The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-12-12

u
ses. sects or parties, Or npor
whole communities, for Of
fsnses committed by them agains'
the government TO which they ow1
cd allegiance, was common in tb.
barbarous ages Of The world, bul
Christianity and civilization hav,
made such progress that recourse
TO punishment SO cruel and un
just would meet with tho c0ndem
nation of all unprejudiccd aud
right minded men. .esr
The punitive justice OF this age
especially of this country, does MOI
consist in stripping whole States o
their liberties, and reducing al
their people, without distinction
to a condition OF slavery. II deal,
separately with each individual
confines itself to the forms oflaw
and vindicates its own purity by
an impartial examination OF every
case before a competent judicia
tribunal.
lfthIs does not satisfy all our dc
sires with regard to Southern reb
els. let US console ourselves by re
hecting that a free constitution
triumphant in war. and unbroker
in peace, is worth far more to VI
and our children than the gratifca
tion of any present feeling.
| am aware it is assumed tlAt
this system Of government for The
Southern States is not to be per
petual. 1t is true this military
government is to be only provision
al, but it is through this temporary
evil that that a greater evil is t
be made perpetual. If the guar
antees of the Constitution can be
broken Professionally to serve {
temporary purpose, and in par
only OF thecountry, we can destroy
them everywhere, and for all time
Arbitrary measures often change
but they generally change for tho
worse. IL is the curse OF despot
ism that it has no halting place
Intermitted exercise of its power
brings no sense of security to III
subjects, for they can never know
what more they will be called tc
endure, when its red right hand il
arm d to plague them again, moi
is it possible 10 conjecture how OF
why power unrestraIned by law
may seek its next victims.
States that are still free may bt
enslaved at any moment, for 1t thu
Constitution docs not protect all, i
protects none.
The Negro Question.
1t is manitcstly and avowedly
the object OF these laws to contel
upon negroes the privilege OF vot
my, and 10 distranchise such nun
Der Of white cltlzens as Will givt
the former clear majority at al
elections in the Southern States
This, TO the minds OF some per
sons, is 30 important that u VIOLA
tlon OF the Constitution is justiiie,
! as u means OF bringing it about
Morally, the argument is tals
which excuses wrong because i
proposes to accomplish desirable
end. We are not permitted TO d,
evil that good may come; but il
this case The end itself is evil a
woIl as The means. The subjuga
ton ot The States to negro dVmi
nation would be worse than th
military despoiism under whicI
they are now suffering, 1t was be
lieved beforehand that the peopl
would endure any amount OF mil
tary oppression, tor any length {
time, rather than degrade them
selves by subjection TO the negr
race; therefore they have been lei
without u choice. Negro suarag
was established by act OF Congress
and military officers we're CON
manded TO sIperintend the pre-
cess clothing The negro race wit
the political privileges wrested trol
white men.
Tho blacks in the South are en-
titled TO be well and humanel
governed, and to have the protcc
Llon OF just laws for all their right
of person and property. lfitwer
practicable al this time TO Civ
them u government, exclusivel
their own, under which they migl
manage their own affairs in thei
own way, it would become a gran
question whether We ought to d
~, or whether common humanit
would not require US TO save thel
from themselves. But under I'll
! circumstances, this is only spe'
ulative point. 1t is not propose
merely that they shall COVER
themselves, but that They sha
rule the white race, make and az
= minister State laws, elect Pres
/. dents and mem bers OF Congress
, and shape, to u greater or less e.
tent, the future destiny Of IL
: whole country. Would such
t trust and power be safe in sue
: hands? The peculiar qaaliu'
which should characterize an
= people, who are to decide upon II
I. managemcnt OF public affairs for
+ great State, have seldom been COR
: bined. 1t is the glory Of whi-
I, men 10 know that they have ha
+ these qualitiesin sufficient mea
r ure 10 build upon this continent
great political fabric, and TO pr
n serve its stability for more tins
I ninety years, while in every pa
I. of The world acknowledgements
.Ihaye failed, Gssa 9lH1Aola
But if anything can be Prov
. by known facts--if all reasopiI
Z ,,,1nn av;do aca IA mt lhaDdOned,