Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-03-06

pend upon the withdra wal Of the military
protection extended TO this class of peo-
pie by the United States, thereby refus-
ing to accept the situation" unless per.
mitted to dictate to Congress what should
be the character of its legislation 10 rela-
ton to the recently emancipated slaves
Mississippi showed her respect for the
auth ority Of the United States by passing
an act, approved November q, 1868, as 70
a certain class Of otfenses committed be-
fore the war. granting an amnesty to such
persons, and to such persons only, who
had volunteered in the Confederate army,
ard who did not desert said army. If a
man had served in the Union army. OF
enlisted in the Rebel army and deserted,
he was 10 be tried and punished for often.
ses committed before the war; but il he
bad served the rebellion without desert
ipg.ihis purRed him sfr2nnlb gu1if NJ
l. so blind as not to see tliat such icgisla-
ton as this was out Of pure respect for
the authority Of the United Statesl Again,
by another act Of the same date, Missis.
sippi set apart twenty per cent of the
entire revenue Of the State. revenue pro-
posed to be raised by the most enormous
taxation, for relief fund for the relief
of destitute, disabled Confederate soldiers
and their widows aud children. Union
soldiers who resided or might settle in the
State Of Mississippi were to be taxed to
pension those who fought TO destroy the
Government Does not this dscrimina-
ton in favor Of rebel soldiers and against
Union soldiers show marvellous respect
for the authority Of the United States?
especially when il is considered that by
another law of the same State Union
soldier. il he happened TO be black man,
might be sold on the block into temporary
slavery TO pay poll tax.
Again, manned rebel soldiers were ex-
empied from the payment of poll taxes
aud license fees; but no such exemption
was extended TO persons who fought for
their country.
Another very significant act showing
the respect Of Mississippi for the authofi.
~ Of tho United Slates.was the fact that
her Legislature, on the LIST of December,
1865, obliterated the very name Of the
only county in the State that had been
loyul 10 the Government during the war,
aud rebaptized it in the name Of the chief
of the rebellion, by giving it the namc Of
Davis. The name Of the county seat Of
the 81 me.county was changed 10 Lees sbrrg
in honor Of Gen. Lee. Is il not great
outrage that Legislature so loyal rs to
PASS an nct like this. showing such marked
respect for the authority Of the United
States, should not be permitted TO elect
two Senators OF the United States to take
their seats by the side Of Mr.. Hendricks
aud assist him to represent true loyalty
aud true constitutional liberty?
The butchery at Memphis, and the
slaughter ut New Orleans, sneak in thun.
der tones in favor of the proposition that
the people Of the South yichled obedience
10 the law aud respect the authority OF
the United Sialesl Let me call your at.
tenriou to u bill growing out of the last
named buteheiy, rendered by the Chief
Of Police OF the City OF New Orleans to
the city Treasurer of that city, after the
murder Of the members Of the Convention
Thus il reads:
CoNrraotLEa's orFfcF.
Nrw onLTAss, November rs, 1867
OPTICS or rnE CnIsP OF poLcf.
New oHLEAss, August 10, 1861.
City Of New Orleans,
To Thomas II. Adams, DR..
For eash paid for hauling iorty.six loads OF
dead aud wounded from around the Me-
chhnics' Institute to Station House, az &3. tl3s
Paid tor carrying dead from station House to
WORK House yard, eight leads, ut 50. q
Paid Tor hlicen loads OF wounded from sta
tion to flecdmen's Hospital ut $S..""".". 6I
Paid caniuee aud cab hire for myself aud
aios during the week Of the riot ....."....." u
Here you see. from an official documen,
recently brought to the notice of Congress
by Gen Butler. that these r,bol officials
OF Nsw Orleans account for siriy.aiae ioddl
Of dead and wounded Union men murder
ed In cold blood
The blood Of these slaughtered oueI
crying from the ground, must have inspir'
ed Mr.. Hendricks when ho asserted thai
the people of the South yielded obedionc,
to law aud respect to the authority Of tn,
United States.
Aud yet these are the people for gov
orning whom, gallant Phil Sheridan wa'
removed from command by the President
TO tho sgreat delight Of tho Democratic
party. North and South.
But we are assured not only that th,
people Of the South did yield obedience Il
law and respect to the authority Of th,
United States, but that they entirely nc
quiesced In tho results Of tho war.
One Of the results OF the war, ma l. nov
conceded on all hands, was the abolition
OF slavery Ia the insurgent States, and th,
consequent obligation 20 protect the freed
men In their inallennble rights, among
which there II good authority for saying
are "lifc, liberty and the pursuit Of hap-
piness.' Indeed, the founders of thl
republic are reported TO have declared
that, "to secure these rights, government
are instituted among mon, deriving thei
just powers from the consent Of tho gov
erncd.''
PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION.
When Mr.. johnson assumed 10 bo th
United States, and nrrogated to hinsal
the law. making power Of the Governu mi
he was not unmindful of tho fact tha
slavery had been abolished In tho insur
reo,ionary States by Executive proelama
ton ~ q necessary war measure, aud tia
this abolition had received tho sanction 0
Congress and the people.
In his amnesty proclamation Of Ma
90. 1865, he required every rebel, as a con
dition Of pardon, 10 take aud subscribe III
following oath, viz
III do solemnly swear, or affirm, in th
presence Of Almighty God, that | wi