New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-04-05
STATE TREASON.

hams reasons for holding that State when
makes war on the Union iorfeits thereby her
rights as constituent Of that Union. before
asking II. 20 defend bis positions. When that
journal permits It's readers to SEQ the positions
actually taken aud the reasons assigned there
for by the Chairman Of tho House Judiciary
Committee fwho certainly Opgh to Know some
thing of Law and of the COustituton) 1t VIII
be quite time for il to call on us 10 justify
those positions in all their attributed conse-
querces. For the present, il suilices us to
snow that The World does not comprehend the
doctrine it labors to coniute.
Had the reasonable nets whereby The dis
lo,al States assumed 20 release Themselves
from AL obligations to the Union been those
OF their officers only, We might agree that
tiots ,Hcer. alone were attantcd and that
the State retained all her Federal rights. But
IN. fact that the P,oyto Of Tennessee have, by
an authenticated public act, made Themselves
rartie- 70 the treason Of their funclionares,
,liers tho case materially. An act Of Seces-
,on passed by the Legislature Of q State, and
signed by her Governor, may he treated as a
simple nudity; but 80 should not Ike to con
cede that that same Governor AID Legislature
coud 60 on welding the authority Of and
receiving the Difference due 10 the function
aries Of q loyal State. And when The People
cf State formally indOrso and adopt the
treason devised by their authorities, we sppl,
TO them the same rule that dlscredt, and
parayzes their tratOrous rulers.
1t is bard for us TO apprehend State apart
from tina People of that Stats-and BY her PEG
ple We mean those in whom her Constitution
vests political power. If that People, acting
as body polite, revolt against and mako war
upon the Nation, We can only know tu,m, for
the time beng as enemes Vi The Republic,
not as constituting one of - chief pillars, Gu
titled, even while sthl warr.nc upon IL, 10 MI
equal and potent voice in the direction OF it,
affairs. In other words, a. W. deny that az
md, dual traitor has any constitutional right
10 be represented in Congress, we cannot re-
how a traitor State can, while abe cbooscs to
remain such, claim 40 equal voice with a loyal
State ID directing our National Affairs.
IH, World seems TO Dc uisled By this
sophism: Loyal State authorities cannot put
their State out OF the Union: how, theu, can
disloyall This seems to us very fairly paral'
leled thus, IAN upright, conscientious law
abiding citizen, cannot commit murder and
twill you concede 20 , m'cleant power
denied 20 a saint" That a State has no
constitutional r,ga 10 sscede from the Union,
wo heartily affirm, just as Ne insist that No
man has q right to commit murder: but men
10 commit murder nevertheless, and We sec
oot why Stately the action Of lie author
iues and Peopie-may not 40 far involve itseli
In treason as 10 forfeit all its rights as MEM
Der Of the eiernl Union. If We are mistaken
on this point, we would like an insigbt into
the proccs, by which the Tennessee recognized
"a such b. her own Constitution and laws, aud
ard upheld by majority Of her people, is "a
he pushed aside by another Tennessee, created
7 10 Washington and upheld only 10y minority
Of The citizens recognized as such by her con.
stitution and laws. Set nside the authority By
which Isham G.. Harris 10 her Governor, ana
we perceive no legal warrant for recognizing
hito Tenaesseean az more entitled 10 vote
than black one, though we admit that hel
provisional or military Governor may by edie
prescribe that A may vote while b may not
lie does this, however, by virtue of bis dicta
tgfial authority from Washington. even thoual
hes should prescribe the identical qualification
sxacted by the State Constitution. H. o'hel
words, the Tennessee Of the past, having beer
seduccd into rebellion and treason, has thereo,
committed suicide, and the Federal authorit,
within her boundaries is now absolute and un
balanced. Hence Andrew johnson is her right
fol Governor, by appointment from Washington
vice Harris deposed in consequence Of hls on
treason. Thus tho Federal Constitution !
made according 10 its Own express terms
" the Supreme law OF the land Any thiog il
Z" the State Constitution or laws Of any Stat,
4" TO the contrary notwithstanding"
We approach this topic with diHidcnce
awere Of It's gravity, and ready to welcome
auy new light that moy be east upon it, ever
though il compel radical change in our owi
views. But starting cayils aud GuggestiDg diff
cuiLes subseryo no good purpose. Tho Who'll,
subject ia fun Of difficulties, ihe Federal Cen
s.ituiion having been framed by men who never
dreamed Of q conspiracy Of Leariy half u,
States to subyert aad destroy the Union. w,
wish come one who dissents from Mr.. B.Ds
hams view would muster courage 10 dLsput,
his propositions frankly, allowing wherein b,
errs, and what is the truth which lie Obscure,
L OIL, Il.