Year: 1867

quered or otherwise are subject to be governed


by arbitrary, vindictive will. Besides, by the


very issue of the fight and the terms of the sur


render, we are in the Union. We are treated


as in the Union by this very fragmentary con-


clave for every purpose of burden or vengeance.
We are denied only the privileges Of the Union
by bastard perjury to the Constitution and an
Infamous treachery to the national faith.
8. But we are told it is no use to talk law
and plead the Constitution before people who
discard both. 1t can do no good; the Radi-
Gals have the power and will do as they please,
it is said


Wel suppose that is true, does that justify
US IN committing perjury? Are we not still
the keepers OF our own consciences? Are we
compelled 3 to violate our oaths? IT, as is said,
the Radicals will reconstruct us In their own
way any how, say let them do it their own
way. Let them commit all the perjury. We
gain nothing by. helping them destroy US, and
| why should we be anxious to commit perjury,
in order to help the Radicals degrade our race,
destroy our State, and bring us under the gov
ernment of the negro, and into war of races?
Be patient. Don't run to overtake evil. Our
day will come soon, and then let US be strong,
with clean cOnsciences.


A. But it is said, according to my argument,
even | haye committed perjury in supporting
divers measures heretofore. Suppose 1t IS so;
does that justify all our people in committing
such crime? But that charge is false. L
never, In my lite, supported any measure which
thought was unconstitutional, or which was
| admitted by its supporters or trainers to be un-
constitutional. All statements to the contrary
are false, and are but pitiable attempts of self
convicted criminals to cover themselves with a
respectable mantle.


The Military Bills furnish the very first in
stance in American history, in which the fra
mers and supporters of the bills admit their un-
constltutiOhality and they are the very first
measures In carrying out which the whole vo
ting people are required to take an oath to sup
port the Constitution. This is remarkable
fact. 1t would seem as if the Congress sought
to palliate their own perjury in passing the
bills, by requiring-wantonly requiring-the
whole people, also to commit the perjury in
carrying them out.


When the last Military Bill was under dis
cussion, in which the departments of the Fed
eral Government were being abolished, Thad-
deus Stevens | believe the author and reporter
of the bill, said


''Some fragments of the old shattered Con-
stltutlOn had stuck, perhaps in the kidneys OF
some Senators (laughter) and troubled them at
night When they tried to progress, the ghost
of the past Constitution was found in their way,
and obstructed them


People Of the North, is this man your Rep
resentative? You who have listened to the
glorious periods of the ''Great Expounder,' is
this the language that now suits you? Think
OF 1t, oh, my country men! In the Congress
of the nation, where Clay, and Webster, and
Bell, and Berrian, and Fillmore and Cass have
taught devotion and reference for the Constitu-
ton, this old man now ridicules it as a ghost
a shattered thing, with its fragments sticking
in the kidneys of Senators! And this bias
phemy is received with laughterl This man
had just taken an oath to. support the Consti-
tuition: it was by virtue Of that oath he was
permitted to speak; and in the face of the ma
ton, from the seat of Webster, he ridiculed
what he had sworn to support, and in every
word he uttered he syllabled perjury. This old
man, we are told, is an in6del in religion, and
paramour of colored woman, and has
lived three score years and ten, defhng his
race, and blaspheming the laws of God and his
country.


1t is strange that such a man, and the hid
eous crew who received his blasphemy so mer-
rily, should seek to degrade the white race, de-
grade themselves and make them commit per-
jury, that they might have the privilege of de-
grading themselves?


Will the white race-Southern white peo-
ple-throw away conscience and honor and reap
mlscegenatlon anarchy only that such crew,
with such a leader, should be kept in power?


5. But it is said, if it is perjury to vote for
Convention, it is perjury to register because
registry is an act under the Military Bills. Not
so. If man registers in order to defeat the
purpose Of the bills, it must be very different
from one who votes to carry out the bills. Dl-
rectly opposite intentions cannot constitute the
same crime.


man may not commit perjury who even
votes for Convention as, in his judgment, the
best means of defeating the object of the bills.
His intention certainly relieves him of the tur-
pitude of the offence. Still it is hazard l
cannot recommend.


1t is said that Southern people ought not to
be sensitive about violating the Constitution,
as they violated it in seeding from the Union.
The reply is they did not think they violated it
by the act of secession Some of the trainers
of the Constitution taught the right of seces-
sion.- Besides all the conventions were very
to support the Constitution Of the United
States. They certainly did not commit perjury,
and did not feel that they committed any Of
fence whatever.


We are in an important crisis We should
take our positions carefully and write and speak
frankly. | sincerely believe that every man
who votes for Convention, with view or in
tent OF carrying out the purposes of the Mill
tary Bills, tramples on the Constitution SAnd
violates his oath. The more have reflected
and examined the subject | am satisfied of this
truth. Our people have woes and sorrows
enough. Let them not be led to crime also.-
A whole nation of perjured menI Think of
it! Ii there be danger that this will be so, let
us, in Heavens name, avert it before it is too
late.


[ feel prepared to sustain the position I have
taken by the authorities, and by the best settled
decisions and principles of the law. IF there
be a legal gentleman in the State or in the
South or North willing to take the opposite
proposition | am prepared to enter the discus
sion with him in spirit of earnest desire to
settle the truth of the question. [ do not wish
no Antagonist will notice one-who may
seek only little notoriety. But there are able
legal gentlemen in the South who are said to
be willing, as the best they can do, to accept
these Military Bills. | affirm they cannot be
accepted in the manner, and on the terms, and
for the purpose, proposed by Congress without
false swearing. L am prepared to maintain this
proposition by authority and law, or admit my
error if convinced | am wrong.


Gentlemen who have thoughtlessly concluded
to accept the terms need not think to shut their
eyes and escape this question. 1t will not be
hushed. Excitement and foolish anger, and
hippant threats will avail nothing. You shall
not perjure yourselves and the poor deluded
negro race for selfish, ignoble purposes, simply
| to add strength to party that would require
perjury, and think easily to escape the conse.
quences. Ifthe Southern States must be afri-
oanized, and the Constitution become a ghost,
and liberty for the continent be DESTROYED, 90
boot to vo1r bloSD banouc oonoloro r. ~