The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-06

often became necessary for Parliament to acknowl-
edge its error and reverse it's own action. The
fathers Of our country determined that such
thing should occur here. They withheld the power
from Congress, and thus forbade its exercise by
thst BODY and hey Prosided in! in the
is, therefore, impossible for any person in this
country to be constitutonally convicted OF pun.
any sort. Nevertheless here is bill Of attainder
against nine millions Of people aS once. It is
based upon an accusaton 80 vague rs to be scarce
ble evidence. Not one Of the nine millions was
beard ir ''s Own defence. The representatives Of
the doc parties we're excluded from all partici-
lowed by the most ignominious punishment ever
inflicted on large masses Of men. It disfranchises
them by hundreds Of thousands, and degrades
them an-even those who ore admitted to be guilt
less-fom the rank of hreomen to the condition OF
slaves n -
The purpose and object of the bill-the general
to change the entire structure and character Of the
State governments, and to compel them by force to
the adoption Of organic laws and regulations which
The negroes have not asked for the privilege Of
voting:-,the vast majority Of them have no idea
what it means. This bill not only thrusts it into
their hands, bet compels them, as we'll rs the
whites, to use it in particular way. II they do
not form constitute on with prescribed articles in
it, and afterwards elect Legislature which viii
act upon. certain measures in prescribed way
neither blacks whisos can be relieved from the
slavery which the bill imposes upon them. With
Of Arcanisng the Southern part Of our territory,
would simply ask the attention Of Congress to that
manifest, well-known, and universally aclnowL-
edged rule Of constitutional law, which declares
authority or power to regulate such subjects for
any State. TO force the right of suffrage out Of
the negroes is an arbitrary violation Of this principle
The bill imposes martial law at once, and its
operations will begin as soon as the General and
his troops can be put in place. The dread alterna-
befyVeAn md Wit
the terms Of this measure is not suspended, nor
are the people afforded any time for free deibera
ton. The bill says to them, take martial law first
then deliberate. And when they have done ali
that this measure requires them to do other con-
ditions and contingencies, over which they have
can be relieved from martial law. Another Con-
Il conformity VIII tbe viii Of this Congress-, and
ton in both Houses. The whole question thus re-
mains open and unsettled, and must again occupy
the attention Of Congress. and in the meantime
disturb all portions OF the people. IN
The bill also denies the legality Of the govern
ments Of ten OF the States which participated in
Constitution abolishing slavery forever within the
jurisdiction Of the United States, and practically
excludes them from the Union. II this sssump-
not be considered as having been legally given,
and the important fact is made to appear that the
consent Of threefourthe of the States the requis-
lte numDer-has not been constitutionally OBJ
tanned to the ratification Of that amendment, thus
leaving the question Of slavery where it stood be-
fore the amendment wa vas officially declared to
That the measure proposed by this bill does vio-
late the Constitution in the particulars mentioned,
and in many other ways which forbear to emu
It only remains to consider whether the injunc-
Eons Of that instrument ought to be obeyed or not
think they ought to be obeyed, for reasons which
In the first place, it is the only system Of ftee
govern nent which we can hope to have nation.
When it ceases to be the rule Ct our conduct, we
anarchy, consolidated despotism, and total
dissolution Of the Union, but national liberty,
regulated by law, will have passed beyond our
It is the best atf IS or can BE- so We 5hs
to the genius hse1sas ta 81 the eat
with. with unspeakable blessings of leeel eekgovern-
ment-hav1ng central power to defend the gene
raj interests, and recognizing the authority Of the
States as the guardians Of Industrial rights it is
1.-The sheeanehof Of our safety abroad and
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquillity promote the generel welfare, provide
for tne common defence, and secure the blessings
Of. liberty to ourselves and to our posterity.'
These grent ends have been attained heretofore,
and will be again, by faithful obedience to it, but
they are certain to be lost if we treat with dsre-
1t was to punish the gross crime Of defying the
Constitution, and to vlndicate its supreme author
ity, that we carried on bloody war Of four years
duration. Shall We now acknowledge that we sacri.
feed million Of lives and expended billions Of
treasure to enforce Constitution which is not
worthy Of respect and preservation? ,,-sS5s l35
Those who advocated the right Of secession al.
legged in their own justfcatio that We had no re-.
gard for law and that their rights Of property, life
and liberty would not be safe under the Constitu:
ton, as administered BY, us. II we now verify
their assertion, we prove that they were in truth
and in fact fighting for their liberty and instead o1
branding their leaders with the dishouoring name
ment, we elevate them in history to the rank o
| seK-sacrihbing patriots, consecrate them to the
admiration %. Of the world, and place them BY the
No, let us leave them to tho infamy they deserve
punish them as they should be punished accord
| ing to law, and take upon ourselves no share q
be forgoten that both Houses Of Congress in July
1851, declared in the form ef solemn resolution
purpose Of subjugation, but solely to enforce The
Consttution and Laws; and that when this waa
yielded by the parties in rebellion, the contest
should cease with the constitutional rights Of the
States and Of individuals unimpaired, This reso
luton was adopted and sent forth to the world
unanimously by the Senate, and with only two dis
senting voices in the House. It was accepted BY
the friends Of the Union in the South, as well Al
IN the North, as expressing honestly and truly the
object Of the war; On the faith Of It, many thou
and their fortunes to the cause, 10 repudiate 4
now by refusing to the States and to the indivi
duals within them the rights which the Consttu
ton and laws OF the Union would secure to them
is breach Of our plighted honor for which cal
imagine no excuse, and to which cannot volunta
rity become party, s4s5Estg 1S
The evils which spring from the unsettled stat
Of our Government will be acknowledged by all
4 Commercial intercourse is impeded capital is Il
constant peril public securities auctunte in value
peace itsaR is hot secure, and the sense OF mora
and political duty is impaired. To avert thes
calanaities from cur county, it is imEeratvely re
quired that .wo should Immediately decide npol
some courrs Of administration which can be stead