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

ptopeF 10 tredt tue ctate OrSsulEftioD
formed under it as the legitimate State
GOV srnineut of Louisiarsx eosgress had
more tiian once, befnfe Mr. J0husou TOOK
upon. himself in. 70 cozsixc fha sfaanira-
tion, repndiated the whole thing, and Mr
Hendricks. by HE yOies aud speeches ia
tue Senate, had coheurred in this action
After the Presidential eleciion Of ls6l.
joint RESOLUTION sss pfeseuied 10 the
Senate, declsrsnsr that. tie reyoited States
which, including Louisiaaa, were named
in the preamhles, we're. hot entitled to be
represented 10 the electoral college for the
choice Of President aud Vice President
of the United States. Tor The. term of
office, commenting on tie ish dry of
March, 1865. - e ~
A motion was made "a except Louisi--i
ana irufn the operation OF the resolution.
by striking the name of that State there
from, aud thereby permit her people 10
vote ior President and Vice. President.
Tue amendment did not 'psesssl.snd Mr..
hendricks subsequently, ia 1876. in tx-
planning his vote against striking the
name of Louisiana irom the preamble,
said: Il voted against striking IL OUT
for | did NOT think The Goternmsht ess
tablished there by Geuera Banks 1T the
point of the baJohet, Was sueh goyerL-:
melt as We ought then % reeognizs."
What has occurred since. ask, 10 make
II more worthy OF recognisior2 IL still
has the same constitution. formed Ut the
point oi il.s bayohet, aud one which does
not repudlaie the debt created 10 aid OF /,
rebellion Ii the people Of Louisiana
were not in a condition 10 participate in
Presidential election IN Noeember,
1864 by what process Uf reasoning can 10
be shown that they were 10 condition 10 &
frame or amend a CONSTITUTION in aprl,
1864?
AT the election for Goserhof, held IN
der this organization. in 1864. oDl, 1923
votes were cast in the entire State, aud
yet this cons'ilution aud government is
said TO rest on The broad basis OF the SOW
efeien will Of the people of Louisisns A
glance At the fscis s sufficient 20 negative
any such preiruse .4itsI44l s'is
The Stale Organisation in Arkansas
stands on no better or broader Popular
foundatiun. ra.Hs.Nt IS nnaaullZ sdl
The other class Of retolted States, still
unrepfesented IN Congress, consists OF
those for which Mr.. johnson appointed
Provisional Governors. viz North Csro.
lioa, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama South
Carolina, Florids aud Texas. &. rlsfs..
How stands the fact as to the people Of
these States eIecting delegates 10 these
conventions which framed the constitu-s
lioes under wi ich recognition is demand
cd s.at sH wa u IfitlH
j nuswer that in no one of these seven
States did the great body Of the people
partlci pate in the elections by which these
conventions were called. Not more THAI
one. third of the white men 10 each Of
these States who would have, been entitled
TO vote, had they never. been guilty Of re-
bellion, took part iu those elections aud
the great majority OF those who did vote,
were covered all oter with treason, while
the loyal black men were allowed no voice
ia the choice OF delegates.
Can a convention, which rests on so
narrow popular basis as this be said to
represent the sovereign will cf the people
Of either Of these Stsies2 But waving
this, If you please, did nIl those States rerl
pudiate tho debts contracted in aid of re-.
belicn2 Did each one OF them, as il so
confidently asserted, expressly abandbn
the right Of secession in'the most solemn
manner, aud repndiate aud declare invalid
their several ordinances Of seressiong ba.
| assert that the record shows that tho
South Car0lina Convention never did re-
pudiote her rebel debt. aud that neither
South Caroliua or Georgia ever did, en-.
expressly or impiedly. 10 solemn or un-
solemn manner, abandon the right of 20.
cession, or tepudiaie or declare invalid
their respective ordinances Of secession
On tho contrary, the record shows that
both Of these States simply f,poaisd their
respective ordinances of secession. just ss
your Legislature might repeal 40 net at
ono session aud revive the same act Ut any
subse1nent tcssion.
Each Of these conventions did ineert
clause In the several constitutions adopted
prohibiting slavery, but IL was douo under
Presidential cuefolon, ~ j. manifest ifom
The fact that their subsequent legislatiou
dsrcgurjed nll such inhihiluns.
how. then in tho next place. we're these
constitutions submitted, approved snd rat
lied according TO io,ms always respected,
as i alleged N the complaint OF the Dem.
ocralio party?
| affirm, aud The record Of these conscn.
tions prove The fact SO 10 be, that not one
OF these constitutions. Except pefhaps,
That OF Iexas wse ever submitted to
vote Of any portion Of the rnoplc i;r
which IL was Ilsmed. not wus any attempt
made At such submissioa.
Leaving Texas out Of tho question, (as
70 which am not udsiscd. tho only fact
which does exist that could give even The
color Of truth 70 ;he nliessilon that thoy
wofo Submitted. voted upon and ratified,
Is the Circumstance iha', ia the single
State of Norh Cpiolna, one solitary
clause rrohibiiiue slavery was snbmit,ed
and approved by asinajori,y Of those who
we're permitted I, vote. aud who did vote
upon the question. Aud IN thu mme.
North Carolina Convention, = proposition
was made TO refer 10 Ike manner 10
popular vote, the ordinance tepadiatng
The debt contracted IN aid Of the rebel-'
lion. and il wus promptly voted dowa, DO.
cause IL was known that The people whom
Mr. johnson permpitlod 10 vote would
not ra,ify il.
[coScLupED Srxr WEEK.
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