The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-01-09

power given by the Constitution to make
war on our part, includes the power to
dictate, after our success, the terms OF
peace and restoration.
The power OF Congress to guarantee
to every State Republican form OF
Government, would cover much more
cogent action than had yet been had.
The duty imposed upon Congress, to
provide and maintain republican govern
ments for the States, is to be accepted
in the broadest meaning Of the term, 1t
Is not mere formal or unnecessary
provision. The power was conferred,
and the duty enjoined, to preserve free
institutions against all encroachmeats,
or the more violent elemeuts of despot-
ism and anarchy, And now that trca-
son has, by rebellion; subverted the
governments of a number of States,
forfelting for the people all the rights
guaranteed by the Constitution, inclu
ding even those of property and life, the
work of restoration for these States rests
with the National Government, and it
should be faithfully and fearlessly per-
formed.
BY their passage by Congress, and
the declaration Of the people at the
late elections, the faith Of the nation Is
pledged to the amendments, and they
will be fairly carried out, and their beg
efts given 10 the rebellious States, But
when the amendments shall have passed
into the organic law, should the people
lately in rebellion persist in their reject
ION, and in continued disobedieEce, and
the obstruction Of the execution of the
national laws, it will be an abomiuatlon
to the nation that the en,muS and force
OF treason still exist among people who
enjoy none OF the privileges Of the gov'
ernment, save OF its generous tolerance.
With their rejection, all hope of recon.
struction, with the cooperation Of the
rebellious States, on basis that would
secure to the Republic the logical results
Of the war, will have vanished, and the
duty must then devolve upon the gov>
ernmcnt, of adopting the most eifectual
method 10 secure for those States the
character Of governments demanded by
the Constitution.
They are without lawful governments
they are without municipal law, and
without any claim TO participate In the
government.
On what principle Of law or justice
cln the rebelllous States complain, if at
ter they have rejected the fair and mag
nanimous terms upon which they are
offered brotherhood with US, and a par
tlcipRtion IN all the blessings of our free
dom, and they have refused, if the gov
crnment, in the exercise Of its powers,
should enter anew upon the work OF re-
construction at the very foundation
and then Ike necessity Will be forced
upon us to discard all discrimination in
favor Of the enemies of our nationality,
to give us and them enduring freedom
aud impartial justice.
The Constitution has defined treason,
and has gwen express power to suppress
insurrcctlon, by war, if necessary. 1t
has not provided, in detail the terms to
be granted after such war; How
could it do so! 1t would probably not
be contended by the widest partisan,
that these States had right te be rep
resented in Congress at time when
they were carrying on an open war
agalnt the Government, or that Con-
gress was not then lawful body, not
withstanding their exclusion How
then have they regained the right OF
representation? Surely not by simply
laying down their arms when they
could no longer hold them The Uni>
ted States have the right, and it is their
duty, to exact such securities for future
good conduct as they may deem sutli>
cent, and the offenders, from whom
they are to be exacted, can have no
right to participate IN our councils in
the decision Of the question Of what
their punishment shall be.
Practically, common sense determined
the question Of their right 50 to parties
pate, when Congress proceeded in the
enactment of laws, after the surrender
of the last rebel military forces. 1t was
determined again, when the now pend-
ing amendments were proposed by Con-
grcss Iftwothirds OF Congress, as now
constituted, could lawfully propose these
amendments, then three-iourths OF tho
States, not excluded from representation
in Congress, form sufficient majority
to effect their lawful adoption. 1t was
determined again by the formal sane
ton of both the great political parties,
when Congress, by an almost unanimous
vote, declared the rebellous States with.
out the right Of representation in the
ELECTORAL College in 1864.
We ought 10 60 on rosolutely and
rapidly, with all measures deemed nec-
essary TO the future safety Of tho coun,
try, SO that all parts of it may, at the
earliest day, be restored to just and
equal political privileges.
Tho annual report Of Hon. Thomas
III. Burrows, Superintendent of the
maintenance and education Of tho sol
diers' orphans, will exhibit the present
condition and the result thus far of that
undertaking, Nearly three thousand Of
the destitute children of tho brave men
who laid down their lives that the nation
might live. are nov not only comtorta-
bly, provided for and guarded from
temptation, but arc receiving an educs,
ton which will fit them to re pay tho
care OF the State.
The appropriation made for this pur.
pose, ct the last session, has been suili.
oiont IN ,nant all oynanyns ~ iho En,,