 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN MARYLAND (Final Report) 1999/12/31 MdHR 991422 MdHR 991422, Image No: 409 Print image (117K) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN MARYLAND (Final Report) 1999/12/31 MdHR 991422 MdHR 991422, Image No: 409 Print image (117K) |
| Untitled 11/7/99 9:52 PM Of the spirit and magnitude of the canvass nothing need be said. The appeal was to the people, and the verdict \^Bs wDrthy of the tribunal. Upon an occasion of his own selection, with the advice and approval of Ms astute Secretary, soon after the marfoers of the Congress had returned to their constituents, the President quitted the executive mansion, sandwiched himself between two recognized heroes,—men whom the whole countr delighted to honor,—and, with all the advantage which such company could give him, sturrped the country from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, advocating everywhere his policy as against that of Congress. It was a strange sight, and perhaps the most disgraceful exhibition ever made ky any President; but, as no evil is entirely urmbced, good has core of this, as from many others. Arrtoitious, unscrupulous, energetic, indefatigable, voluble, and plausible,—apolitical gladiator, read/ for a "set-to" in any crowd,—he is beaten in his cwn chosen field, and stands to-day before the country as a convicted usurper, a political criminal, guilty of a bold and persistent attsrpt to possess himself of the legislative powers solarnly secured to Congress ky the Constitution. No vindication could be more corplete, no condemnation could be more absolute and humiliating. Unless reopened ky the svord, as recklessly threatened in some circles, tills question is new closed for all time. Without attorpting to settle here the metaphysical and somewhat theological question (about which so much has already been said and written) whether once in the Union means always in the Union,—agreeably to the fonru Once in grace always in grace, — it is obvious to cannon sense that the rebellious States stand to- day, in point of law, precisely where they stood when, exhausted, beaten, conquered, they fell powerless at the feet of Federal authority. Their State governments were overthrown, and the lives and property of the leaders of the Rebellion were forfeited. In reconstructing the institutions of these shattered and overthrown States, Congress should begin with a clean slate, and rake clean work of it. Let there be no hesitation. It w^uld be a cowardly deference to a defeated and treacherous President, if any account were made of the illegitimate, one-sided, sham governments hurried into existence for a malign purpose in the absence of Congress. These pretended government which were never submitted to the people, and from participation in which four millions of the loyal people were excluded ky Presidential order, should now be treated according to their true character, as shams and impositions, and supplanted ty true and legitimate governments, in the fonration of which loyal men, black and white, shall participate. It is not, however, within the scope of this paper to point out the precise steps to be taken, and the means to be erplcyed. The people are less concerned about these than the grand end to be attained. They danard such a reconstruction as shall put an end to the present anarchi- http://www.msstate.edu/Archives/History/USA/Afro-Amer/dugl210.txt Page 15 of 17 |