The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-01-10

auu Oo iuSting oOurc0 OF irfithllOn
and strife.
In examining the proposed nuend.
ment, its extreme moderation is, under
all the circumstances of the country
land the time, most remarkable. It
contains four provisions, (which three
would become 'irrepealable and un-
changable except by new amendment
of the Constitution; but the other could
be suspended or annulled by act of
Congress-.
| The three former consist, first, of the
grant of power to the National Gov
ernment to protect the citizens Of the
whole country in their legal privileges
and immunities, should any State at
tempt to oppress classes or individu-
ais, or deprive them of the equal pro-
lection of the laws; second, OF the equi-
table equalization OF representation, by
forbldding any State or district to 10 .
crease the number OF its Representa-
tives in Congress by enumerating in
the electoral basis, classes Of United
States citizens who are still denied the
elective franchise; and thrJ, of the af-
firmation of the inyiolability of the
faith pledged to the payment of the ex-
listing public debt of the United States,
coupled with the denial oc power to
the National or State Governments to
assume or pay any debt incurred in
aid of the late rebellion.
A simple statement of these propo. !.
sitions is their complete justifcation.-
The first was proven necessary long
before tho war, when it was notorious
that any attempt to exercise freedom
of discussion in regard to the system
which was then hurrying on the re.
bellion, was not tolerated in the South
crn States; and the State laws gave no
real protection to immunities of this
kind, which are of the very essence of
free government The necessity, also,
OF having somewhat a reserved right
to project the freedom of tho slaves
whom the war emaDcipated is too pal
pable for argument If these rights
are in good faith protected by State
laws and State authorities, there will
be no need of federal legislation on the
subject, and the power will remain in
abeyance; but if they are systematical-
ly violated, those who violate them
will be Themselves responsible for all
the necessary interference of the CEN
tral government.
The : cohd proposition is so just in
itself that the only objection raised to
il is that it is change of the original
so.called compromises of the consti.
tuhon." II is an all.sufficient answer
to say that the rebelious States long
enjoyed very disproportionate power
in the government, which they used
for the destruction of the government
itself, and that after such rebellion, a
rc admission of the insurgents to a
true republican equality OF representa-.
tion is the most that the loyal citizens
of the country can allow, in justice to
themselves. 1t is neither denied nor
concealed that this is q diminution Of
the present political power of the
Southern States which is a penalty for
rebellion; but when the penalty con-
sists only in looping off that which
was an excess Of. power before, and in
applying an equal rule TO them and to
ourselves. it may well be doubted
whether defeated insurgents were ev
er before treated with equal magnani.
nifty
Tho third proposition, relative TO the
debt, has, | believe, found no open op.
position.
Tho third section OF the amendment
is that which provides for the dsqual.
'fcation for holding Office of class re.
garded as peculiarly responsible for
the rebellion. This disqualification
may be removed by Congressional ac.
ton, and its continuance or discontin.
uance would be determined by the cvi.
dence OF real return of honest allie.
glance to the National Government
1t may fairly bo said, therefore, to dc
pend upon tho Southern people them.
selves whether il shall long continue
to operate; and they cannot reasona-
bly, complain of the burden of pro.
vision which their own loyalty could
remove. 1t is as necessary provis.
ion for the public safety that this is in
sisted upon, and am sure there is no
in the North to continue any
disability beyond the period duriug
which the necessity shall seem real.
Such is, in my opinion, the charac.
ter of the amendments proposed,
which it is my duty to lay before you
for your action. Several of the States
have already ratified il, but l. deeply
regret to know that it has been reject
cd by several of those whose ratitica.
tion would do more to make the meas.
ure the promise and beginning of that
full settlement of our internal dissen.
sons for which we all long. am not
hope that u maturer considera.
ton and culmer reflection will convince
even those who have rejected the pro-
posal, that justice. right, and o wise
alike dictate reconsider.
ltion of the matter ar d adifferent dc. /
,ision. I'D Cox. Governor.
NOihra In Gn0eesmna,.