Year: 1866

anu peace.


Fourth. But it is alleged in justification o
the usurpation which we condemn, that The
condition Of the Southern States and people


is not such as renders safe their re admission
to share in the government of the country
that they are still! disloyal in sentiment and
purpose, and that neither the honor and credil
nor the interests of the nation would be sae'
if they were re-admitted to share in it:
councils We might reply to this:


q That we have no right for such rea-
sons, to deny, to any portion of the States or
people rights expressly conferred upon them
by the Constitution Of the United States.


(2.) That so long as their acts a,e those of
loyalty-so long as they conform in oil their
public conduc. to the requirements of the
Constitution and laws-we have no right to
exact from them conformity in their senti-
ments and opinions to our own.


(3.) That we have no right to distrust the
purpose or the ability of the people of the
Union 10 protect and defend, under all con-
tingencies and by whatever means may be
required, its honor and its welfare.


These would, in our judgment, be full and
conclusive an wers to the plea thus advanced
for the exclusion of these States from the
Union. But we say further, that this plea
rests upon complete nisapprehension or all
unjust perversion of existing facts.


We do not hesitate to affirm that There il
no section of the country where the Consh
tuition and laws Of the United States find "a
more prompt and entire obedience than in
those States and among those people who
were lately in arms against them; or where
there is less purpose or danger of any future
attempt to overthrow their authority. l.
would seem to be both natural and inevitable
that, in States and sections so recently swept
by the whirlwind o.: war, where all the ordi'
nary modes and methods of organized indus
try have been broken up, and the bonds and
irAuences that guarantee social order have
been destroyed-where thousands and tens
of thousands of turbulent spirits have been
suddenly loosed from the discipline of war
and thrown without resources or restraint
upon disorganized and chaotic society, and
where the keen sense of defeat is added to the
overthrow of ambition and hope. scenes of
violence should defy for time the imperfecs
discipline of law, and excite anew the fears
and iorcbodiugs of the patriotic and well dis.
posed. 1t is unquestionably true that local
disturbances of this kind, accompanied by
more or less of violence, do still occur But
they are confined entirely to the cities and
large towns of the Southern States, where
different races and interests are brought mos:
closely in contact and where passions and re-
sentiments are most easily fed and famed in
TO outbreak; and even there, they are quite
as much the fruit of untimely and hurtful
political agitation, as Of any hostility on the
part of the people to the authority of the ma
tional Government.


But the concurrent testimony of those best
acquainted With the condition of society aud
the state of public sentiment in the South
including that Of its representatives in thu
onvention-establishe shesthe fact that the great
mass of the Southern people accept, with as
full and sincere submission as do the people
of the other States. the established supreme
cy of the national auhority, and are prepared,
in the most loyal spirit. and with zeal quici
.n.:d alike by their interest and their pride,
to cooperate with other States and sections
in whatever may be necessary to defend the
rights, maintain the honor aud promote the
welfare of our common country. History at
fords no instance where people, SO powerful
in numbers, in resources, and in public spirit,
after a war SO long in its duration, SO deStruc
tive in its progress, and 50 adverse in its issue,
aaye accepted defeat and its consequences
with so much of good faith as has marked
rhe conduct of the people lately in lnsurrec.
ton against the United States. Beyond all
Question this hes been largely due to the wise
generosity with which their enforced surrer-
der was accepted by the President of the
United States and the Generals in immediate
command Of their armies, and to the liberal
measures which>werc afterwards taken to
restore order, tranquility and law to the
States where ell had foI the time been over
thrown. No steps could have been better cal
culated 10 command the respect, win the COR
fdence, revive the patriotism and secure the
permanent ard affectonate allegiance of the
people Of the South to the Constitution and
laws of tue Union, than those which have
been 50 firmly taken and so sieadlastly pur-
sued by The President of the United States.
And if that confidence and Loyalty have been
since impaired ;if the people of the South
are to day less cordial in their allegiance than
they were Immediately upon the close OF tt"
war. we believe il is due 10 the changed tone
Of the Legislative: department Of the General
Government toward them; to the action ny
which Congress has endeavored to suppian,t
and defeat the Presidents wise and beneil-
cent policy of restoration; to their exclusion
from ali participation in our common Govern-
ment; TO the withdrawal from them OF rights
conferred and guaranteed by the Constitution,
and to the evident purpose of Congress, IN
the exercise of usurpca and unlawfn all
thority, to reduce them from the rank Of free
and equal members Of republic of: States,
with rights and dignties unimpaired to the
condition of conquered provinces and a con-
ouered people, in all things subordinate ard
subject to the will of. their conquerers, Tree
only to obey laws in making which they are
not allowed to share.


No people has ever yet existed whose 10Y,
atty and faith such treatment long continued
would not alienate and impair. And the ten
millions of Americans who live in the South
would be unworthy citizens of a free country,
Degenerate sons of an heroic ancestry, unit
ever TO become guardians of the rights aud
liberties beoueathed to us by the fathers ard
founders of this Republic, if they could ac-
cent. with accomplishing submissveness tile
humilations thus sought 10 be imposed upon
them. Resentment of injustice is always ard
everywhere essential to freedom; and the
spirit which prompts the States and people
lately in insurrection, but insurgcnt now no
longer to protest against the imposition Of
unjust and degrading conditions, makes them
ali the more worthy to share in the Govern
ment of free commonwealth, and gives still
firmer assurance Of the future power and
freedom of the Republic. For whatever re-
sponsibility the Southern people may have
incurred in resisting the authority of the M
tional Government and in taking up arms for
its overthrow, they may be held to answer.
as individuals before the judicial tribunals
of the land, and for that conduct, as societies
and orpanized communities, they have already