The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-10-08
Letter from Amos Kendall.

one that he trusted 40tth entire Coz
dence-It comes like Voiee fro
beyond the Graue-IRe Seattmea
Of an Octo Genaaiaal, acho neyite
the confidence placed an him By tt
Immortal old Hero, aohose like
not to be seen an a century.
KENDALL GREEN, Aug. 20, 1868.
Alexander Rutherford, Chairman, Dc,
DEAR SIR II duly received your lei
ter of the 18th inst, as chairman of
committee of the jackson Democrat
Association, inviting me to attend a
the dedication of their hall on tn
evening of Thursday next, and ex
pressing the belief that my associa
tions with General jackson will en-
able me Hto add to the interest of tn,
occasion"
In reply, 1 have the honor to thanl
| you and your committee for reniem
bering me in my scclusion,- and to in
form you that my duties elsewhere OF
that evening and my disinclination a
the age of seventy-nine years to min
gle in political excitements, forbid a
acceptance of your kind invitation
But recognizing the duty of every
living man to do what he can to serve
his country in time. of danger, have
no hesitation in communicating to
you and your association the views ]
entertain upon the issues involved in
the elections of this year.
Of the men who are candidates /
have nothing to say. 1t seems to me
the duty of every true patriot in this
momentous crisis to think only of the
great principles and results involved,
and overlooking all that is merely
personal in the candidates, consider
them as merely instruments in main
tanning those principles, and affecting
those results. A vast majority of our
Northern people went into the war
for the preservation of the Union
The war was successful and the Union
was preserved. The rebels every
where: laid down their arms and peace
was restored throughout the land. ALI
that was needed to make that peace
perpetual was State officers in all the
seeding States sworn to support the
Constitution of the United States.
True, every man who had borne
arms against the United States, and
every one who had given them aid
and comfort had, under the Constitu-
ton and existing laws, incurred the
penalties of death and confiscation.-
From these penalties they could be re-
lieved only by the constitutional par
doning power, or by trial and acquit-
tai in the courts. The subject was
exclusively executive and judicial,
and altogether beyond the rightful ju-
lisdiction of the legislative power
Now, who does not know that had the
proclamations of the Presi-
dent been allowed to have their legal
effects, and the Southern States been
permitted to reorganize themselves
under officers sworn to support the |
Constitution of the United States, we
should long ago have had peace and
prosperity throughoutour
borders? Why is it not so? 1t is at
5ributed entirely to the usurpation of
Congress. That body began by adopt
ng the absurdity that the successful |
war for the preservation of the Union;
hat in compelling the seeding States
10 remain in the Union our armies
lad in fact thrust them out; and
hat however anxious the Southern
people might be to stay in or get in
hey could not do so without assent
ng to such conditions as Congress
night prescribe. If the success of the
var put the Southern States out of
he Union, would it failure have kept
hem in? On this absurdity was
,ased the entire reconstruction legis-
alton of Congress. They assumed
hat the seeding States instead of be-
ng portions of our great republic
we're altogether foreign, and that their
,eople, instead of being repentant
ebels, were conquered enemies. Up
IN these pretexts they took them out
# the constitutional supervision of
he executive and judicial depart
nents of the goyernmentand subject
d them to the unlimited powers of
congress, irrespective of the consti-
ution. Instead of leaving them to
'e pardoned under the laws in exist
nee when their crimes was commit
ed, they passed er post .facto laws,
upon them new and unheard
# disabilities, from which their vic
inns could, according to their theory
nd practice, be relieved only by the
Isurping and absolute power which
lad imposed them and when the
resident and judiciary indicated
to exercise their constitu-
lOASsA A1SAIo, sulOy 6OuSAb " ucpI1t6
hem of their rightful powers by leg
Station and by threats of punishment
y impeachment. Thus, practically, h
as Congress subverted the Constitu-
ion and, on this subject, taken into
heir own hands all the powers of ]
government - legislative, executive
nd judicial. If their theory were
rue, instead of being false as it is,
where did they get the power to legis-
ate over the seeding States-to treat
hem as outlaws and put them out of 1
he pale of civilized and republican !
Institutions? Not, surely, in the Con-
titution of the United States. And 4
not there what rightful power had ,
hey beyond that of any other body
# usurpers not bearing the title of j
nembers of Congress, to legislate i,
yer these people at all The party
which has produced all this wrong, ]
surpation and oppression, calls itself ,