Year: 1867




overthrowing or interfering with the rights or es


ablshe4 institutions of the States, but to defent
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution
and to preserve the Union with all the dignity
equality and rights of the several States unimpair
ed That as soon as these objects are accomplish
led, the war ought to close" -'. ~


The same body gave the strongest evidence thai
they regarded the Union unbroken, even during
the war, by their recognition of MI. Carlisle as Sen
ator from Virginia. mean the noble "Old Do
minion," and not her Legitimate and degenerate
child, West Virginia and allowing him to retain
his seat until near the close of the war. The very
paroles given to the Southern soldiers promised
the protection of the United States Government
to those holding them, so long as they obeyed the
laws of s'the States wherein they resided" thus
recognizing, not only the Southern States States
but the la,os of those States. We had every rea-
son, as far as we could trust to the faith of our ep
ponents, to believe that the Southern States would
be received into the Union with all their dignity
equality and rights unimpaired," as soon as they
renewed their allegiance to the General Govern
ment, and acknowledged its supremacy. rs'


It would be foreign to the purpose Of this COM
munication to discuss what faith has been kept
with the ;South-mankind- has already affixed to
that sort of faith the name of Punic. only touch
on these points to show the mistakes committed by
the South, when it conformed to those demands Of
the North which were interpolated into the condi-
tions after our surrender Our State Conventions
were mistakes; so were the changes of our Consti-
tutions; greater than all others, was the legislation
ratifying the amendment of the United States Con-
stitution known as Article 13. I am well aware
that the action of the Southern people, at the time,
was dictated by an honest desire to secure the bles
sings of peace, and by a high sense Of honor,
which prompted them to show that they were sim
cere in their wish to do everything that would tend
to the restoration of the Union honorable terms.
have no hesitation in asserting that the Southern
States would then have been brought back to the
Union with more of "loyalty'-to use favorite
expression of the North-than had existed amongst
them for forty years past, had the North proved
itself to be as magnanimous as it had shown itself
to be powerful. But it was the misfortune, not
only of the South, but of the whole country, that
the party which had obtained possession Of the
Government was more intent on securing its OWL
power than of restoring the Union to its own pris
time glory. After acquiring power, on the sole
ground of bringing back the Southern States to the
common fold, with all their dignity, equality and
rights unimpaired," they basely betrayed the peo-
ple of the North, by subordinating the interests
and rights of ten States to the effort to perpetuate
the power of their party, falsfying while they did
so, every pledge which they had made during the
continuance of the war. The war, which was pro-
fessedy waged solely for the restoration of the Un
ion in its progress degenerated into the open at,
tempt, on the part of its authors, to consolidate
and perpetuate radical rule, and Government,
which was founded on the noble maxim, that Gov
ernments derive their just powers from the consent
of the governed, has been perverted to the base
ends of subjecting ten millions of its people to
military despotism.


That may not be accused Of stating this propo,
sition in stronger language than is warranted by the


facts of the case, beg to call your attention to the
following extract from an article which emanated
from Massachusetts,. Bearing the imprimatur Of
Boston, its language, which, had it been uttered
here, might have smacked Of treason, can be re-
garded only as loyal.


''The principle" says this writer, ION which the
war was waged by the North, was simply this
That men may rightfully be compelled to submit
to and support Government that they do not
want; and that resistance on their part makes
them traitors and criminals No principle that is
possible to be named can be more selfevidently
false than this, or more sefevidently fatal to all
political freedom. Yet it triumphed in the field,
and it is now assumed to be established, the num-
Der of slaves, instead of having been diminished by
the war, has been greatly increased; for man thus
subjected to Government that he does not want,
is slave; and there is no difference in principle,
but only in degree, between political and chattel
slavery. The former, no less than the latter, de-
MES mans ownership of himself and the pro-
ducts of his labor, and asserts that other may
own him and dispose of him and his property for
their uses and at their pleasure. Previous to the
war, there were some grounds for saying, that in
theory, at least if not in practice our Government
was free one-that it rested on consent. But
nothing of that kind can be said now, if the princi
pie on which the war was carried on by the North
is irrevocably established"


Here we are told in emphatic language, by O
Northern man, whose mind cannot be obscureo
certainly by the socalled hereses of Southern doc
trines, what was the principle on which the wa,
was waged by the North, and we are warned-Goe
grant that the warning may not be in vain-wha


will be the result if this principle is rrevocably es
tablished. Let it be established, and we may bic
adieu to constitutional iberty-republican institu
tions will be swept away in the storm that vii
arise, and we shall enter on those dark and gloom!
scenes which always precede nations DEATH
The time will then indeed have come for us to pray
in the words ola fearless and eloquent SON.
Georgia, for the speedy advent of ''the America


Cgsar." The whole recent legislation Of tn


fractional Congress at Washington seems to hav


only in view to break down all the barriers OF tn


Constitution of the United States; to ignore tn


immortal truths of the great rebellion of '76 ant


to convert Government, which had, as its on.


foundation, 'the consent ofthe governed, mt


one sustained by force alone. None Of the radical


pretend that the military bills are constitutional
They admit-perhaps should say, rather, the
trust-that these measures are unconstitutional


while they endeavor to make the South ratlf
i. them, by arousing and appealing to the bases
passions of human nature, fear and cupidity. The