Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-11-07

Jne OnlOn, Dut were ItJccteu, VIII
bitter abuse and denunciation heapec
upon their people as bands Of rebeli
and traitors.
Beside, how could they commit sui
eide when Congress resolved they
should not, and waged war for foui
years, according to resolution previ
ous'y quoted, to prevent it-"with nc
purpose Of conquest or subiugation,
nor Of overthrowing Or interfering
with the rights and established insti.
tutions of the States y'--but TO main.
tain them "with- all their dignity,
equality, and rights unimpaired ~
Though States may nos commit sui
eide or forfeiture Of sovereignty to
the Federal Government they may be
subjugated and overthrown by tyran-
ny and despotism and i. is in this
way only that the States of the Amer
lean Union can be destroyed.
Those, however, who do not main
tain this theory, insist that these
States have been engaged in a wicked
rebellion, the suppression of which
cost the Federal Government thou.
sands of millions of treasure and hun
dreds of lives The assertion of the
cost is true and, whether properly
styled a rebellion or not, the remem-
brance of the war must bring pang
of sadness to every feeling heart. But
we too have 10 mourn over our i'm
poverishment, as people, the graves
Of our gallant dead and the woes OF
widowhood and orphanage which have
cast their shadows into many once
happy homes. After a struggle so
unnatural and so grievous between
this great family of Washington's 5
children, in which both sides exhibited
heroism, courae and endurance that
must challenge mutual respect, these
common sorrows ought TO melt the
hearts of both sections into forgive
ness of the past; che waters of Lethe
should wash out the memory of our
sufferings and we should come togeth-
er in the spirit OF magnanimity and
justice-the only foundation on which
permanent peace and prosperity can
be restored ! But zee, the powerless
and unarmed vanquished, must be
punished by the triumphant victors
But can you punish Statesy Public
lists, who treat OF war powers while
war RACES, maintain the right of one
side to punish the other. But chal-
lenge the production of single re-
spectacle authority to justify the pun
ishment of the vanquished, in their
character as States, after they have
laid down their arms. Al the time OF
surrender, the victorious party may
dictate the terms of surrender. But
it can mover, thereafter, superadd 9TH
ers, by way of punishment, or for any
purpose. Such an attempt is treach-
crous and despicablc and is so eonsid-
cred by all civilized nations Whence,
then, does Congress derive the author
ity TO punish these States, as States 2
Point, if you can, to single word 10
the Constitution TO justify it, If indi-
viduals have committed treason, you
may punish them, aud it indicates the
mode in which it shall be done. 1t
must be done by the judicial tribu-
nails, after a public trial and convic-
tion by an impartial jury. But il is
adding cruelty to injustice to punish
the whole peoples of States by abro-
eating their governments and impo-
sing upon them governments against
their consent, thus involving the inno-
cent with the guilty, in the odium Of
the alleged crime. And do you not
know, there were thousands in all
these States, that deprecated and de-
plored secession and who took shel.
terunder the Confederate flag, because
there was no power here, for months
after secession -ay for years to
protect them under The "Stars and
Stripcsg 2" Such treatment derives no
support from international law or the
Christianity and the
civilization Of the nineteenth century
revolt at such n wholesale system Of
primitive retribution. Impartial his
Tory will brand il; the enlightened
world will condemn il The triumph
ant North ought not TO persist in IL
1t is due to themselves and to the
character of our Government to aban-
don il. True craftsmanship acts eau,
liously, justly, upon principles, with
out the influence of vindictive temper
In your eleventh comment upon
my letter, you say: "Thero are many
good men at the South, some Of whom
we're Rebels but public tranquility
and public justice can be secure only
when guaranteed by equal rights and
equal laws. Yet they must
be guaranteed, nay, ,0iR be; and then
capital, energy, enterprise, and pros
perity, will abundantly bless the
South" This l understand to be
IN announcement, quasi authoritative,
hat the Congressional scheme of re-
will be carried out at all
hazards, which signifies that the nc
yroes shall be universally enfran-
'hised, Us the means f"gHranteeing
EQUAL rights and equal laws and
hat thon the reign Of prosperity will
begin at the South. Do you vainly
expect that the white people of the
south will have "equal rights and
EQUAL laws" when subordinated to the
lminion of the black racer Does.it
ook like guaranteeing equal rights
md equal laws to distranchiso suf-
icient number of whites 10 secure this
-csnlt agree with you that the
scheme will be executed, and ] pray
hat your promised good times for tho
south may be fulfilled. But | do not
expect it, for the simple reason that
he legitimate and necessary results