Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1869 — Is he Right! [ARTICLE]

Is he Right!

The‘Mßowiog dwpntch is from Khc Chicago Time* of August 31st, andia «rH by tbupajwr to he anHhetftic andl« have hew contained in • telegram*’"" Wohmond, Vo.; ••A geirtlertum****o«hig to one of (lie two Walker «*te«nuinJtU>es has >hn<Un Interview wiUit+cncral Canby* Vu which -that JndlvWLoal declared tliat the onifc tenna he had to propose were that aft ineligible members of the legislature shotrhi resign, ami that he would iintnedtatoiy order new elections to fill the vacancies thus created. If men were lhereu|<ou returned who coaid take die lest <*th, he should further a speedy reconstruction, to the extent of hta ahiWty ami authority; hut if the present ineligible* did not resign, or if other Ineligible were elected to succeed them, he should <kvl Ixxmd to refer the whole election -of July to Congress, postponing all action till that body reviewed tire matter, ami gave ihiai directions. iking an lu why he had not inKtalled Governor Walker, he replied that he would have done so ere this, but tliat when he issued Ids circular to the members of the legislature, Inquiring as to their ability to take t.:c test oath, the conservative State committee interfered to prevent responses and that he considered continued active existence of that committee as a Mauding menace to him mid reconstruction. He would never, as long he could avoid it, surrender any departareut vt the State government to the practical control of u clique coniiMved of men having such adherents, and originally organised in open op;>osftion to every measure of reconstruction.” So it seems an officer has been found at last who has the backbone to decide that rebels nre rebels although they may assume the name of republicans; and that men unable to take the test oath an* not to be entrusted with the government of a State. With such legislatures as have lu cn recently elected in \ irginia and Tennessee, who will be sent to the United States Senate? Not men whose loyalty to the government was unswerving during the war, but men who took the most active part in opposition. Is there anywhere a person wild enough to believe for a moment that the elec lion of Senter in Tennessee carries any safety to Union men, or is a guaranty that loyalty will rule? With a legislature largely ex-rebel in composition, it is very little better than when old Isham G. 11. Minis fled from the approach of Buhl's army. If Congress still has powei*over any of the Southern States, it is to bo hoped it will be exercised in a manner to prevent blatant rebels riding into power upon the name of republicanism, while tlii‘y arc still rebels athcart and only desire power to-the more effectually cripple the general government. While the supporters of Sentkr, in Tennessee, were professing to be Unionists they enfranchised every rebel who would vote with them, and wherever an uncompromising Unionist like the Brownlows were on the ticket they were defeated, so that now we have the satisfaction of seeing this hot-head-ed and arrogant family beautifully snubbed by the very serpents they were organising to kill the republican party of that State. Never will we have peace in any of the rebel States until the test oath is enforced, and prominent rebels kept in a position where they can do no harm. We would not trust one of THEM IN ANY POSITION OF PROFIT OR TRUST, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY PROFESS TO HAVE “CORDIALLY UNITED with us.” They are not to be trusted; and shouw be kept ON PROBATION AFTER THEY PROFESS FAITH IN THE UNION, FORA REASONABLE TIME —SAY THE PERIOD OF THEIR NATURAL LIVES. General Canby is right.