The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-09-11
PRICE FIVE CENTS.

the people of Arkansas In all future
time shall not be permitted to make
their Constitution conform to the Con-
stitution of Pennsylvania They are
to have and hold Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress upon the cof1di.
tion that they shall not withhold from
colored men the right of suffrage In
their State,a las is done In onr own.
THE SIX STATES BILL.
On the 18th of June last, six addition
al States were admitted to renewed rep
resentation North and South Caroii-
ma, Georgia. Florida, Louisiana and
Alabama. These were declared to have
| complied with the reconstruction laws
and to be again entitled to be heard in
the government of the United States
through their representatives, and to
participate in Presidential elections. An
additional measure, a joint resolution,
was also passed by Congress on the 2Otli
OF July, which was in substance and
effect to forbid the States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas from voting at
all In the Presidential election.
THE ALABAMA CASE.
This completes the series of recon.
struction measures. But in the case of
Alabama, one of the six States admit
ted to representation under the act of
June %, there was peculiar question.
Under the earlier reconstruction laws
1t was required that IA majority of all of
the registered voters in State should
vote at the election upon adopting or
rejecting new constitution. 1t did not
make any difference which way they
voted, majority of the whole number
registered must vote, and then major
ity of those voting would decide the
result. In the State of Alabama, the
election upon the new constitution was
held under that law, and minority of
the registered voters only voted Con-
sequently abe constitution failed; it was
rejected under the law; il became, il
was waste paper from that moment, so
far as any pretense of legality or force
In 1t was concerned. The people of that
State were told by the law that if they
stayed away from the polls and did not
vote, they should be counted against
the adoption of the constitution. They
availed themselves of that privilege un-
der the law, and thus defeated the Con-
stitution.
What did Congress do in that case?
They took that constitution and de-
clared long afterwards that it should be
| the Constitution of the State of Alaba-
ma; in fact, declared that the State of
Alabama had adopted It, What false
hood What an outrage In plain
truth, there ia State at this moment
represented in both Houses of Congress.
assisting to make laws for the Ameri-
can people, whose constitution was re-
jected under the laws which applied to
its adoption. The majority in Congress
have taken piece of dead paper, voted
down, rejected, stamped upon, spurned
by the people, and haye insolently de-
clared that it shall be the constitution
of Alabama, and that the people shall
be bound by it. Yes And we, men
of Pennsylvania, must submit to see
theSenators and Representatives chosen
under that bogus constitution sitting in
both houses of Congress assisting to
make laws to bind us, and to appropri-
ate the money we pay in different forms
of taxation.
Is reeonstruction to stand? This is
reconstruction in Alabama Oh! what
shame in this country, in which illus
trious men and patriots have lived and
have written and spoken to us and left
behind them their teachings-what a
shame 1t is that we are required to stand
up and debate these questions against a
party which, "outside of the Constitu-
tion," makes constitutions for the
States, disregards the votes of the peo-
pie, thrusts into the Houses of Congress
bastard and bogus representatives of
, popular power, and is at this moment
welding the authority of our common
government for its own base and dia-
bolical purposes; that it may retain
power, and rejoice in the plunder of the
people! What do they give to us in re-
turn, AS an indemnity for all this? Why
an occasional cry of "copperheud" and
. "rebei," and other parrot cries, which
are beneath the dignity of honest de-
, bate, and beneath the utterance of hon
est manhood. Great cheering.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL OF THESE
LAWS.
? Well, gentlemen. / have spoken lon
: ger than intended on this subject -
r [''Go on, Go on" If time permitted
, ! would go over the argument and
+ show you that on several distinct and
I unquestionable grounds the whole Sc
, ries of reconstruction acts are uncunsti-
Y tutional, null and void. Let me brief
= ly state the outlines of an argument
# which, in my opinion, ought to put to
e shame the pretenses upon which it is
|, attempted to Justify this legislation.
y In the first place, observe that recon-
IS struction is in flat contempt and in
It open denial of n principle OF republic
/, can government which is fundamental
r and cannot he ignored or diSregardpd.
t We have il in our constitutions in the
l. most solemn form: "All Just govern
|, ment'-mark the words-''all just gov
= ernment rests upon the consent of the
l. governed" Upon what do the consti-
'S tutions of Arkansas and Alabama rest /?
2, Upon the consent of the populations
e governed: Answer me that, broad :
y mouthcd defender of the Radical fac
IF tion. Both rejected under the la these
n constitutions instead of resting upon
e. the consent of the governed" ," rest up
pit on Congressional usurpatiOn. So of all
le the rest, because the terms of suffrage
~ In all are prescribed and command
ct ed by Congress; not adopted by the
to people, not considered by them, but
So imposed on them; and 50 certain pro.
C. visions OF the new constitutions, were
o. dictated beforehand by Congress. II
at was provided in these reconstruction
ii laws that those constitutions should
t. contain certain provisions, and in tn,
Iy admission laws, to which have refer
N red, you will obrerve that Congress
y, provided that these reconstructed
he States shall never change their consti
tutions hereafter so as to make then
II like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and most o
the other Northern states, on 'dhe sub
as Ject of suffrage.
ct These governments, then, rest no
Mt upon the consent of the governed, bu
.d upon congressional power. They ar
n the assertion of imperial authority /
ed Congress like omnipotence in Parlis
mt ment. The Parliament of Great Brit
tain once asseated that they could iu
at pose on America such forms of coloni,
government as they pleased. upon sue
tie conditions as they chose; extend ov,
he it their will, which should be par,
ro- mount and supreme In all the settl
nd ments then planted on our shores,
, What said our fathers? They sal
of "Just government rests upon the CO.
- sent of the governed" Applause
he They took up arms against parliame
ug tary OmnipOtence, the mower to impo