Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-30
Address of Gov, jenkins.

OOV. CeHkIHS, the G0Yern0r OF GEORGIA, mas
issued an address to the citizens of that State,
from which the following is an extract:
After having treated Georgia as State, SO
far as conceded with their convenience or their
interest-after having tolerated her Govern
ment, reconstructed under Federal Executive
auspices during period of eighteen months,
the Thirty ninth Congress, just at its close, en-
acted a law providing for the reconstruction OF
your State government, in accordance with their
will and pleasure, irrespective of your own ;
dd interim, for your military government The
tortleth Congress, taking up the role imme-
dlately upon the expiration of its predecessor,
has enacted law supplementary to the former
placing the whole machinery of reconstruction
in the hands of the military Governor previous
ly provided for. Constituting the two acts to-
gether that official is clothed with dictatorial
powers over you and sustained by as many bay
onets as may be necessary to the end In VIEW
They prescribe, as indispensable provisions in
your contemplated Constitution, several articles
which the enacting power well knows. you dis
approve, and some OF which, as applicable to
themselves, other States now in full fruition of
the Union disapprove, and have recently re-
jected. Lastly, these enactments for the pur-
pose of this forced reconstruction, extend the
elective franchise to large class of persons on
whom you have never bestowed it, and to whom
you, as well as other States now represented in
Congress by the rejection of the last proposed
constitutional amendment, have refused to ex-
tend it. .hSaa -t s9-ae 3~i''--
These acts of Congress have been vetoed by
the President, but have been passed over his
veto by two-thirds of each branch of the Con-
gress. It III 5stai Gyr
l shall not swell this address by thorough
miliar to you But hesitate not to say to you
that they are palpably unconstitutional and
grievously oppressive.
Such, fellow citizens, is your present condi-
ton, and the official relation bear to you de
mands that speak to you of it. The all alb
sorbing question is, what shall Georgia do?
The public discussions seem to recognize only
two alternatives. First, prompt acquiescence
in the already rejected proposal for amendment
of the Federal Constitution, and in all the re-
quirements of the two acts of Congress before
mentioned, together with the Incorporation of
them ALL by our own acts, into our own consti-
tuition and laws. Secondly, a firm but temper
ate refusal of such acquiescence and adoption !;
and a patient, manly endurance of military gov
eminent, until, in the ef1ux of time, and on the
subsistence OF the passions generated by civil
war, better counsels shall prevail at the Federal
capital-we, meantime, strictly observing law
and order, and vigorously addressing ourselves
to industrial pursuits.
AS between these alternatives, have no hes
itation in advising the adoption of the latter,
but forbear at this time to assign any reasons
for this advice because, fellow-ctizens, l am
far from believing that these are the only alter
natives | have strong faith that there remains
to us an available remedy In the Federal
Government there are three departments. Two
of them have passed upon these measures and
are in direct antagonism regarding their consti-
| nationality. But in that event the Constitution
gives to the legislative department power to
override the Executive, and they have so DONE
There still remains, however, the Judicial De-
partment- the great conservator of the suprem-
acy of the Constitution DEGREES, unlike
the Executive veto, cannot be overridden by
the Congress. That department has not yet
spoken. Should it be found in accord with the
Executive, this usurpation will be arrested
Then, although for time, you may be denied
representation in Congress- your State govern
ment will remain in tact, and full restoration
will not long be delayed