The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-28
CONGRESS AID GEORGIA.

The Boston Post, the sblest OF the New
England Democrats papers, referring to
the attempt of Radical Congress to secure
the adoption oil the fifteenth Amendment,
by unfair and forcible means, thus refers to
the case Of Georgia and disPoses Of the mis-
erably shallow and false pretenses under
which Congress assumes to iegislate that
State out of the Union
BIT tho oaso vi Georgia is more aggrava'
ted still, so that il takes the form OF an
outroge equally on herself and tho rest Of
the country whose word has been pledged.
For she had previously fulfilled every con-
dition emitting her 10 representation IN
Congress. Nothing WAS wanting to perfect
the agreement but the bare form OF dec!ar
ing il complied with. Instead OF that, the
Radical ,plotters trumped up list OF Old
cases Of peroual violence that occurred
year and fourteen months preyOus,and back
ing them up with the person OF the uoVerno'
OF the State, paraded the whole as sum
Gent preteGt for refusing Georgia the ifu"
Of her prompt compliance, and worse sun
for remaudIng her 20 a state OF poAuehl vas
salage until she complies with an eht"ety
nelc coniiioHi She is thus rejected a. the
doors Of Congress for one reason, and her
return made dependent on another. 1t
is not that she has failed to fulfill her part OF
the bargain, but that there is s0meth nR
more which no other State can so easily be
compelled to do for Radlcslism
The debate in Congress on her case, Ger
tainIy one Of the most grossly shameful cases
in the history Of modern legislation, blew
TO the winds all these petty pretenses OF a
generally disturbed state OF society, OF
conspiracy against the Federal authority,
and Of a design to Undo what had already
been done. The Legislature OF Georgia
was competent, under the Constitution OF
the State that had been adopted, to perform
the functions Of similar bodies IN other
States. The very fact that she was living
again unGer the operation Of local law
whether the shadoW Of military power was
thrown across her territorial area or not
furnished satisfactory evidence Of her being
State in the Union, regulating her locH
concerns, and fully entitled to the ENJOY
ment Of her old relations 10 her sistei
States.
We insist, with Judge Woodward, tina
Congress could with equal justice and right
enter into any other State, North or south
and, setting up its preteIt, which could he
readily manufactured to order, dictate III
compliance with any sort OF demand. There
certainly is limit to the authority OF tint
BODY somewhere. outside the Constitution, i
not within it. Men like Mr.. Boutwell, may
hold that it IS the reservoir which Gbsorbi
and retains all the political power Of the PEG
pie, spective Of the numerous Potica
communities known as States; but AZ i
originally owed It's existence to superior
power, it is fair inference that It 10 still
responsible to its creator. Where such I
creative power resides it undesignedIy con
tsssess, when it fears to leave the Amend
ment with the people for their sovereign
disposal. And if anything in the whole
course Of our public affairs should rouse thai
people to express their condemnation, and
issue their warning, tits this haRraat con
duct OF Congress toward outraged Georgia
We cannot 20 on in this style, aud abandon
our claims to republication. 1t is rapidly
becoming government Of mere power,
instead Of government Of delegated and
derived authority.