The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-17 00:00:00

DIATE REUNION.

The Constitution of the United States makes it
the duty of the President to recommend to the con-
sideration of Congress " such measures as he shall
judge necessary or expedient." I know of no mea-
sure more imperatively demanded by every consi-
deration of national interest, sound policy, and equal
justice than the admission of loyal members from
the now unrepresented States. This would con-
summate the work of restoration, and exert a most
salutary influence in the re-establishment of peace,
harmony, and fraternal feeling. It would tend
greatly to renew the confidence of the American
people in the vigor and stability of their institutions.
It would bind us more closely together as a nation,
and enable us to show to the world the interest and
recuperative power of a Government founded upon
the will of the people, and established upon the
principles of liberty, justice, and intelligence.
Our increased strength and enhanced prosperity
would irrefragably demonstrate the fallacy of the ar-
guments against free institutions drawn from our
recent national disorders by the enemies of Repub-
lican government. The admission of loyal mem-
bers from the States now excluded from Congress,
by allaying doubt and apprehension, would turn
capital now awaiting an opportunity for invest-
ment into the channels of trade and industry. It
would alleviate the present troubled condition of
those States, and, by inducing emigration, aid in the
settlement of fertile regions now uncultivated, and
lead to an increased production of those staples
which have added so greatly to the wealth of the
nation and the commerce of the world. New fields
of enterprise would be opened to our progressive
people, and soon the devastations of war would be
repaired, and all traces of our domestic differences
effaced from the minds of our countrymen.

DANGER OF C ONSOLIDATI 0 N.-ABS 0 LUTE D ESP OTIS3I
A PPP.EHENDED.

In our efforts to preserve " the unity of govern-
ment which constitutes us one people," by restoring
the States to the condition which they held prior to
the rebellion, we should be cautious, lest, having
rescued our nation from perils of threatened disin-
tegration, we resort to consolidation, and in the end
absolute despotism, as a remedy for the recurrence
of similar troubles. The war having terminated,
and with it all occasion for the exercise of powers of
doubtful constitutionality, we should hasten to
bring legislation within the boundaries prescribed by
the Constitution, and to return to the ancient land-
marks established by our fathers for the guidance of
t any
time
succeeding generations. " The Constitution which
l
iine
actof
exists,
theh
w until o
whole
people, changed by an
sacredly
a explicitn
an
authenticd
li
obli-
gatory upon
all."
imnodthi.fiecaotipoinnioofn
theef con-
stitutional people, the distribution or,
powers be, in
e, any particular, wrong, let
it be corrected by an amendment in the way in
which the Constitution designates. But let there
be no change by usurpation ;
for" "it is the cus-
tomary weapon by which free Governments are
destroyed." Washington
Poke these words to his
countrymen, when, followed by
their
love and
gratitude, he voluntarily retired from the cares of
public life. "To keep in all things within the
pale of our constitutional powers and cherish the Fede-
ral Union as the only rock of safety,,, were prescribed
byJefferson as rules of action to endear to his
"coun-
trymen the true principles of their Constitution,
and promote a union sentiment and action
equally
auspicious to their happiness and safety." Jackson
held that the action of the General Government
should always be strictly confined to the sphere of
its appropriate duties, and justly and forcibly urged
that our Government is not to be maintained nor
our Union preserved " by invasions of the rights and
powers of the several States. In thus attempting to
make our General Government strong, we make it
weak. Its true strength consists in leaving indivi-
duals and States as much as possible to themselves ;
in making itself felt, not in its power, but in its
beneficence ; not in its control, but in its protection ;
not in binding the States more closely to the centre ;
but leaving each to move unobstructed in its consti-
tutional orbit." These are the teachings of men
whose deeds and services have made them illustrious,
and who, long since withdrawn from the scenes of
life, have left to their country the rich legacy of
their example, their wisdom, and their patriotism.
Drawing fresh inspiration from their lessons, let us
emulate them in love of country and respect for the
Constitution and the laws.