The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-02-20

otherwise shall it be lawful to exclude
such leaders while engaged in such re.
belllon or afterwards from being elected
to or assuming such Offices.
MIR. Speaker, the man who affirms
that this lsrot substantially just aflir.
nance in the terms Of express law, of
the exact effect OF the doctrine that the
people ofa State can do no act which
deprlves even temporarily such people
and their States of the power to elect
our rulers is either a false man or an i'm
beetle; and with him hold no debate.
And he who, seeing the consequences
OF such doctrine thus f.irly written out
into the terms of law, does not turn
away from them with loathing and utter
disgust is worse than either false or i'm.
beetle. lie is 4 traitor! And here |
leave that.
MI Speaker, that second and only
other method to which have alluded,
OF enforcing the position that the United
States have 10 power to assume the Or
ganization Of loyal republican govern,
ments tn these revolled States can be
accurately stated thus: it says that, ad.
hitting that during the force and usur-
patlons of the war of reballion, the reb,
els and their States ceased to have the
power to elect our rulers, yet the rebel.
lion being crushed the violent over.
throw of the old constitution and llws
OF these States ended, and the people
having submitted after crushing defeat
to The authority they failed to over
throw, then and thereupon these old
State governments and such new ones
as those so defeated may choose to
form become at once republican and
loyal States, and the United States have
no control over the matter, either as to
who shall be electors and take part in
revivng these States, or as to when
and upon what terms these States and
their people shall resume the high pow.
eF OF States governing the Union!
Now, Mr., Speaker, if this be indeed
the state of our constitutional law, then
this too may be written ont fully into
the forms Of express law. So written
ont in all It's leading requirements and
it reads rs follows:
Article nine, section two Whenever
hereafter such a rebellion against this
Unionas is described in the first section
of this article shall ARISE and Le over
thrown by the United States, then and
in all such cases they who engaged in
such rebellion, war, murders, starvings,
poisonings, and other practices of bar.
barlans, to the end that they might
destroy the Government Of the United
States, shall, Immediately upon their
having their arms wrestcd from them,
and while yetplisoners OF war, have the
right both as individuals and as the peo,
pie and electors of ,heir States to elect,
and also TO become the President, the
Vice President, Senator'S, and Repre-.
Of the United States. And
such traitors shall, moreover, have the
power to so frame their State constitu-
tien and laws that none shall be entitled
to vote for the Offices aforesaid except
those who engaged in said rebellion;and
the said traitors and the States which
they compose shall be entitled thus to at
once assume said control of the Govern
ment CT the United States, although in
fact none of them shall have either felt
or professed any regret for such treason,
and although they may remain as tt al,
torous as ever toward the Government
Ut the United States, and may in fact as,
sumed such powers tor the overthrow of
the Government of the United States,
and this although those so taking said
offices for traltorous purposes may com
pose a majority OF both Houses of Con,
gress And 1t shall be unconstitutional
and illegal for the United States, by
Joint committee of Congress- or other.
wise, to even inquire into the matter of
the return to loyalty or into the other
acts or purposes of the traitors atore-
said, or into the republican character or
purposes of the governments of their
said States. But, on the contrary, such
rebels, and if they so order they alone,
shall be, Immediately upon their defeat
as aforesaid, and while yet prisoners OF
war, entitled to assume and take con-
troll of the Government Of the United
States without inquiry, conditions, let,
hinderance, or delay. And it shall,
moreover, be unlawful to exclude such
traitors from any of said offices either
by requiring test oaths or otherwise,
except only that each House of Congress
may Judge of the election and qualifca-
ton of Its own members, and expel If
two thirds so order.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, in this section I
do not caricature or exaggerate, but on
the contrary ! far understate the appal-