The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-27

Carolina to-day bound by oath to support
this Constitutions They are sworn BY an
oath to trample it under foot. Is there
to-day in South Carolina an Executive
bound by oath to support this Conslitu-
tion He is sworn by an oath TO destroy
ii.
Dir. Chairman, trust that have Al
much charity as any other gentleman !;
but, sir, beg leave to say that the Re-
preventative who will stand up in his plac 9
and deny the right of the Government to
provide speedily and effectively for the
administration of Justice in the revolted
States, commits crime which would re-
quire charity broader than the charity
of the Gospel to cover. He is in con-
dition to strike hands with the rebels them.
selves. IL nothing to be done beside
sending conquering armies to burn and
destroy AS they gos That is needful
thing; but / would also send the white
robed ministers of Justice / would put
them into the deserted temples of Justice,
and place in their hands the sacred places,
and bind them by an oath to do equal and
exact justice to the poor and rich, and the
stranger and the citizen.
The rebels have destroyed their respee-
tive State constitutions. State coustitu-
tions can only originate by the act Of the
people in the several States, and BY them
they may be destroyed. They have bro
ken down their State government; they
have no Legislature which, to-day, under
the Constitution of the United States, can
rightfully impose tax upon any man or
any mans property within their limits
They have no right to legislate at all
They are simply traitors wearing the
robes of Office. There is no State GOV.
ernmeLt in South Carolina, nor in Flor
ida, nor in Texas, nor in Louisiana, nor
IN Mississippi, nor in Arkansas, nor in
North Carolina, nor in Alabama, nor In
Georgia, nor in Tennessee, nor in Vir-
gi,iia, known to the Constitution, or emit
tied to moments consideration. | would
like to see the man, if there be such a
State rights man, rise here and say that
the Legislature of South Carolina, with
the oath Of treason fresh upon their lips
not to support tie Constitution, but to
overthrow it, have the right to elect
United States Senator, or to enact law
affecting the life, liberty, or property Of
any citizen of the United States. The
powers Of the Federal Government in the
territory Of South Carolina are, in the alb
sence of a Constitutional State govern
ment, as exclusive and general as they are
in the District Of Columbia. Why so /?
Because throughout the limits of the re-
public the United States Government h as
exclusive Legislative power, save where
there is constitutional State Govern
nent. Otherwise the Constitution and |
Governments could not be maintained, and |
he great end of the Constitution carried
nut.
What is the end of Constitution
Its-hrst and chief purpose is 10 protect
he loyal citizens Of the United States ey-
,ryghere in their lives, liberty and prep
'rty. The citizens of every State now
n the Union, aud nil who were citizens
n the original States now dissolved by
ebelllon and treason, are citizens of the
United States. Is the Constitution of the
United States SO weak an invention that.
n the absence of State Government, it
annot establish courts Of justice in any
district or Territory within its limits for
he purpose of protecting the property Of
very loyal citizen, and his liberty and
tie as wcite would be ashamed to 60 to
our tribune to take the oath to support
ne constitution if | felt in my heart that
was SO weak an invention that il did
OF provide for even the first duty of
Government. / assert the proposition
ere today, and | challenge contradic.
on, that the Constitution of the United
latcs has full and ample powers for all
these purposes within the original linn
s OF the revolted States and we ought
} exercise them if we have any respect
II the oaths we have taken.
We must exercise these pe#eHs until until
1e people of the rebel districts, nov re-
uoed to the condition of Territories by
leir own act, shali return 70 their allegi.
nee, and rc-establish State Governments
nder the Constitution, and bind the sew J
tal departments thereof by an oath to {
lpport the Consultation Of the United !
tates.
1 Will never consent, sir, that South
arolina, or any rcvolted State, shall send !
representative upon this floor until ev-
y, department Of that State shall have
.come bound by m oath to support the
Of my country. We have no !
gbt to consent to that, they have no
ght to demand it until they 90 recon-
ruct their State government. We have
e right, and i il our duty, to provide
law for the administration Of justice in .
'at Territory. We have the right to
nd our tribunals to South Carolina in
der that Justice may be done to our 10y :
citizens. Has the patriot Pettigru. in
at rebel city Of Charleston, faithful :
und among the faitless, standing fast for
&c Al u.