Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-02-09
p O J. Z IT I O a IL
!, f,olN the Charleston Courier.
Mr. Hidghs'S's Protest against Mr. Stevens
Plan Of Reconstruction.


late Confederate Stftes and the Unit,-l St.itn.
the Congress of the latter passed their Act e.,
the imposition OF direct tax of twenty mil
lions of dollars,
In thar Act il VAS expressly declared that
THIS ;:hon!d be nnportioncd o,.r3sy H. ,c,,ls.
of the United State, respectively, in the nan
ner following: #
II" the State Of South Carolina fhrco
hundred and sixty-thrcc t'ion,and five hun
drrd and seventy and two.thf,ls dollars"
Here thcn>'Tas direct acknowledgements
during the very heat of il,c t>iyi! war m4dn
ny the Legislative Department. of the Govern.
ment, that the Commonwealth of South Car.
ona was, according TO their own records y
State of the United StatGs.
as 1t to leave this matter beyond donb,
when, in the apportonmcni made, Territories
arc referred to, they are so mentioned. Tins
the language is "to tho Territory of New
Mexico to the Territory of Utah: to the
territory OF Washington; to the Territory of
NcbrasHa; SO The Territory of Nevada to
the Territory Of Colorado. BIT these Sonth
crq commemorative are described in direct
and patent contrast as the State of virginia
tue State OF Alabama, and so. on with cvery
ono of the sccnrding and adheriny States
without discrimination or distinction
The recognition of their statcship is, there
tore, clear and complete. Tt is evident that
II thus recognized in the public laws as States.
during the war, there is no authority or ground
Tor their reduction to a territorial cont]itiop
now that war has ceased, aud thnv are in nc
cord and allegiance rs States with the ts,ycrn.
mcnt
l5y every department Of the Government.
whether Executive, Judicial or l,cui,lut;vc
the same fact has bccn procInlnci .,n., ~,
IL ~ u'iiy i"."'J .i,"O t"n'J, With desire 10
usurp the Government aud overthrow llN
Constitution, would mntilatc aud destroy Che
secords Of thc past, regardless either Of con
aistency, justice or right in thcr designs for
power and supremacy
MIR. Stevens and Mr.. Ashley, however,
have found more difficulty than they anicipa-
ted in thus tramping on the past, and crca.
ting anarchy in the present. There are those
even of their own party who have some desire
to preserve Republican institutions, and some
regard for constitutional restrictions and guar
antecs.
The late speech of Mr. Binnham, of Ohio,
is an earnest and decided Protest against the
disorganizing measures, which, under the
pressure OF q party caucus sought to be
thrust upon the country.
Mr. Bingham is u Radical, tut he ftbls that
the period has come for The exercise of judg-
,ncnt and not of passion, or else a revolution
more disastrous than that of war must ensuc.
lie characterized Mr.. Stevens Enabling trt
as the imagination of movement which
would subject the future Of this Republic to
all those dread calamitics which have darken-
cd its recent past.
He opposed the Bill, among other things
!. First. Because it is framed upon the idea
that the people of these Southern States are
alien enemies. and their CoMmonweaths for
eign natonaitics.
Second. Because it attempts to restrict the
right Of petition in the people Of these States.
On this point Mr.. Bingham remarks:
Why sir, in the Government of our com
mon Father the poorest worm that crawls is
given the right Of petition, and under the
Government Of .oui fathers it has been wisely
ordained that The Congress of the lInitcG
States shall pass no law abridging the right o
the people peacbly to assemble aud petition
to Congress for the redress of grievances =
This Bill, from first to last, us Mongh ,cer
tie uncruncc Of IN un'imHca and crownc<
dictator, says that a milion Of men in th
land shall not peaccahly assemble aud pct'io,
this Government. The Constitution Of th
United States has moi authorized the Congress
of the United States to dccitiaeniae sing
han in the Republic by Act OF Coneicss
Snd yet, lest gentleman may think that an
forcing by implication something that is no
contained in the text, will quote from tf
Bill: n.,.
."'rhatall persons who, ,on the 4th. day March
1861, were of full age who held office, eithc
civil or military, undcrthe Government calle
the I" Confederate States of AmcricaJ"" or VIII
awore allegiance to said Government, arc hero
by declared to have forfeited their citiSenshi
hrnd to have renounced allegiance to the Uni
ted States, and shall not be entitled to exc,
else the elective franchise, Of hold office, unit
five years after they shall have fled their r
tention or desire to be reinvestcd with til