The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-08-06
the power OF Congress to impose the terms On
which thev shal, ha admitted

which they shall be admitted"
STATE RIGHTS AND Stair sovrsEIeSrY.
Mr.. Speaker, there must, of necessity, be
supreme power in every nationslity represent
ing the public will This political authority is
called sovereignty. 1t is admitted by all, that
the whole people, properly represented in con
vention, may alter or abolish their present ma.
tionsl Government, and establish another but
the people of the several States cannot exercise
this power. They may change their several
State cons trtions and laws, with such lmta-
tions and ,.strictions as are imposed by the
tional Constitution. They may make such al
terations only as do not change their relations
to the General Government or violate any of the
provisions of the Constitution of the United
States. They may make such changes as shall
not impair the authority of the Government ol
! the United States over the people or govern
ments of said States provided always, in add.
tion to these restrictions, that in any change
they may make, their form of government shall
be republican. This is the extent of State rights
I and State sovereignty The States have local
and municipal powers, subject to the Constitu
ton Of the United States State secession is,
therefore, State revolution. The Administration
has assumed that the States which have made
war upon the United States have, by their re-
bellon, destroyed their constitutional govern
ments. In accordance with this doctrine, they
have recognized the new State governments
formed by the loyal people of Western Virgins
ia, and the loyal people of Missouri as the law
ful governments ior these States, and they are
both represented in the United States by Seua-
tors elected either by the Legislature or appoints
ed by the Governor Of States acting under the
new State government, while, at the same time,
the old State governments, claiming to be the
only constitutional governments are still in OPP
Grafton within these States, and local officers
elected by an admitted majority of the people
Of their respective States, are exercising,
claiming to exercise, the functions of these sew
era offices. II their State rebellion has not de-
stoyed the old State governments, and disquali.
fed the disloya State and county officers for ad-
miustering these governments, by what author
ity did minority of the people establish new
State governments, and secure their recogni>
tion, as they have, of the President of the Uni
ted States and both branches of the American
= Congress.
The President has appointed Andrew Johnson
military Governor of Tennessee, and Edward
Stanly military Governor OF North Carolina.
The address delivered by Governor johnson on
his arrival at Nashville correctly reflects, beyond
+, question, the views of the President and Cabi-
, net, for certainly Governor johnson would new
sr have been sent on so important a mission
without well considered instructions He said
in his appeal to the people of Tennessee, that
, "The State government has disappeared, the
executive has abdicated the Legislature has
dissolved the Judiciary is in abeyance."
( In such lsmentable crisis the Gov
I ernment of the United States could not be I'M
, mindful OF its high constitutional obligations to
guaranty to every State in the Union a republ-
l can form of Government is now attempting TO
t discharge. | have been appointed, in the alb
seDce of the regular established State author-
tes, military Governor for the time being"
, Governor johnson speaks Of the "peri0fm-
ance BY the Government of its constitutional
duty to the State" under that guarantee of the
national Constitution, which declares that 4" the
United States shall guaranty to every State in
the Union a republican form of government"
He declares that the old State government
has disappeared, and that the Government of
the United States ia under obligations, which it
cannot disregard, to give the loyal people of the
States, whose governments have thus disappear
q ed, protection and a republican government If
# the old State governments not destroyed by
= the action of their State officers and people,
q who in rebellion, by what constitutional au-
8 thorty does the Government of the United
J.. States recognise the new State governments in
l.. Tennessee and North Carolina If constitu-
. tionll governments exist in all the rebel States
il ia usurpaton and revolution on the part Of a
l., minority of the people in said States, or of the
:. General Government ii either attemp. to eQtab
e lish new State governments spa d'spmae tRe old
governments.
!. rRsAsos ur CITIZENS AND TREA-ON OF STATES.
Mr. Speaker, it would seem, if citizen, by
committing treason, Justly forieits his right tc
y life and property, that Sta'es which commit
.r treason, and make war upon the Government
s. should forfeit all the rights guaranteed to thep
-, by the Constitution, and that lie very pen vhC
n are now in Ir09 against the government Of III,
i pn,tea Statea shQuia not be permitted to com,
y into these Halls aaa again assume the direction
and control of the Government whenever
~ suits their convenience, aid whenever such
~ course shall be deemed necessary 10 shield then
u from the punishment of their crimes. From III
>" first, have been anxious to have 9p?a h 2ol,c
r" edoptea by the Adr4 inigtEaticn as sbould secur
u the Government against conspiracy whio
'S might send other rebel2 baas into these Halls
" in the safh of Union men, for the purpose
~ securing an inglorious compromise. ! hav
:" urged the adoption of policy which though
y would make such = conspiracy unsuccessful,
" attempted, aud at the same time secure ever
~ truly loyal citizen in all his rights, by the o.
gAnlzaton of such temporary civil government
~ rs would enable thea ta control the new GO,
" ernments in their own way, when they come
eN reorganiae them after the restoration Of peac,
'" The question OF providing temporary govern
~ ments for the districts of country now in rebe
~ linn against the United states Ias 32sR SO tt
~ understood, eal so consistently mi2repgesentc
80 that wal pleased to hear ,wo gentlemen
's" such aCknow LEGGED legal ability as the gentl
''N E'en ron New York, Mr. Sedgwick and II
gentleman irom Massachusetts,, [Mr. Eliot T
fer, even incidentally, to subject of such ma
ifest importance. These governments viii
"' have been destroyed, musi of necessity be
constructed, unless the authority of the trsito
- now sdminisle: Ing them is legai2ed by our sar
DN tion, II these State governments are to be
an organized and trust they are provisi
" should be made by Congress for securing t
~ exclusive right of such reorganization to /
nav loyal citizens of all States nov in rebellion, a
:, to the Loyal citizens alone In deprivng tho
: ~ = now In rebellion OF the rights of electors, a
uty securing that right to loyal citizens alone,