Year: 1867

/


amendments shall have passed into tht


organic law, should the people lately in


rebellion persist in their rejection, and il


continued disobedience aud the obstruc.


tion of the execution of the national laws


1t will be an admonition to the nation that


the animus and force Of treason still ex,
ist among people who enjoy none of the
privileges of the Governments save of its
generous tolerance. With their rejection,
all hope of reconstruction, with the CO.
operation Of the rebellious States, on a
basis that would secure to the Republic
the logical results Of the war, will have
vanished, and the duty must then devolve
upon the Government of adopting the
most efectual method to secure for these
States the character of governments de-
manded by the Constitution.


They are without lawful governments /:
they are without municipal law, and with
out any claim to participate in the Gov
ernment.


On what principle of law or justice can
the rebellious States complain, if after
they have rejected the fair and magani-
nous terms upon which they are offered
brotherhood with US, and participation
In all the blessings of our freedom, and
they have refused, if the Government, in
the exercise of its powers, should enter
anew.upon the work of reconstruction at
the very foundation, and then the neces-
sity will be forced upon Us to discard all
discrimination in favor of the enemies Of
our nationality, to give US and them en-
during freedom and impartial justice.


The Constitution has defined treason,
and has given express power to suppress
insurrection, by war, if necessary. 1t has
not provided, in detail, the terms to be-
granted after such war. How could it
do so? 1t would probably not be con-
tended by the widest partisan that these
States had right to be represented in
Congress at time when they were car
rying on open war against the Govern
ment, or that Congress was not then a
lawful body, Notwithstanding their exclu-
sion. How then have they regained the
right of representation ? Surely not by
simply laying down their arms when they
could no longer hold them. The United
States have the right, and it is their duty,
to exact such securities for future good
conduct as they may deem sufficient; and
the offenders, from whom they are to be
exacted, can have no right to participate
in our councils in the decision Of the
question of what their punishment shall
be.


Practically, common sense determined
the question Of their right so to partici-
pate, when Congress proceeded in the
enactment of laws, after the surrender of
the last Rebel military force. 1t was de-
termned again, when the now pending
amendments were proposed by Congress.
IF two thirds Of Congress, as now consti-
tuted, could lawfully propose those amend
ments, then three-fourths of the States,
not excluded from representation in Con-
gress, form a sufficient majority to effect
their lawful adoption. 1t was determin-
ed again by the formal sanction of both
the great political parties, when Congress-
by an almost unanimous vote, declared
the rebelious States without the right of
in the Electoral College in
1864.


We ought to 90 on resolutely and rap
idly, with all measures deemed necessary
to the future safety of the country, so that
all parts of it may, at the earliest day, be
restored to just and equal political pri-
vileges.


The annual report of Hon. Thomas ii.
Burrowes, Superintendent of the main
tenance and education of the soldiers or
phans, will exhibit the present condition
and the result thus far Of that undertak-
ing. Nearly three thousand of the des-
titute children of the brave men who laid
down their lives that the nation Nigh;
live, are now not only comfortably pro-
vided for and guarded from temptation,
but are receiving an education which will
fit them to repay the care of the State.


The appropriation made for this pur-
pose at the last session has been sufficient
to meet all expenses of the financial year
Just closed. And recommend whatever
may be necessary TO con-
tinue and perfect the system under which
the schools are conducted.


There can be no doubt that the appro-
priation will be made. Where | to select
any State interest which | would more
warmly commend to your prompt atten:
tion and liberalty than another, it would
be this. Pennsylvanians are proud of it,
and it lies near the hearts of all true men


Owing to their greater destitution and
want Of information on the part of their
relatives, the orphans of our colored sol
diers may require some special attention.
Perhaps authority to the State Superin-
tendent to use, for ashort time, the SER
vices of an agent, to ascertain their num-
Der and claims, and bring them into the
schools that may be provided for them,
will be sufficient The whole number in
the State is not large of whom few have
already been temporarily provided for.


l recommend that provision be made
for the maintenance of such of our SOL
diers as are in proverty, and have been SO
MANNED as to prevent them from securing