Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-18

HiNaoaHt HiANNo " Nactth NiiuOlHCHNs
Peace then came-no, not peace, bu
the end of war came-no, not tn,
end OF war, but the end of legiti
mate, civilized war; and for thre,
years you dallied with us One day
we were treated as though we were il
the Union and as though we had legit
mate State governments in operation
another day we were treated as though
wo were out Of the Union and oui
State governments were rebellious
usurpations. 1t was the regular game
of "Now you SEQ it, and now you don't
We are in the Union for all purposes
Of opposition, we were out OF it for all
| purposes Of protection. Finally, seeing
that we still remained Democratic, the
Union was dissolved by act of Congress
and we were formally legislated outside
in order that you might bring us in.
to the Union again in such a way as
to guarantee us Republican form OF
government that is, that we should
vote the Republican ticket; and you
cited article 4, section 4, Of the Consti-
tuition as your authority 10 do this.
You desposed our State governments
anu a 'jeesou c,s .oal @ olnoo eNeiy o,lein' y,
i,oI' a pos.inon I'm, " 'o"nsn'P eoIstnoio' l. y.
which the only light of human author.
ity for the regulation of human affairs
that III s"sio,o '4,o VI nuri''p passions was
point vr ~ s'saniou sssiS; 'io'n 'no P9nsueu
this simple and easily t88hmfpb t8mpbivnSS.n,sesel, - neel
system of jurisdiction of the great Dec.
laration, that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of
the governed, /" you began and complet
ed the task of guaranteeing to us q
Republican form OF government
You disfranchised at least ten per cent
OF our citizens, embracing the wisest,
best and most experienced. You en-.
iranchised our slaves, the lowest and
most ignorant; and you placed over
them as leaders q class Of men who
have attained to the highest positions
of iniamy known TO modern ages.
In order to preserve the semblance
of consent, convictions were called to
form new constitutions, the delegates
TO which were chosen by this new and
unheard OF constituency. The militia.
ry counted the votes, often at the head.
quarters in distant States, the General
in command determining the election
and qualifications of the delegates.
Many of these delegates were negroes,
on whom the right to vote and hold of.
fee had not yet been bestowed. They
framed constitutions, in which they
gave themselves this right, and it was
submitted for ratification to the same
constituency who chose the delegates,
and none other-that is TO say, they
propounded the question whether they
should vote and hold office to them
selves, and decided this question by
their own votes, while white men were
not permitted to vote. Perhaps the
annals of the race from which we
spring, with all its various branches
spread throughout tho world, cannot
furnish such a parody upon the prin.
ciples OF free government based upon
the consent of the governed.
These constitutions were declared
adopted by the General in command.
perhaps they were adopted. And at
the same election, 80 called, were also
chosen State officers for long torn of
years, and chosen by the same consti
tuency. The new governments went
to work, and in the short space of four
years they plundered those eleven
Southern States to the extent of sl62,-
900, 900 that is to say, they took all
that we had that was amenable TO
larceny, and they would have takcn
more doubtless, but for the same reason
that the weather could not get any
colder in Minnesota, as described by a
returned emigrant from that State,
"because the thermometer was too
short Laughter. And now recall
ing these facts and hundred more
which ! cannot now name, can any
candid man wonder that we became
solid2 Can he wonder that old Wings
and Democrats, Union men and Seces.
sionists, should unite in II desperate eff
fort to throw off the dominion of a par
ty which had inflicted these things up
on them And your military interier-
ence, your abuse and your denuncia'
ton continue unto this day.
Can yon wonder that your following
in that country has dwindlcd into in
signiiicanceY The negro alone isyouI
friend there and very few whites
and his eyes, blinded as they have been
are steadily opening to the great truth
which you ought to have taught him
that his prosperity and welfare are in
separably connected with that oil bis
white neighbOrs. Ono by one the