South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-03-29

tuition OF State loyal ana republican
The original act answers the question: 1t
is universal negro Suffrage question
which the Federal Constitution leaves to
the States themselves All this legislative
machinery of martial law, military coercion,
aud political acknowledgements is avowedly
for that purpose and none other The ex-
listing Constitutions Of ten States conform
to the acknowledged standards Of loyalty
and republicanism indeed, if there are de-
grees ii republican forms of government
their constitutions are more republican now
than when these States four of which were
members Of the original thirteen-first be-
came members of the Union.
Congress docs not now demand that
single provision of their constitutions be
changed, except such as conine suffrage
to the white population. 1t is apparent,
therefore, that these provisions do not con-
form to the standard disqualification which
Congress seeks to establish. That there
may be no mistake, it is only necessary that
reference should be made to the original act.
which declares, ''such constitution shall pro-
vide that the elective franchise shall be en-.
Joyed 10y all such persons as have the quail
fications herein stated for electors of dele
gates" What class ofpcrsons is here meant
clearly appears in the same section. That
is TO say the male citizens OF said State
twenty one years old and upwards, ofw hat
ever race, color, or previous condition, who
have been resident in said State for one
year previous to the day of such election"
Without these provisions no Constitution
which can be framed in any one of the ten
States will be of any avail with Congress.
Ibis, then, is the test of what the Constitu-
ton of Il State Of this Union must contain
to make 1t republican. Measured hy such
STANDARD, how few oft tho States now compcs.
lngthe Union have republican Constitutions,
II, In the exercise OF the cor .tuti mai
guaranty that Congress shall secure 10 every
State republican form Of government, UNI
vcrsal suffrage for blacks as we'll as whites
Is S'"e qud non the work of rcconstruc-
ton may as well bcginin Ohio as in Virgin
Ia, IN Pennsylvania as in North Carolina.
w hen contemplate the millions If our
fellow citizens of the South, with no altern.
atlve left but to impose upon themselves
this fearful and untrcd experiment ofcom
pletc negro acknowledgements and white dis.
reimbursement, itmay be almost as complete.
or submit indefinitely to the rigor ofmartial
law, without single attribute of freedom
deprived OF all the sacred guarantees Of our
Federal Constitution, and threatened with
even worse wrongs, If any worse are posi-.
bic, 1t seems to me their condition j. the
most dcplorabe to which any people can be
reduced. 1t is true that they have been
engaged IN rebellion, and that, their object
being separation of the States and Il dis
solution of the Union, there was an obl;ra-
ton resting upon every loyal citizen to treat
them as enemies, aud To wage war against
their cause
lntlexibly opposed to any movement i'm
pcrihng the integrity of the Government, |
did not hesitate to urge the adoption Of all
measures necessary for the suppression Of
the instruction. After long and terrible
struggle, the efforts of the govcrnmcntwere
triumphantly successful, and the people of
the South, submitting to the stern arbitra-
ment yielded forever the issues Of the CON
test. llostilities terminated soon after il
became my duty to assume the responsible.
ties of the Chief Executive Office of the
Republic, and at once cndeavored to rcpress
and control the passions which our civil
strife had cngcndcred, and, no longer re.
gardlng these crring millions as enemies,
again acknowledged them rs cur friends and
our countrymcn. The war had ACCOMPLISHED
ITS objects. The nation was saved, and that
seminal principle Of mischief, Which, from
the birth OF the Government, had gradually
but inevitably brought on the rebellion. wa.
totally eradicatcd.
Then, 1t seemed to me, was the auspi
clous time to commence the work of recon
citation; then, when the people sought once
more our friendship and protection con
sidercd 1t our duty generously to meet them
IN the spirit Of charity and forgiveness. and
to conquer them even more cficctually by
the magnanlmlty OF the nation than by the
ioTce OF Its arms. | yet believe that if the
P0ilcy OF reconciliation then iuaugurlted.
and which contemplated an early restoration
OF these people to all their political rights.
had received the support of Congress, every
one OF these ten States, and all their people,
would at this moment be fast anchored in
the Union and the great work which gave
the war all Its sanction, and made it lust
and holy, would have been ACCOMPLISHED.
Then over all the vast and fruitful regions of
The south peace and ;s blessings would mavcpr
vailed while now millions are deprived Of ritht,
g'aran tied 10y the Constitution to every citizen.
ana after nearly two years Of legislation. find
themselves placed under an absolute military dcs-
pou-m. ~ military Republic, "a Government
formed ON mock elections, and supported ONLY ly
the sword, was nearly @ quarter OF "a century
sucepronounccd 10y Daniel Webster when .pc,t.
ing OF The South American States. 49, ga rgr,r
ment indeed bni retro grad and disastrous. ....
I"eni' from Tic regular and old ia.'Ian,. mon
nrcmcal systems, aud Lc added
u men "ou.dcnJoy the blessings ola republican
government they must govern themselves by rcas-