The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-17

the victims of oppression. their rights as
-nairs.nents OF the Golden Rule. we will
not De responsible for The consequences If IT
shall turn out that hey kcannot sustain
themselves in the presence OF the superior
numbers, superior culture and superior
advantages pc sessed by our race ~E
-1SWhen the rebellion was about to hurst
be made ca y, and its success be assured
the Buchanan Democracy proclaimed 10
the world that the lan sta's MT
snmea he dulles H so aftD ffesideisiaI Of
flee. found In the constitution sumcient
power o coerce traitors even though en-,
Teloped in the panepIy of prete1ded
state Sovereignty, and so successfui was ne
in the work that all State Governments
that bad been perverted to the cause OF the
rebellion went down with it. "a 3.hL
the rsbeiiiens SUonfederaie government,
and Inc traitorous State 9evernments that
adhered To it being destroyed, the same
nation can not reconstruct a rebel State.
That the breath of loyal political life can
rebsllien by the traitors who destroyed its
Government in an effort TO overthrow
their country. Re 'iels can destroy loyal
State Governmentst and erect disAoyal
: ones in their stead at pleasure. and when
these are in their turn DESTROYED ey lie
military power OF the nation, .nese .h anne
selves into loyal State Governments ana
demand as matter of righta par
,ioyaf' men OF the nation Toy whom
they We're subiugated, and that toe with a
large increase OF. their political . ,Eer. Sot
only so but according to some 0f the ortr
cles of Democracy. these rebel States aud
their yebeliious people; a. theaSrEy time
Government had a right 10 he represented
help TO control the iesfsiatien and poircy
f G5 tfe sns rom fhe f.nfiy 81 matioRs
II would seem that such a b a rditdes are too
form the sta ole of pemocpatie logic on the
subject 'ofrec ,ssstructio The loyai and
gallant people OF the United states.
assembled. ON the other hang insist thai
there can be bO reconstruction that shall
restore to the rebel states their governing
power in the Union, except Npon such
terms and ceadftions as Congress shall
prescribe.
The Thirty-Ninth Congress. ia the spirit
of forbearance, proposed as the nations
terms of reconstrqcten,a it am eadlneut to
the constitution o the United States, con-
tanning the folio !. ing mild and generous
/. Defining national citizenship. and
protecting the civil rights Of all American
citizens nom hostile State legislation.
2 Equalizing representation in Con-
gress, SO that the representation from each
State shall be in proportion t. the voting
population instead of the entire popula-
ton, TO the END that If the loyal colored
men of any state should not be permitted
white men of such State shall rot be in
creased by counting the c'lored people in
the basis o. representation
3. Declaring that. no person SHALL hold
any office. civil or military, Gaiderss the
United States. or ender any state, who, az
a member OF Congress, or as a Federal or
State officer, having previously taken an
OATH to support the Coifstituties,$of the
United States. shall have engaged III i'm
surrection or rebellion against tae same,
or gwen aid or cofnfort 10 the enemies
thereof IN other words, this amendment
n
traitors shall be eligible to Office, state
or Federal, unless relieved from disability
Fry atwOsfhfrtis vote of each House of con
!: Declaring that the validity Of the
nelnins debt ep 81 M enised for sSs
payment of pensions apd bounties for SER
vices In suppressing insurrection or rebel
neither the United states, or any State
shall assume Or pay any debt or OBLIGATION s,t
against the United States; or any, claim
fortheloss or emancipationsof any slave;
but that AL s. such ds,Rts 0bfatons and
No triumphant government ever offered
terms SO milo, SO generqSSs, so 81 masn ai,
gated rebellion. But unfortunately for
1.-the country. the acting President of the
United States had previously turned his
< he owed his election, and attempting TO
draw TO him elf the legislative power of
sns Tp Wh b ses an
ssnnsS Sy ha eng Pa on hi The verge Of
tempted toreconst ryict the rebel States on
q plan OF his own under which the politi-
eal pe 9bweTh 81 De made
kspeeta b q. And a fresh opport unity given
to organixes. new rebellion. 5000
f ie ssherss 2f i mi
Tbs sa saa IL af'f Il Who v had
breatheasi pfp she rebellionf the breath Of
Life by den ancing the NOT tn and denying
to coerce treason when committed under
shs ss33st& RS sss as9 a0% naE RFS
,seltherto, ptI n isbs individual traitors or to
Prescribe the terms en- which practfeaf re-.
Iations of rebel states to the Union should
m s,e ~ sS ses sfsid Sa.
ton AFTER 40 pressing The most strocious
s Isf ssfe OF g9y sns
mics, so far as exactfng Indemnity for THE
qss&Sts0tb &c s srl es 81 tse ss
festiss anu ne ee. ne Ns6,nsTn
tas lid fps s MD ssisssns a1 gn a se
rebel ststes ,eYn tempt sionsiS re eeted the
proposed sConstitut1onaI Amendment.
psssssd Heto
1857 a Staed tS S states intenve mill:
to the military auth GRITTY of theUnited
States, and made 1.-THE duty of thu Presi-
sdentto assign some officer of the army as
La DONNA ndef Of each &of4 said his
tricts. giving MN ia Ssutiicient force 70
authority within the district. This
act expressly empowered and en-
Joined the commanders Of these military
districts tspf protect all persons in their
rights OF person and property. to suppress
fnsurrection, disorder and violence5 and
to punish or cause to be punished ali dis
turbers of the public peace, and criminals,
and to this end the act declared that such
commander might allow local evil tribu-