North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-01-09


law, should the people lately in rebellion
p'rSist in their rejection, and in continued
tlisobedieucr. and the obstruction of the
execution Of the national laws, it will be
all adnonition to the nation that the AMI
mus and force oftreason still exist among
paSpie~wh5 enjo7 none of the privileges
of the tsoNe Esgasnts ssnNe~ of its generous
toierances With their rejection, all hope
of reconstruction, with the cooperation of
the Tebeliious States, On a basis that would
secure tosthc Republic the logical results
of the. war, will have vanished, ard the du-
ty must then dcvolve. upon the Govern
ment. of adopting the most cffrctual meth
cd to secure for those States the character
of governments demanded by the Constitu-
tiom
They are without lawful governments
they are Without municipal law, and with
cot any claim to participate in the Govern
mcnt.
On What principle of law or justice can
the rebellous States complain, if, after they
have rejected the fair and magnaminious
termsupOr 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 It's powers, should enfer anew upon the
work ofre-construction at the very founda-
ton -! aud then the necessity will be forced
upon us to discard all discrimination in ia
vor Of the enemies of cur nationality, to
give us and them enduring freedom and
impartial justice.
The Constitution has defined treason.
and has given express power to suppress
instruction, by war, if necessary. 1t has
rot provided, in detail, the terms to be
granted after such a war. fow could it
do So? I%woald probably not be contend
el bv the widest partisan, that these States
ha a right t" be represented in Congress
at time when they were carrying on open
war against the government or that Con-
g-ess was not then lawful body, notwith
standing their exclusion. Hnw then have
they regained the right of represen alton!
Surely not by simply laying down their
arms when they could no longer hold them,
Inc United States have the right, and it is
their duty, to exact such securities for fn-
ture good conduct as they may deem suffi-
cient, and the offenders, from whom they
are to be cxacted, can have no right to
participate in our councils in the decision
Of The question of what their punishment
shall be.
PIactiCa 'ly, common sense dctclm mined
the question Of their right so to participate,
when Congress proceeded in the enact
ulent of laws, after the surrender of the
last rebel military force. 1t was detern
incd again. when the now pending amend
ments were proposed by Congress If
two thirds of Congress, as now constituted,
couid lawfully propose three amendments,
then three fourths OF the States, not exclu-
ded from representation in Congress, form
a sufficient majority to effect their lawful
adoption. 1t was determined again by the
formal sanction of both the great political
parties, when Congress by an almost unan-
imous vote, declared the rebellious States
without the right of representation in the
Electoral College of 1864
Weought to 70 on resolntely and rapid
lv, with all measures deemed necessary to
the future safety of the country, so that ali
parts of it may, at the earliest day, he re-
stored to just and equal political privileges.
The annual report of Hon. Thomas Ii
Burrowes. Superintendent of the mainte-
nance and education of the soldiers or
phans, will exh bit the present condition
and the result thus far of that undertaking
Nearly three thousand of the destitute chill
dren the brave men who laIi down their
lives that the nation might live, are now
not ouly comfortably provided for and guar
ded from temptation. but are receiving an
education which will fit them to repay the
care Of the State.
The appropriation made for this purpose,
at the last session. has been sufficient to
meet all expenses Of The financial year just
closed. And | recommend whatever ap-
gropriatIOD may be necessary, to continue
and perfect tie system under which the
schools are conducted.
There can te no doubt that the appro-
priation VIII be made. Were L to select
my State interest which ! would more
warmly commend to vOnr prompt attention
and 'ibrraitv than another, il would be this.
All Penn$ylvanians are proud Of it, and it
lies near the hearts of all true men.
Owing to their greater destitution and
want of information on the part of their rel
atives, the orphans of our colorcd soldiers
NAV require some special attention. Per
haPs authority to the State Superintendent,
to nsr, for short time. the service of an
agent. to ascertain their number and claims
and bring them into the schools that may
be provided for them, will be sufficient
The whole number in the State is not large,
ofwhom d few have already been tempo
rarily provided for.
| recommend that provision be made for
the maintenance of snch of our soldiers as
are in poverty. and have been so manned
as 70 prevent them from securing a liveli
hooI by their labor, by renting buildings at
once, or sGch other means as Won may deem
Il Il Il