The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-11


subject tits, indeed, very humiating, especially
to o.sonle Of us who are disfanchised by the Bill;
but is there anything degrading in it2 When Ma
poleon Bonaparte, who fought as gallantly as ever
man fought was ogsThelm ID by superior num-
Europe. He, was Inundated, but he was not de-
graded. Was General Robert E. Lee degraded
when; after his forces had melted away, phaanx by
phalanx, he surrendered to General Grant, Let
rs lpok to this llustrious example. You say
that, althongh you: have surrendered, you will
not do what the cmqueror requires. You will
simply do moi ing, !. and submit to whatever
follows; ;tbut General Lee did not do this. After
hB hnd surrendered his sword to General Grant,
who, tits reported with magnanimity that has
seldom ,bes1 equalled and never surpassed, re-
turned it to him With expressions Of admiration
and sympathy. General Lee did not put himself
Ipons his dignay and say, I am conquered; am
at your mercy; DO with me as you please, but
rest assured ! will do nothing; T will never dis
grace myself by doing what the conqueror re-
quirs. T am IN your hands, Sir, but will carry
out no terms you dictate. 0n the contrary, Gen.
Leeinquired, what terms will .you give me'Y Gen.
Grant informed him substantially that he must
take parole to abandon the cause for which he
had fought SO gallantly, and swear never again to
take up arms against the Government of the Unit
cd StateS which he had for the last four years at
tempted to destroy in the Southern States. When
the terms we're offered, Gen: Lee and his gallant
veterans accepted them, and acted upon them, as
the best they could do under the circumstances.
Gen. Lees course then was not consistent with
his former course. Had he stood upon consisten-
cY, and refused to- act or sign the parole, he and
hie gallant comrades must have gone to military
prison and been tried for treason. What he did
was aumiliating to his pride. But the condition
Of tho conquered is always humiliating. Did any
one say that Gen. Lee, by acting upon the terms,
had degraded himself, or forfeited the respect OF
others, how much more degrading is it for youto
accept and act upon the best terms you can get as
conquered people -.
Suppose you refuse to accept the terms of this
Bill, Will you get any better? When Congress
presented to Us the Constitutional Amendment
jected it, did it present to us the same measure
alona second ime2 No! But they said, YOU
nave refused this measure, and now you shall ac-
ceRt 1t and universal suffrage too.
suppGso' E1w, you refuse to act upon the pres
ent otter. What may we expect but general dis
reimbursement OF all who engaged in the rebel
hon, and general Confscation Act. But it is
said that the Bill disfranchises large class of
our fellow citizens. True, it DISTINGUISHES q large
and highly intelligent class. Who are they? It dis
franchises all who were members of Conoress or
officers OF the United States who had taken an oath
to support the Constitution Of the United States
and afterwards engaged N the rebellion. There
were few United States officers in Georgia prior to
the Nar, except postmastors. But it disfranchines
every officer of the EIecutue Legislative and 7,tdi
cial departments of the State Government who had
taken the oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States and engaged In the rebellion. This
Governors of States, members of the Legislature
or Judicial officers. In the latter class is embraced
all Judicial officers who had right to try causes,
from Judge Of the Supreme Court down to Jus
tice If the Peace who had taken said oath and
engaged in tho rebellion, as we are now
obliged to cali it, whatever may have been our
opinions. But there is q large class of officers who
are not disiranchised, although their Offices re-
qured them to take an oath to support the Consti-
tuition Of the United States
No man under twenty-seven years of age is dis
years. old to hold an offco that required him to
lake the osth to support the Constitution and it
3 pas ), now been six years since the wa1 begun
Ge,ther militia officers, nor county officers, not