Year: 1867

lands, minerals, and other property, prepara-
tory to investments on large and liberal
scale. But about this time certain ex-Con-
gressmen, ex-Senators, ex-Governors, and
Others, in whom are concentrated all the
intellect and energy of the South" rushed
forward and seized the reins of government,
and it soon became apparent that the Con-
foderacy, cloven down. in battle, and its
cause honestly surrendered by the great
body of the Southern soldiery, was again
upon its feet, in substance the same, under
the auspices of the very men who had inau
gurated and conducted the rebellion. The
natural and inevitable result was that the
South, which was rapidly becoming national,
was soon changed in its temper and feelings
under the influences referred to. Under the
provisional government of this State it was
considered honorable to be an Union man;
but as soon as these ex-Governors and ex-
Congressman obtained control different SEN
timent was inculcated in all political walks
and in every avenue of society, until, as
now, the surest passport to distinction is to
be found in holding sectional sentiments, In
ridiculing and reviling the Northern people,
and in assalling the justice and magnanimi-
ty of the general government. Such is now
our condition The leaders referred to re-
fuse to accept the Howard amendment, or
any thing else that will deprive them of of
fee. They are opposed to the restoration Of
the Union, because they know that before
the States can go back they must go out of
Office, They are, therefore, as much practi-
cal disunionists as they were when they were
in open arms against the government.


The eminent writer of the letter from
which we have made the above extract, says
our masses should assert their control over
their own affairs. But how are they to do
it9 All power has passed out of their hands
into the hands of the instigators and lead
ers of the rebellion. They are really as pow
erless now as they were during the rebellion.
Those of them who presume to appeal to
Congress for a reorganization of the State
governments, so as to remedy existing evils
by placing loyal men in power, are threaten
ed with the whipping post and the pillory,
under State laws recently passed defining
treason against the State And We do not
hesitate to express the opinion that if this
State should be restored to the Union as it
is. those who have advised reorganization
and labored to accomplishit, would be pros
ecuted and punished under State laws for al
legged treason against the State. The logic
of all this is, CONGRESS MUST ACT
That body is the law-making power of the
country All the work done by Provisional
Governors under the President, was subject
to the revision, approval or rejection of the
Congress Nothing was more clearly under
stood at the time than this. We know it to
be So Congress has revised the action OF
the insurgent States in forming new govern
ments, and has rejected the results of that
action. The President is at the end of his
row. Congress must now act. Its duty is
plain. We shall have no repose, no perma-
nent governments in these States, no justice
to loyal whites or to blacks, and no prosper
ity in business, until that duty is performed.
Let it be performed promptly and thorough
ly. Every days delay is fraught with added
injustice to our loyal people, and with dan
ger to the nation.