Year: 1866

find the basis Of a permanent Union and
peace.


But it is alleged, in justification Of the Us.
urpaton which we condemn, that the cond-
ton Of the Southern States and their people


is not such as renders ssfe their realmission
to share in the Government Of the country:
it is purported that neither the honor, credit,
nor interests Of the nation. would be safe if
they were readmitted to its councils. We
might reply to this:


First-1hat we have no right, for such rea.
sons, to deny to any portion OF the States
the equal rights as expressed or conferred up.
on them by the Constitution Of the United
States.


Second-Thst so long as their acts are
those Of loyalty, so long as they conform in
all their public conduct to the requirements
of the Constitution and the laws, we have
no right TO exact from them a conformity
in their sentiments and opinion to our own.
Third-1bat we have no right to distrHst
The purpose or ability of the people of tho
Union, but to protect and defend, under all
contingencies, aud by whatever means may
be required, its honor and its welfare.


These would, in our Judgment, be full and
conclusive answers to the plea thus sdvanc.
ed for the exclusion Of the Southern States
from the Union, but we say further, that thm
plea rests upon complete Misrepresentation,
or unjust perverson of existing facts. We
do not hesitate TO affirm that there is no sec.
tion Of the country where the Constitution
and laws Of the United States find moro
prompt ard strict obedience than in those
States, and among those people, who were
lately in arms against them; or where there
is less purpose and less danger Of any further
attempt to overthrow their authority. It
would seem to be both natural and inevita.
ble that in States and sections so recently
swept by the whirlwind of war, where all OF.
dinary modes and methods Of industry have
been broken up, and the bonds and influences
that guarantee social order have been de-.
stroyed. where thousands and tens Of thou>
sands Of tul bulent spirits have been suddenly
loosed from the discipline OF war and thrown
without resource or restraint upon q
disorganized and chaotic society, and where
the keen sense of defeat is added to the over.
throw Of ambition and hope, that such
scenes Of violence should defy for time the
imperfect discipline and law, and excite anew
the fears and forebodings ofthe patriotic and
well disposed. 1t is unquestionsbly true
that local disturbances of this kind, accom-
panied by more or less violence, do still oc,
cur, but they are confined entirely to The
cites and larger towns Of the Southern
States, where different races and interests are
brought closely in contact, aud where the
passions and reseniments are always most
easily fed and ripen into outbreaks. They
are quite as much the fruit Of unlimeIy and
heated political agitation as of any hostility
on the part of of the people to the authority
OF the National Government; but the current
testimony of those best acquainted with tho
condition Of society and the state Of public
sentiment in the South, including that of its
representatives in this Convention, establish-
es the fact that the great mass of the South.
ern people accept with as full and sincere
submission as do the people Of other States,
the re.esablished supremacy of the National
authority, and are prepared in the most 10y.
al spirit, and with zeal quckened alike by
their interest and their pride, to cooperate
with the other States and sections on what.
ever may be necessary TO defend the rights
and maintain the honor and promote the vel.
fare of our common country. History AFT
lords no instance where people so power
ful in numbers, resources and public spirit.
after a war SO long in its duration, so de.
structve in its progress, and so adverse 10 its
issue, have accepted defeat and its consei
quences with SO much good faith as has
marked the conduct of the people lately in
iusurrection against the United States. Be.
yond all question this has been largely due
to the wise generosity with which their en-.
forced surrender was accepted by the Pres.
dent Of the United States and the Generals
in immediate command of the armies and to
the liberal measures which were afterwards
taken to restore order. tranquility and Law
to the States where all for some time had
been overthrown. No steps could have been
better calculated to command the respect.
win the confidence, revive the patriotism aud
secure the permanent and atfecllonate allie,
glance Of the people of the South to the Con-
stitution than those that have been so warm.
ly taken SO steadfastly pursued by the Prssl'
dent of the United States. II that conhi
nence and loyalty Of the South are to-day


less cordial in their allegiance than they
were Immediately upon the close of The war.
we believe it due to the changed tone OF the
Legislative Department of the General Gov.
eminent towards them, in the action by
which Congress has endeavored to supp'ant
and defeat the Presidents wise and benid.
cent policy Of restoration-to their exclu'
sion from all participation in our common
ooverpment-to the Withdrawal from them
Of the rights conferred and guaranteed by
The Constitution, and to the evident purpose
of Congress, in the exercise Of usurped and
unlawful authority TO reduce them from the
rank of free and equal members Of the re-
public of States, with rights and dignities
uuimpaired, to the condition Of conquered
provinces and conquered people, 10 all
things subordinate and subject to the will OF
their conquerors. free only to obey laws 10
The making Of which they are not allowed
to share.


No people has ever yet existed. Whose 10y
alty and faith such treatment, long contina'
--k L.