Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-19


guarantees, securing to all men equality be-
fore the law; q representation based upon
population. but excluding from computation
an classes who are deprived Of political prlvl-
leges, except for participation IN rebellion or
other crimes: the disqualification for Office OF
all who added TO the crime of treason that OF
perjury, until snch disqualification Il removed
| bv Congress; the eternal reputation, state
and national, of the rebel debt, with all
claims for loss and emancipation OF slaves;
| and the sancity of the Federal debt, placing
forever beyond the reach of traitor and demss
/ pogue that due to our disabled soldiers, and
/ 10 the widows and orphans of our fallen.
This declaration of the people has besn made
| tenlperately through the ballot-box, at
peaceful election, but it has been made with
| 4 firm voice not to be misunderstood, and
/ from it there lies no appeal. This demand Is
not made with a desire to appropriate to our
selves undue political power, or to Cypress
or humliate the southern people. 1t IL made
/ because in view OF the terrible events of the
past five years. we deem these guarantees ne
cessary TO the life of the nation, and we insist
| that those who saved that life have an unde-
niable right to demand all guarantees essen
/ tial to its future preservation.
The course pursued by the North ought
/ long since to have convinced all men who are
willing to be convinced that we heartily de-
sire To live with the Southern people upon
] terms OF brotherly love, all laboring together
/ Tor the good of our common country, and
| that We desire to enforce no terms which can
/ be considered harsh or unkind. We have
shown 10 vIndictiveness in the past. We will
i cherish no hatred IN the future. While the
war was still raging, they we're again and
/ again implored To desist, with the assurance
OF pardon and restoration OF the rights which
| they had forfeited With the damnable and
| revolving scenes OF AndersonVille, Belle Isle,
/ Salisbury and Fort Pillow. they answered our
entreaties And later, when We had wrestet
from them their arms and paroled their ar
mics we who had suffered outrage and insult
/ az their hands, who had seen our flag fired
upon aud trampled in the dust, our brothers
| killed by hundreds of thousands, and our
| land filed with widows, orphans and disabled
men we upon whom they had heaped a mon
ster debt still offered them terms. With the
msssscres OF Memphis and New Orleans be-
fore our eye aud with the blood OfthOusands
Ut Union men-murdered because they were
Union men-cTying alond 20 us for vengeance,
We continued 10 offer them full restoration of
political rights upon tho terms embodied IN
this resolution. 1t was hoped that the sober
second thought Of the now ruling class at the
south would lead To the acceptance in good
faith of these terms. Events have proved
that the hope was without foundation. They
have been rejected so far as they have been
acted upon, except by the people of Tonnes
see: rejected, too, with scorn and abuse Of the
government and with the bitterest denuncia.
ton against our people.
As the people OF the South were impelled
by mysterious but Ail-wise Providence to
rebel against q government, that they might
perpetnate in their midst the hideous crimes
of human slavery, and thus struck the blow
which finally set free all vino were in bond !
age there, 50 now that same Providence inn |
pels them TO force the people of the North to
DO that which, but Tor their desire to cOncili- |
ate, they wOuld long since have dOne,-their |
whole duty.
There is a time when ''mercy to the Grim |
inal is cruelty to the state" Gentlemen, that |
time has come. The day of compromise is |
passed, and passed forever. The day for do |
ing that which is right in It's If has come. and |
until We have done the right, and done it for |
all time, we have shamefuily tailed in our du- |
w. moi only to the world and to ourselves |
but 10 the five hundred thousand brave men |
who gave their lives so freely that lib /
erty might live. In my opinion, il is the duty /
of Congress, the only remaining hope Of 10y |
atty and Justice at the South, to provide for /
the future establishment of local govern /
ments over those portions of the South la ely /
in rebellion, which have refused their assent /
to this amendment, such governments to lie
based upon impartial, loyal suffrage. In this
| advocate no disregard of the constitutions
yield to no man IN my reverence for that
instrument. The fact that illegal local gov
5rnments have been in operation there since
thecessatlon OF hOstihties, forms no bar to
theright of Congress to establish legal ones /
Let Congress act, and the loyal people will /
sustain 1t, be the consequences what they
may. No other course viii settle our trOu-
bles beyond the possibility OF recurrence,
and insure justice to the UniOnists of that sec
ton. The safety our country and the fulfill
ment of our pledges alike demand 1t. We
have pledged our honor that We wOuld stand /
by and protect those who were loyal at the |
South during the struggle just ended. 1t /
were better 10 have failed in the contest than
nov TO colby turn our backs upon those who
were faithful fOuud among the faithless. -
We should deserve To DO wiped out from /
among the nations Of the earth, did We do
his.
L am firm in the faith that with proper ae-
tiOn on the part of Congress, the day of set /
tiement Is at hand. Let the people stand fast /
ia the position they have taken, and 1t must |
soon come Would that my voice could reach |
al loyal men III lie land, To tell them to be OF |
good cheer, for tie day Is not far distant when |
our beloved country will be, IN ali its sections,
4 land Of freedom in fact as well as name; |
free IN speach, Tree IN press, and free in bal |
lot. May God speed the coming of that happy |
day. LUCIUS FAIRCHILD. |
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Madison, Jan. 10, 81. |