New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-13
GEORGIA.
TnE CONSERVATIVE ADDRESS.

This document, prepared by n committee Of
the Convention recently held at Macon. and signed by
Hersche " Johnson, Absaom II. Chappell Benjamin III.
Ill., Warren Akin, and T. L. Query, is printed in the
Southern papers Tho address, which seems 10 be a
close condensation Of the letters published some time
since by Ben. Hill, sets forth the condition Of the
state how she tried to get ont OF the Union but did not
what desolaon the made how the people 1t up
when Lee surrendered aud how exactly they have kept
their loyalty since. The authors claim that Georgia did
all that Tcquires-gaye up Slavery, ratified the
amendment, repudated Secession, organized Govern
ment elected Congressmen. and after all not adj
United to the Union But the great grievance is the
franchisement Of the freedmen. We quote;
rrrrov-rrr yrvs. Shall negro supremacy be perman
emily enthroned in the STATE Of Georgia. Shall the States
OF th Union be surrendered at the point OF the bayOnet
to the,domnion OF the African race shall 100000 OF
whites be subjected To the rule OF 100000 OF blacks
Shall they become magistrates our legislators,
judges our governors and representatives IN CongressI
shall 10000 ignorant negroes who can neither read nor
OF the Constitution or Of legislation, agrarans
by instinct, and taught by political drlll mas
race be admitted TO the ballotboxi These the
mentous questions which demand solution and disturb
the peace and harmony Of country IL they TO be
decided alrmatively, what pen tongue portray
the dlrefu caames which shall reap at no distant
tnuo TO grow worse our material prosperity already
arrested will be destroyed forever; society, already
shocked by sudden and forced changes will be thrown
into most depOrabe condition OF insecurity, and
property, life, and liberty will be exposed to irremeda-
Bic peril.
The address then to tho Constitution, and goes
over the otrayeled ground that all the Reconstruction
acts are Illegal IL takes the ground that the Rebellion
simply suspended the governments OF the rebeng States,
and that the all the Constitutions
and laws in orceiwhen the began restored to
power and that changes could be made in any law,
except 10y people OF the States interested. The ad
dress concludes thus:
Whenever there is q breach OF the limitation imposed
by the Constitution OF the United States, everything
therefore remission back 10 the uninterrupted legal
status Now tho late has decided, as question OF
fact that secession broke the thread OF constitutional
relation between the seeding States and the United
states and that the state Governments founded on
accession Illegal and void, and fell with the Coned-
crate cause These fabrics having thus fallen the people
OF the States logical necessity, are RENTED back TO
their Constitutions and Governments which existed at tho
time OF secession. All that was necessaryall that the
United States under the Federal Constitution, had the
right 10 do that they bound 10 dO TO restore
those governments and constitutions back TO me people
This was their solemn constitutional oDngauoh. ~
had been promptly recognized and performed the Union
would have been immediately harmonlZed, ana an
political disturbance settled The remedy therefore Tor
The present ills and the only preventive OF utter future
is for eacn department III It's appropriate sphere
aud all the m gnad aS o
the Constitution. That Instrument guarantees the
equality OF the States in rights and dignity ana recog
nlzes the fundamental principle that each, for ITSELF
shall confer and define State citizenship, and prescribe
the qualification for exercising the elective franchise ana
In making this earnest protest against being placed by
force under negro dominion We disdVow an iseig 1 re-
10 live together we desire harmony and friendship be-
tween them and oyrselves they made the dupes or
unscrupulous partisans and designing adyenturers we
pty them; as they ignorant dependant aud helpless
L Is our purpose to protect them the enjoyment OF all
the rights person and property to which their freedom
entities them. . -
Conservative men OF Georgia: Awaken TO proper
sense OF your danger Organize for sefprotectOn and
opposition TO tho deful rule Of negro supremacy
which is sought be enforced upon and our children
in defiance OF the Constitution, and In contempt OF TIE
civilization Of the age and the opinions of mankind
Fellow citizens OF the North Within the last rev
months the question Of negro suffrage has been before
Won al the baotbox In voice not 10 be misunderstood
Won have decided against It, You decided rofiafdriy
II has been decided for against our .o against orr
Of phat compatible cih good government ana
m, Consit,.fion Of the United Sales and decided 0y
Moss ,cho do not erpeet 10 lire under ne Sfdle
GorSrnmsnts they propose 10 ,esaoHh ~ yores
Won decided dgdnslt although the number Oh negroes
among YOU was too small TO constitute consderaDle
much 1ess controlling element In politics lts ordained
hv on, that shall have It, Notwithstanding
nat VIII lesd W naQe UaR1speey 0ysg Vs. hs~sRaw