The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-12-31
GEORGIA rs NOT ALONE.

The Georgia Reconstruction bill
has passed into law, and Governor
Bullock of that State has issued
proclamation In accordance with its
provisions convening the Legislature
on the 10th of January. This bill is a
compulsory process-a sort of writ of
mandamus issued by Congress, di-
fecting and commanding Georgia to
do certain things. And to complete
the assurance that Georgia will do
these things, her Legislature is first to
be reconstructed until it becomes the
plant instrument of Congress. This
is to be accomplished by ousting q
part Of the white members and filling
their places with negroes. and the ex-
cuse for this proceeding is founded
upon this circumstance In the orig
inal organization of the Assembly, the
House, as the judge of the qualifca-
tions of its members, refused to re-
eeive these bogus negro members.
Congress, through q military officer,
who holds his commission by its grace,
tEin now proceed to say Q) who are
members of the Georgia Legislature,
and (2) what acts that Legislature
shall consummate. And it calls this
piece of work guaranteeing to Geor-
gia republican form of government +"
But Georgia is not alone. The tyr
amy of this legislation does not stop
with that State. It extends to every
State, and more particularly to those
that have rejected the Fifteenth
Amendment. To compel Georgia.
under pretense OF restoring her to
republican government and of pro-
viding security against future re-
bellion, to place the yoke upon her
OWN neck may seem ike one of the
greatest crimes of this century; but to
properly estimate the fullest mapni-
tude of the wrong, we are to consider
that the injury extends to other States
and to unborn generations. The vote
OF each State has an equal significance
and brings a common result to each
OF the other States. So far as the
Amendment goes, there is as great
violence done to the freedom of the
people OF Oregon-as great an outrage
committed against the dignity of the
Stately compelling the ratification
OF Georgia, as though our own Legis-
lature was compelled to ratify under
the supervision of an army com.
mander. We instance Oregon, be-
esnse the people here are unmistakabIy
against the measure. But take Cali.
1ornia, where the Amendment has lust
been rejected In q formal and most
emphatic manner. The ratification OF
Georgia is.sought to impose this very
Amendment upon California. The
Tiolence done the former rebounds
apon the latter. The pretense fo1
compulsion is that security must be
given against future rebellion. and
that the demand is justified by tht
past one. Thus California, Oregon
snd other States are to be made 1arti
ceps crinainis with Georgia in her at
tempt to set up another government
and we must swallow the nauseou.
dose that the Reconstruction doctors
have prepared as corrective for thu
Southern body polite. If we accept
the unreasonable and dishonest prop
osition that Georgia needs still an
other reconstructing, then, as corol
larry to this are we to expect negro suf
frage In Oregon? Because a hal.
dozen negroes Were elected from seats
IN a Southern Legislature, absurd,
presuming that the rightfulness Oh
wrongfulness of the act may properly
be considered in Congress, does /
follow that the Chinese population
upon the Pacific coast should be mad.
voters? that such power, the exercis.
Of which is always important and otter
dangerous, should be committed t.
the people whose history has not ye
emerged from servitude and paganism
and. whose lives are infected Will
moral leprousyf # Congress is de
terlnlnsd to pursue vindictive polio,
and 70 occupy itself with penal meas
ures for the South, why does it. no
restrict itself to statutes that will hay'
no operation beyond the south2 Th,
truth is apparent. We have arrived
ct tlat unfortunate point when reason