Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-12-13


! Friday, December. 13, 1867.
l-..se.A..s.....e... =.
THE PRBsIDENT's MESSAGE SE-
! The animal message Of PRECEDENT Jol,nsois !.
nj abls'docnmrnt, n. admirable ~. tone and m
temper az in the caact.sne.s aud eog~hcy Of Sits
arg un,~nts in bthaif Of popular riga, As,i con-
s,itiitionat liberty. lis ability /. e.,ac sa-i b.
~ parties, and Radical s.aatot, seek 20 ey.d.
1be farce ef'ifs Conclusions by sI,aSKiag fupoo
the Presi'lsoI an nnwasr aat able inirint tlss.sht
i Of ihs privileges Of Congses. ~ fresua,inp u
argue the Reeohsiruc,iou poligy at all. after
'hat' bo'ly had: expressed its clear legislative
eli"ion on the subject. Il Is a mere p,e.=x.
! FOR opposing the motion 10 print tho us,in !
hrmber Of extra cnI'ies, aniF thhs limiting the
circulation Of u document which .nfforsls pse, si
the most foreibls expeditions Of the uuwa,rnnt.
able u.nrp,tiops of Cungres1, and u ~hirh would
be an excellent campaign document for the
Conservativrs III the next Presidential election.
One half Of the messHge is d-vo'ei to tue
reconsideration Of the uncon.titntionnlity aud
i,np"liey oi the Cnngr res.iohai, Reconstruction
the U"ion " hich was designed by the, ,fs,h-rs
of the Republic longer exisls-a Union,
Which can only eAist when the States
ate all represented in bo:h Houses uf Congress,
when each State is fee to regulate its ow i,,-
tcronf concerns, anil when the laws Of the
GeneruI Government. being confined to mat
ters Of national Legislation. apply equally to
the people q: every section. The Union and
Constitution are inseparnLle, AMI a failure
TO observe implicitly: the requirements Of the
Constitution, nust invite the ds.iruction Of
tho Union, and ths grsnt end. il was L.yiened
t" accomplish, TO establish ju.,iee. insure do
mestic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the gessrsl welfare, and se-
cure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
pos:erity." x ''-..''
II tho Southern States are component parts
OF the Uuion, The Constitution aIriiea to them
equally as 10 the other S,Stes. and that they
arc members Of the Union he urges ~ we'll
from the I'm animous declaration or Congress
In June, 1861. that the war should b. conduct
ed solely f.r tho. preservation Of The U,iou.
without "impairing the dignity. equality aud
Fights Iot tina State, and individdals," rs The
'ub'n!s.i"n by Congress uf the Const itutionsI
Amendment, to be ratified by the Southern
States; and uther acts legislative, executive
aud judicial. recognizing these States as PARTS
Of the Federal Union. =. ...
The nsssnge urges the repeal Of the Recon-
strnction Acts. aud dernnstrat,s their uueou-
'li'"'iOnal CHARACTER iu :h,t th.y presume to
dictate what alterations shall be made in the
constitutions Of the several Stat ex to control
The elections OF Slate legislators and State Off
cers, msmhers Of Congreas and .lsct.rs' rf
President aud Vice Pres'dent. by arbitrarily
declaring who shall vote aud who shall b.
excluded frsm TINT privilege; tn dissolve State
legsia'u urrs or rsvent them from assembling
to disrn - judges and other civil t. ncl:onari.s
OF the stote, and nrr oint other. without re-.
eard 10 State law; to organize aud operate all
the political machinery Of the Stut-s to r.gu-.
late the Whole administrator Of their d.Iu.s,ie
and local affnirs according to .hs mere y i'll Of
strange aud irresponsible agents, sent among
m-for that lurrosr-thess arc po e:s not
granted to III. Federal Governments. ar TO .nv
"ne Of its brnnsl,e.. go
The acts Of Congress in question, argues the
messag", are mt only '.hier tionabi. for ,he;r
assumption Of unsrnnisd power, ,,,i. many Of
tIc!r. rrovisl"us are la conflict with tn. dir.c,
prohibitions ct The Constitution. The C.,nslitu.
ton commands that 4 rrp,iE,iivan f,rr, ~ ov
-rninsnt shall b- euxraat.sL - ali the s,s,...
hat n" i:rr"pn shall be dspri vel Of life, Iber,
etT OF proprtay without due process Of inv
rested ~i,iout a Judicial warrant, or pun;sh'
ed without fair lr!nl hefore sn IMPARTIAL la
ry; ihnt The privilege of i.nbeas e.rnu. .,.u
noi ., he denied in time Of peace: and liza, no
a tnis, ~, H..
" single indivnluvl. Yet the system of M.
ores rft't,li'hed by the's acts Of Cpngres doe.
totaI;y s"bv",t." and dsstr"y the fnrui. a. we'll
as the snbsisieifce Of republican government
~ ihe .e1 s.tsrs to shiel they apply ~ -
"a assoIs.nE = he As.s.gr '1tis manif.s.ly
sna eSo~tdfS tho otiJtet Of there Ia ws to con-
Ter DroR n nsgrnes 'hs privilege N voting, snL
10 oieiransh'.s such a number Of white o1G-
zens ~ will givs~the former \ cl-ur ,na;,,r;; :,
~ eleetions W the Sofsl:ertr Siaies ,If,;. -,
ths minds Of solpe .persons, is 20 imp1,risn,
.hnCs s'eiati"n OF the Consultation i. i,,s,if.3
,...; .s nlrsns oi I,'lRing Il shout The 1,fufsIa
tils a:~ays taiss which excuses a ~ruuv I.
cause IT. "r"p"srs to accomplish a drsir.Li.
end We arr hot -permittrd Ii do e,.;t a.,
R22a may cone. :: But in ti.is case The s.., 10
scH isrFil. n. we'll ms The mesn.. III. ..h-
J"sai,ea ot Tho Sl.tss:to negro ,Ia,n,nainn,I
! '.,iDs 9f W1Fss thai tho 'n,ih4ry d,s,4 is,n
behaved ;bsfs.siiand tina, the Dousi. 4s.w,11l
snaare unS snlonut :sf military .uprr -,.ion,,
'or any length Of time, FATHER tbnn do.,..j
,,. ah'n'srtvrs i,y sntj-c, ION TO tho negro rss.
Ihsretor- = < hey have sesleft wi.,pui ehoie.
N.s'o euHrrgr va. csia,t, he'd t,y act Of Con.
S'; Sr ana u't tnif',ar, otfreis we're ct.,nt,sna
ssn sss s,s .a;s ss.s S,.I ~ ps4i''sl ii
;Tls. el.etsir .he SOY iesrs, Ipnis,l,,i a, IN
"aaa hunoniy. 6 'sefned. and to have ti,s