The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-25

full conviction of the sincerity of these dec.
lars,ions, the masses ofthe people responded,
with unprecedented unanimity, to the cali
for armed volunteers, and in q few DAYS after
~ frst SppeAl of Presidens Lincoln % The
- 7l;otisa Of the people, . brilliant srmy
~ aksepine step 70 thu music Of the
Unton, carrying the victorious banner of
- republic into the stron9hol6 of the rel
bsIhon. -Four years conquered treason.-
Ths.s reeled and fell before the repeated
strokes of the mighty military arm of the
north. and after one of the most heroic,
brave and selfsacri6cing struggles the world |
has ever witnessed, laid down her arms,
folded up her flag and bowed in Submission
10 the federal victor. Had the south been
successful in her contest had she succeeded,
sioae spd uusided, in achieving her inde-
pendence.--the whole world would have
ring with plaudits TO her military heroes,
abe would have been praised in story and in
sone. and the martial deeds which are now
used a. provocatiyes Of her humiliation would
have been che suggestive themes of I'M
bounded praise and eulogy. Thus it is that
the world estimates the greatness of statss
and communities, IS of men--not BY what
they see in individual character, unconnected
with adverse or adventitious circumstan ces, =
but by success in great undertakings. The
south has had more than one Thermop-
ale Of glory, but eventual defeat robbed her
| of her laurels and gave her only an inheri-
lance Of con tumacy. Well, shall We quar-.
| rel with this general feature OF public sen.
timent? Yes, make war with it to the hilt.
It is . sure indication of narrow, seetar:an
and bigoted mind when men can see no
virtue except in their own cherished ideals,
| and, under a fanatical belief Of their own
i &C, n he vr~r1Sfc
| their influence in a cruel crusade against
the rights and privileges Of men. The true
patriot, the genuine christian, the gentleman
i of refinement and culture, can afford to be
charitable in his criticisms, liberal in his
opinions, and will only laugh eood-naturedly
at the foibles of those political Don Quixotes
| who consider themselves the chosen deposi.
tories of loy-aLty,-the hooded knights Of
radical orthodoxy.
But to the point. What do we behold to-
day. What is the condition of the country /?
Have the republican senators and represent
tatves redeemed their pledges to the people 2
Is the Union restored? On the contrary, it
is now disunited, agitated and convalsed
from centre to circumference. To-day the
radical leaders an congress are the practical
disunionists Of the country
Tn, people cannot longer remain silent.
Silence is now criminal. They ,ciu speak
out. Some of the states have already spoken
in thunder tones. Others are girding on
their armor for the conflict and unfolding
the banner Of victory to the breeze. Shall
, iniquity much longer remain nnpuniShedi
Shall political knavery and profiigacy con-
time to be rewarded with the rejoicing ova
tons Of the peoplef Shall the political
! money-changers, though their clips drol
mama aud can make the worse appear the
better reason be suffered much longer to
desecrate the temple which IN past times
re echoed the most stirring eloquence Of ouI
most gifted statesmen No; the voice Of
the People only will be heard. And their
voice will go up to the halls OF our national
capitol, where are now congregated the
Utopian dreaners, miscalled statesmen
jacobin mslcontents, ruthlessly, wickedly,
wantonly destroying the liberties Of the
! people-and viii arrest the reasonable
scheming of the political Belshazzars, and
hurl them forever from power.
We are told that the southern states may
> have representation in congress if they vii
$ but agree to the conditions Of representation
r imposed by radical Legislators. Idle delu
;. sionl Spacious sophistryl How? Shal
they express their sentiments at the ballo
4
Il franchised them. In the south the ballot
!, box is only Pandoras box. Shall they b,
compelled to do violence to their Own sell
respect by elevating the negro to highe
political privilege than they enjoy them
selves? Think of III The poor, ignDran
+ negro swaying the sceptre Of empire ever al
e enlightened, cultured and brave white race
l. Never-never. Where does congress ge
'r their power 10 make such conditions Of res
toration? Not in the constitutional is no
there. Nor do they obtain it from tie pee
l. pie of the northern states. Ohio, Fennsyl
vania and New York have lately told u
e that they are unalterably opposed to such
II system OF misrule. Where then do hey &c
i, the power to thus disregard the provisions c
g our great magma charta and the sentimen
e of the loyal people? Outside of he con
Il stitution, says Thad Stevens. Emay b
1t legitimately promised that all legislation
d "outside of the constitution has 81 inevi
lie table tendency to keep the states oul of tn
N Union. When the original frames of tn,
D. constitution established the legislative de
Of partment of the government il vas onl
e, contemplated that it should be used as
tie theatre in which to legislste insidt of tn
IL constitution. If the old theory corres
r. { and who doubts it p that the constitution
r. is the supreme law of the land. we would lik
I'd 10 know of what authority or validity an &C
IT. of congress is which had its forma,Dn :. ou'
be side" of the constitution? An &C. of cor
gress eontrsrs to the provisions d the 81
preme instrument which created aid estat
Of lished the functions of congress. is rot wort
fy the paper on which it ia written. And We
be strange as it may appear, while th presen
u radical congress is avowedly lgislatin
"outside of the constitution, seeks
ee quarrel with President johnson because b
al will not give his sanction to Legislative enact
ly ments having their origination " outside Q
IN an instrument he has sworn TO protect an
on defend! The telegraph brings us word ths
as congress threatens to impeach the Presider
as because he has exercised his constitutions
mt power Of removing Stanton from the va
tie Office and appointing Gen. Thomss seeretar
IN Of war dd interim. unfortunately for th
at peace and quiet of the President, in seekin
e. to remove this puslanimous toad and lacke
d. from his position in the cabinet,-in seekin
be to pull him away from the public teat of GO
: ornamental patronage which he hAssso Ion
er been sucking with SO mnch gusta,- he aete
he fnsfde of the constitutions, thus rem owing II
last spark of concession from the heart
King Wendell Phillips, who, it IS general
to understood, has issued orders 10 the Prin
Minister of the Rump, Thad Stevens,
a prefer articles of Impeachment against IL
,e, President, whet the political grilloune, an
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