The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-03-12


In that sweeping disiranchiscmcnt no
distinction whatever IS made between
thosowho voluntarily engaged in the re-
bellion than thoso who wcrc compelled
to engage in tho rcbollion;no distinction
whatever between tho innocent and
tho guilty.
The Senate will remember that
when this amendment was pending /
offered an amendment TO restrict that
dIstranchisoment to those who had
voluntarily engaged iu the rebellion;
and il was voted down by the same
unyioIding majority.
Partisan zeal and party necessity
tmav account for many things. But
when the history of these times shall
be wriltcnIt will seem incredible 10
our posterity that learned men and
able Senators could ever for one mo-
ment bring themselves TO believe it
possible that the people of tho South
would vote for such an amendment.
IL conta;nsstll another Objectionable
feature in violation of an important
! prncIplo in every good government,
ConfUunding executive with legislative
duties. IF there be any prcrogatlvo
which moro than another pertains to
tho executive IN all Governments, an
ciont and modern, that prcrogativo is
tho powor ofpardon.
This amendment proposes to change
the Constitution 50 us to take that
power away from the Executive and
aud confer il upon tho two Houses Of
Congress. 1t is revolutionary, and
worse than that. II tvetoes the power
of clcmency IN advance, 1t not only
takes that power from tho President
but 1t takes it away from n majority Of
Congress. 1t requires two thirds OF
both Houses in order to exercise the
power of pardon, tho same majority
which IL necessary TO pass law over
the presidential voto. In what civili-
zcd Government upon earth was thoro
ever such restriction upon the power
Of pardon Can it be found even
among the savage tribes ?
Sir tins amondmont makes it impos-
siblo for q majority of the people Of
tho United States, by the choice 0f II
President or by tho election Of the
Houses of Congress, TO grant pardon
ard amnesty.
speak wisG all becoming respect
for tic opinions Of others and for tho
sincerity of their motives. | know it
never could have 6con intended, but
Iiudging this provision by IT'S own
words, standing IN its own light, ii
seems to be born of dstrust in the in
telIgenco and magnamity Of the pco-
pie; tho offspring Of cowardicc and
revenge, of unforgiving have and
last for political power.
And ia It because the Legislatures
of the South rejected such proposition
that Congress should now enforce this
policy and establish combined negro
and military despotsm in all the States
of the South, md under ITS iron heel
tramplo in tho dust our own race and
kindred and people?
Ne. President, Congress has propo-
scd from time TO timomany schemes, but
they may all be resolved into two dis
Linct policies, radically opposed to each
other.
First. Reconstruction by tho consLi-
tutoual amendment on the white
basis.
Second Reconstruction by negro
suffrage and military force.
Tho first assumed that popco had
come; that the States wcro in tho
Union, with governments organized,
with Legislatures having power to
ratify or to reject constitutional
amendments; and, furthermore, that
those governments were in tho hands
of white men, with power, as IN all tho
other States, to admit or TO exclude
negroes from suffrage. And, in case
tho amcndmendmcnt woro adopted by
three fourths Of tho Statos, the only
effect ofadmitting or excluding ne
grocs from the ballot, IN any State,
/, would be to change its numboro OF votes
in the other House Of Congress, and in
the Electoral College.
The second assumes that wo arc still
Mt war; that tho southern States are
not States in the Union at all, but COZ
auerod provinces, witE no Legislatures
which can either ratily or reject con.
stitutional amendment; tlat the white
) people Of these States shall no longer
have any power over the question OF
, suffrage; that Congress by the bayOnot
4 will disfranchisc tho whites and en-
| franchise the blacks; and thus by mill
tary power and negro votes compel tho
= adoption Of now Union and new
5 Constitution. Because they rejected
the constitutional amendment Congress
\ now resorts to tho bOyonct and negro
Q suffrage to compel its adoption,
True 1 admit they did reject the
amendment. But how did they reject
0 it? By the votes Of thor Legislatures
4 They could reject it in no other way,
Q for it was only to their Legislatures
K that Congress submitted the question.
4 But how could their Legislatures roget
8 it if they had no Legislatures at all
@ If thoy had Legislatures which could
y reject it they had Legislatures which
f could ratify it. TO do either ia the