Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-01-11

| the United States, and afterwards violate,
| thelr oath by engaging in rebellion agains
the same, unless Congress by vote OF two
| thirds, shall have removed the disability q
! any such persons
The fourth clause afIirms the VALIDITY O
the debt Of the United States, and prohib
It's the assumption or payment Of the rebe
debt, or Of any claims for the loss or eman
clpation of any slave.
The fifth clause provides that Congress
shall have power to enforce the provisions ol
the other clauses by appropriate legislation.
4 nat these wide and moderate provisions
Wlll meet the hearty appreciation Of the
legislature, | cannot doubt. IF proposed
and ratified by thTee-fourths OF I inc o. Isss ~
latures OF the States, the Constitution pro-
vides that they should stand as adopted
amendments Of that instrument.
A question has been raised whether the
States lately in rebellion, and not yet resto-
red to their privileges by Congress, are to
be counted on this vote-in other words
whether those who have rebelled and been
subdued shall be entitled to apotential voice
IN the question of the guarantees to be re-
CURED of them for future obedience to the
laws. so monstrous a proposition is, It
appears to me, not supported by the words
or spirit Of the Constitution. The power
to suppress insurrectien, includes the now
er OF making provision against its breaking
out afresh. These States have made a1
unjust war upon our Common Government
and their Sister States, and the power given
by the Constitution to make war on our part
includes the power to dictate, after our sue
cess, the terms of peace and restoration,
Tho Gf f1av,srvn-e - l.
every State Republican form of Govern
ment, would cover much more copent action
than has 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. Tt Is
not mere formal or unnecessary provis-
ION. The power was conferred, and the
duty enjoined to preserve free institutions
against all ener0achments, or the more vio-
lent elements of despotism and anarchy.
And now that treason has, by rebellion sub
Yerted the governments Of number Of
States, forfeiting for the people all the
rights guaranteed by the Constitution, in
Guiding 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 perform
ed
By their passage by CONGRESS, and the
declaration Of the people of The ate elce-
tons, the faith Of the nation pledged to
the amcIdments and they VIII be fairly caT-
rcd out, and their 5enefts given to the
t5bellI0us States. But when the amend
ments shall have passed into the organic
law, should the people lately in rebellion
persist in their rejection, and IN continued
and fh9 obstruction o! be
nvaautian Of the national laws, 81 viii Dg gu
to the nation that the 0simuS
and force Of treason still exist among a peo-
pie who enjoy none Of the privileges Of the
government, save Of its tolerance. With
their rejection, all hope of reconstruction,
with the cooperation Of the rebelliOus
States, on q basis that would secure to the
Republic the logical results Of the war. viii
have vanished, and the duty must thea
devolye upon the government Of adopting
the most etfcctual method to secure i0E
those States the character Of govern euts
demanded By the Constitution
They are without lawful governments
they are without municipal law, and with
out any claim to participate in the govern
ment.
Onwhat principle of law or justice can
the rebellious States complain, if after they
have rejected the fair and magnanimous
terms upon which they are offered brother
hood with Us, and participation in all the
blessings of our freedom, and they have
refused, if the government, in the exercise
Of its powers, should enter anew upon the
work Of reconstruction at the very tounda-
ton and then the necessity will be forced
upon Us to discard all discrimination in IA
vor of the enemies of our nationality, to
give US and them enduring freedom and
impartial justice.
The Constitution has defined treason, and
has given express power to suppress lnsur- /
rection, by war, if necessary. 1t has not
provided in detail, the terms TO be granted
after such a war. How could it do 50
1t would probably not be contended by the
widest partisan, that these States had a
right to be represented in Congress at
time when they were carrying on open war
against the government, or thai Congress
was not then a lawful body, notwithstand-
ing their exclusion. How then have they
regained the right ofrepresentation ? Sure
~ not by simply laying down their arms
when they could no longer hold them. The
United States have the right, and it is their
duty, to exact such securities for future
good conduct as they may deem sufficient,
and the offenders, from whom they are to
be cxacted, can have no right to participate
in our councils in the decision of the ques
ton Of what their punishment shall be-.
Practically, common sense determined the
question Of their right so to participate,
when Congress proceeded in the enactment
of laws after the surrender of the last rebel
military force 1t was determined again,
when the now pending amendments were
by Congress If tWo-thlrds OF
as now constituted could lawful
" propose those amendments, then three
fourths Of the States, not excluded from
in Congress, form sufficient
majority to effect their lawful adoption, 1t
was determined again by the torma! sane
ton Of both the great political parties, when
by an almost unanimous vote,
declared the rebellious States without the
right of representation in the Electoral Col-
lege in 1864.
We oughtto go on resolutely and rapidly
with all measures deemed necessary to the
future safety Of the country, SO 5hat oil
parts Of il may. at the earle day be resto-
red TO just and equal privileges.
The annual report of Hon. Thomas ii.
BurroWes, Superintendent Of the maiute-
nance and education Of the soldiers
orphans, will exhibit the present condition
and the result thus far Of that undertaking.
Nearly three thousand Of the destitute chil
lren Of the brave men who laid down their
lives that the nation might live, are now
notonly comfortably provided for and guard
ed from temptation, but are receiving an
education which will fit them to repay the
State.
The approximation made for this purpose