Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-11-07


authoritative intimation had been giv-
en- that other terms would be cxactod,
and il remains for history TO record
the Disappointment, chagrin, and
modification of the Southern States
when they ascertained that their
hopes and expectations were doomed
to defeat. But .he Congress and the
President got into quarrel, and Con
grcss visited upon us their wrath, as
if we were responsible for the breach.
Restoration has been postponed; and
up to this day, Congress stands un-
pledged to our admission without
qualification, even il we adopt the
Sherman scheme of reconstruction.
1t is not offered TO us as an uncondi-
tiona finality; prominent Republican
members say il is not a fnali'y, un-
less the action of these States shall ex.
hibit satisfactory Republican majori-
ties. Aside, therefore, from the OBJ.
iectionablc features Of the scheme it.
self, do you wonder that the South
ern States hesitate? Can you be
surprised at their earnest and decided
opposition 10 the scheme When
Congress repudiated the Executive
plan of reconstruction, it was their
duty to propose one of their own
promptly, cordially and in good faith.
If they had offered such a plan-con-
stitutional aud just in its terms-with
the assurance that it was q tinality,
il would have been accepted But
they wrangled for nearly or quite
two years-threatening impeachment
of the President and confiscation
and at last concocted the programme
now on trial; degrading, as we think,
to the manhood OF our people, uncon-
stitutional in every feature, and evin-
Give of deep hatred toward us, on the
part of a majority of the Republican
party. The programme will be exc
cuted even beyond the exactness of
its letter and the vengeance of its
spirit. How sad, that the victors re-
fuse TO be just and magnanimous in
the hour of triumphant success That,
so far from listening, they become en-
ragged, at our earnest protest-nor
hear argument, nor give us utterance,
even through their presses Except the
Tribune much less in Congress
How lamentable that, in a time of
peace, hdbeds corpus is suspended, and
tho civil courts prohibited from hear
ing our complaints-that an unarmed
people are kept under the surveillance
Of military garrisons, at the cost of
millions TO the public treasury How
exceedingly mortifying that, when
we plead the benefits of our common
Constitution, we are branded with
disloyalty and gravely told that we
are without the pale of the Constitu-
ton Oh there will come day of
retribution 1t may be that, we of
the South, in the eye of the Just God
of nations, are unworthy to be res
cued from the fate which casts its
ominous shadows before us. But let
the words of Him, "who spake as
never man spake," read all lesson.
"Those on whom the tower of Sloan
fell, think We they were sinners above
all other men | tell you, nay" We
have been crushed by the fall, bnt we
are "not sinners above all other men,"
Permit me to reason with your read
ers little concerning the grounds on
which Congress justifies its harsh pol
icy toward the Southern States 1t
is asserted by its leading and most
distinguished advocate that the con-
dition Of these States presents case
outside of the Constitution-one for
which it does not provide. That
proposition, if the States were not
States in the Union, and had gotten
out, as the legitimate result of the
war, would be plausible. But they
did not get out of the Union. They
were held in, by force of arms, and
Congress, as l have above shown, wa
ged the war, not for subjugation or
conquest, "overthrowing or interfer-
ing with the rights or established in
stitutions of the States" "but
to preserve the Union, with all the
dignity, equality, and rights Of the
several States unimpared" Did Con-
gress fail'to succeed in the object for
which it prosecuted the warg Did it
preserve the UnionY II it did, then
it also preserved the States-these ten
prescribed States with call their
dignity, equality, and rights unim-
paired" How is it possible, then, for
their condition to be such as to place
them beyond the benefits of the Con.
stitution
But suppose them TO be outside of
the Constitution, whence docs Con-
gross derive power to reconstruct
them atallg Congress has no power
not conferred by the Constitution. 1t
has no inherent powers it can exer-
else none but such as are delegated TO
it by the several States that formed
the Constitution.
IL is true, the Constitution does not
provide for secession, for no govern
ment provides for its own disintegra.
ton. The right of secession is not to
bo found in the Constitution, but it
results from the very nature of the
between the States. l can
not put il in better language than
you did in your language previously
quoted: "The right to secede may be
a revolutionary one, bUt Il eriSts, nep-
The Constitution, not
having provided for secession, did not
provide for coercion; and | cannot
put this proposition in any better
language than you did, in tho same
extract: "We do not SEQ how ono par.
ty has right 20 do what another par
ty has right TO prevent. We must