American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-09-04
ADDRESS
OF THE UNION REPUBLICAN sTATE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

August zfth, lcof.-Io The People OF
Pennsylvania Feltog Citizens -Iu a re-
cent address from this Committee your
attention was invited to sundry issues
and principles involved in the pending
canvass and also to the politial opinions
and judicial decisions of George Shars-
wood. A short review of the principal
occurrences, since the last State cam
paign,is now considered proper. The con-
test of 1866 was fought, in the main,
upon the amendments proposed by Com
gress to the Consultation of the United
States. These were national issues and
on the one side were arrayed the Union
Republican party and the "Boys in
Blue" and on the other President John.
son, the Democratic party, and all the
rebels and their synpathizers from one
end of the Union to the other. On
those momentous issues Penusylvania
rallied in her strength, and polled over
one hundred and forty thousand more
votes than at her preceding annual elec,
tion. Among the results were the tri-
umphant election of Major General John
w. Geary for Governor, and the Indorse>
ment Of Congress, by the return of q
delegation more unanimous for the right
than ever known before in the history of
the Commonwealth. Other loyal States
united with us, and the insane wicked
"Policy" of his new trends and allies,
was overwhelmed by the Unprecedented
and magnificent popular majority OF four
hundred thousand yotes Every State
which had been faithful to the National
Government and the cause of the Union
| curing the war, approved the amendments
Every rebel State, except Tennessee,
| rejected them and under the rebel pro-
yisional governments created by Presl-
dent johnson, rebel power resumed its
authority, and became dominant in their
executive, legislative, and judicial de
partments. Vagrant and labor laws vir-
tually enslaved the freedmen. Loyal
men were outlawed and trampled under
foot; and the revived spirit of the rebell-
ion was everywhere triumphant, Riots
murders, outrages, and assassinations
were the order of the day, and security
for either the lives or the property of
loyal men was nowhere found. Treason
had front seats, loyalty had been made
odious, and traitorous conspirators against
the life of the nation were vindictive and
! rampant.
Such was the condition of public af-
fairs in the South when Congress con-
vened in december, 1866. This nation
had solemnly resolved, and voted, that
the Union should be restored on the ba>
sis of loyalty and justice; and to this end
was the Fortieth Congress elected. Hence
were passed the Reconstruction laws in
execution of the recent popular verdict.
The President vetoed them, refusing to
accept or abide by the decision of the
people. to whom he had so often and so
vauptingly appealed. Congress re en>
acted them over the vetoes, by more than
the required two-thirds ; and they are
now the laws Of tile Ind. Under them,
including the amendments of last session,
reconstruction is rapidly progressing;
and would doubtless ere long be success,
fully accomplished, but for the persistent
Instructions by the President, in defiance
of Congress and the popular will. JUS
tice is being done; loyal men, white and
black, have been protected from the mas
lice of defeated rebels; treason, in a meas.
ure at least, has "been made odius," and
traitors have been compelled "to take
back seats'-as Andrew johnson, in
lucid interval, declared they should.
Even the better portion of the rebels
admit the justice of these reconstruction
laws and cheerfully acquiescc in their
provisions. General james Longstreet,
distinguished rebel officer, in recent
published letter from New Orleans, ex-
presses himself as follows;
= 81 shall set out by assuming a prop
osition that | hold to be selfevident,
viz: The highest of human laws is the
law that is established by appeal to arms
The great principles that divided poiti.
cal parties prior TO the war we're thorough
ly discussed by our wisest statesmen.
When argument was exhausted resort was
had to compromise when compromise was
unavailiug, discussion was renewed and ex-
pendents were sought, but none could be
found to suit the emergency. Appeal was
finally made to the sword, to determine
which of the claims was the true construc.
tion of the constitutional law The sword
has decided iu favor of the North and
what they claimed as principles, CAGES to
be principles, and are become law. The
views that we hold cease TO be principles
because they are opposed to law. Ii as,
therefore, onr duty to abandon ideas that
are obsolete, and conform to the requires
ments Of laso. The military bill and
amendments are peace offerings.
We should accept them as such, and
place ourselves upon them as the
starting point from which to meet
future political issues as they arise.
jeff. Thompson, another rebel General.
In late letter to George D. Prentice,
Esq, indorses the reconstruction laws of
Congress thus:
"The confederate government wiped
out States rights the first year of its
existence, a bloody war wiped out slavery,
and wiped out the confedercy, so they
are obsolete ideas and the plain question
now presented is, 'Will you accept
citizenship under our terms, as contained
in this law 7, and 1 emphaticaHg anssoer