS the States and places al tho
+g1tS Of the citizen secured by the Constitution AZ
he discreet N Of Cong essional dsspotism,
s A noble band OF patriots in the Northrr
Yates have batled 70, Constitutional rights in on
ehali at The hazard Of political position and even
+ personal safety against the fury of the dominant
'arty. They supposed we contendng for
rincpIe and FOR our lights under the Cpn.tituton
3 American feemen. Shall we falsiGy all these
expectations and betrsy all this confidence, strik
and with our enemies and desert our irend,'
hall we sell our birthright of principle and honor
rhich now stands unt aruished in the eyes Of the
rorld for the miserable mes, n pottage arising
ON this bill 80 degrading in present and ir1med
.e eject absolutely dependent upoo the will Of
lose We will thereby acknowledge our master-7
President johnson, and Cowln. Hendricks
1ottla, Pearce. e more. Salisbury. and host |
other Con-ttltIon loving patriots have thrown |
em.elve, into the breach to save the constitution
IA led in our instance.
Principle aad good faith should impel ne not t. i
I'VE recresnt to those who bave staked their
araetrr IN support OF the gbts Involved in our
use-right- common to the Who'll. country under
e consultation. should we prove psrAdous to i
il high faith we may expect the ssorn aud detes Il
ton Of the brave who have struggled for oar
,hts. and to be pronounced worthy N all the
probrium our enemies have attempted u Cat II
IN NJ. Well will We have proved Our elve. |;
rthy Of their Won.ei jbes az Iinst g uthern
ivalry."
What. then, 10 our duty in the present emer
lcyi u
Z ia to abide By RE art Of c01greB 'Olb = 7
n u,.ad I. |
Supreme Court United Statet The act gives !"
the IN tarv a,nmsudar i1rizlirtinn Of all Grim. | ga