Year: 1866

When differences and dlihculties are
to be settled between contending par
ties, both contestants should be cool,
calm, deliberate, forbearing and willing
to make all proper and honorable con
cessions. AS this principle applies to
individuals, so it equally applies to ma.
tons and people. Differences and
difficulties cannot be amicably and just
ly and honorably settled when passion
rules the deliberations Of contending
parties. Passion and malice and want
Of a conciliatory spirit are the sources
of all the distractions which lie III the
way of peaceful solution Of the difficult
ties between the North and South. SO
long as these distractions remain, so
long will the blessings ofpeace and hap
piness be withheld from the country.
SO long AS passion rules the hour, so
long will the popular mind in both sec
tions be kept in doubt and irritation,
But the South is not able to cope with
the Northern States which are fully
represented in the National Congress,
while eleven States have their hands
tied behind them, unable to enter the
least defense orjustllicaton OF them
selves. We of the South are subject to
the will of majority in Congress who
are actuated towards lis by the bitter
est hate and the most despicable mai
ice, and who will impose such terms OF
restoration as they choose, without any
regard or respect to our dignity or
manhood


No act of the present Congress has
demonstrated more clearly to the South
crn mind the real purposes and designs,
the spirit and onima$, Of the majority
in Congress towards the Southern pco-
pie than the passage Of the Constitu-
tional amendment The people of the
Southern States, although held by this
Congress to be out of the Union, and
not entitled to any Of the rights the
other States enjoy in the control of the
Federal Government, are asked, IN the
most solemn mockery Of their manhood
and self respect, to sanction an organ
ic law of the land the most revolving
" oppressive and unjust to large
class of our most respectable cltlzcns-
citizens who are honorcd and trusted
among us as the guardians of our CIV
il and political rights.


This proposition for amending the
Constitution of the United States has
been passed without the voice of the
Southern Statcs-they being held to
have forfeited all their political rights
by reason of rebellion; and yet, as
States, we are asked to sanction this in
iouitous an diabolical measure Though
our Legislatures-thus adding insult to
injury While we would not cnkindle
a spirit Of rccrimnation in the breast
of the people of the South, we would
counsel them to spurn with indignation
so monstrous proposition. 1t would
he humiliating to the people OF any
State whose Legislature would enter
tain such base proposition in theil
General Assemblies.


1t is desirable on the part of tho
South that restoration, not only in gov
crnment, hut the restoration of goo'
feeling, should prevail throughout tho
whole country THEY have no desire
to proIong or intensity the bitterness
which such legislation as the proposed
amendment to the Constitution is vel
calculated to lcngthcn or hcighten.-
We mam Yeace--Me whte-mimyed mes
seager that corries healing IN her mi1ys to
ecery portion yhe country! We only
ask for our equal and unqualified rights
as States Of the Union. These give to
us, unqucstionably, the sole control OF
our local affairs. With these guaran-
teed to us, we ask to live under no othcl
Government; and will uphold and de
fend that Government with all the te
nacitv and affection which the past his
tory Of the country gives US credit for


We want restoration Of Constitution
al law, peace and good order. W.
want the old associations Of the pas
restored. We desire to see this Coy
crnment once more moving on in al
its machinery without the friction o
evil and bitter passions. We are vii
ling to let the spirit offorbearance, for
giveness and mutual concessions re
r store all these glorious blessings which
could be vouchsafed to the whole cOun
try in less than twenty flour hours i
madness did not rule the hour and giv'
shape and direction to the proceedings
r ofthc National Congress. Why thi
bitterness-this spirit of oppression
and cncroachmcnt upon the rights, th'
manhood and kindly sentiments of TIN
South We have reached out oul
hands for the olive branch Of peace
and we only receive the lash of perse
cution. We have given every assll
rance of our desire for the restoration
of the Union, and we are met by scott
/, and rebuns. We have made every con
, ccssion through our State Convention
and Legislatures, compatible will


respect, in order that restoration nigh
| follow. Our concessions are nor Inc
t bv demand for our self-abasement j
the passage Of the proposed amend
t mcnt to the Constitution.


r As much as we desire restoration, th
: people of the South should prefer t
' live in our present state for all tim


rather than sanction the political d'
f graduation of any respectable class


our fellOw-citizcns us this amcndmel
n proposes. Palsied be the tongue
n every man who would rise in his SCI
d in any Southern Legislature, and pre-
f ent for consideration such base ar
d revolving proposition. Such IN.
n would deserve to be lashed all over Il
land with the bitterest anathemas ofa


outraged people; and he who wou


vote to sustain such Il degrading mea
al ure would deserve to have the lon
d skeleton finger of scorn and derisi'


TALL