Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-04-11
Does the Constitution Protect the Rebels.

Does the Constitution Protect the Rebels.
Those who think the General Government
has no authority under the Constitution, to
NEEDLE with the peculiar institution" Of the
South, will do well to read the following ex-
tract from speech by Hon. John Bingham,
of Ohio: .... ... . D..
HGentlemcn talk about the rights Of the
States, Now Sir, wish to say that not one
of the eleven rebel States is to-day State in
tie Union. The territory is in the Union,
the citizens of the original State are in the
Union, and still owe allegiance to the Consti-
tuition of the United States. They cannot get
the territory out of the Union. They cannot
run away with it. 1t is anchored and fixed
there it is part of the common heritage of
the whole people of the Republic. know
Floyd would steal it if he could Caughter),
but it is beyond the reach of thief The
territory is there, and will abide forcvcr;-
the people are there, but there is no constitu-
tional State--no State in the Union or of the
Union there that maddened multitude, the
majority of each of the original States in that
Rebel district, have voluntarily destroyed
their respective constitutional State Govern
ments. l rather think the gentleman from
kentucky knows that as well as do, or as
any man in this House. Mr. Chairman, as
every gentleman is for the Constitution | de-
sire to read a single sentence to prove the
truth of what say, that these rebel States
are not States in the Union, but only rebels
in arms within the territory of the Union,
and without a constitutional State Govern
ment. An illegal State Constitution is simply
void as to the United States Government
The Constitution of the United States declares
that ag.g
The members of the several State Legislatures and all
executive and judicial officers, both Of the United States
THE SEVERAL STATES, shall be bound by oath
anatioa support the Constitution Consultation of
the United .Sh,tes, Art. G. -...
The Legislature of e, cry State in the Unit
ed States and all the judicial and executive
officers thereof, must be bound by oath or
affirmation to support the Constitution
Without this obligation taken and accepted,
they cannot in law exist as the officers of the
Union There can be no State IN the Union
without these several departments. That
would be- a curious Republican State without
a Legislative and an executive and judicial
department. IL there be no such State de-
partments so boand to support the Constitu-
ton of the United States in that Rebel re-
what forms and shams of Government they
may have-they are but organized conspira-
tors and traitors. They have no State rights,
and can have none, without constitutional
State Governments. Is there Legislature in
South Carolina to-day bound by oath to sup
port that Constitution They are sworn by
an oath to overturn it. Is there a judiciary
to day in South Carolina bound by oath to
~
by an oath to trample it under foot. Is there
: to-day in South Carolina an executive bound
by oath to support this Constitution He is
sworn by an oath to destroy it. These Reb
els have destroyed their respective State Con-
stltntions. State Constitutions can only or
ig;-stc by the act of the people, in the sever
al States, and by them they may be destroy
ed. They have broken down their State
Governments; they have no Legislature,
which to-day, under the Constitution Of the
United States, can rightfully impose tax
aapan any mans property within their limits.
They have no right to legislate at all. They
arc simply traitors, wearing the robes Of Of
flee. There is no State Government in South
Carolina, nor in Florida, nor in Texas, nor in
Louisiana, nor in Mississippi, nor in Arkan-
'sas, nor in North Carolina, nor in Alabama,
DOT IN ueOTYla, IOT III L tItlcSScc, HOi III ' II
ginia, known to the Constitution, or entitled
to moments consideration. | would like
to see the man, if there be such State. Rights
man. aisc here and say that the Legislature
of South Carolina, with the oath of treason
fresh upon their lips not to support the Con-
stituton, but to overthrow it. have the right
to elect q United States Senator, or to enact
a law affecting the life, liberty, or property
of any citizen of the United States. The pow.
crs Of the Federal Government in tho terri
tory of South Carolina are. in the absence of
a constitutional State Government, as exclu-
siye and general as they are in the District
of Columbia Why 500 Because throughout
the limits of the Repdbaic, the United States
Government has exclusive legislative power,
save where there is constitutional State
Government. Otherwise the Constitution
and Government could not be maintained,
and the great end Of the Constitution carried
mo- aa
ssssad the National Tax Bill on
tto l3.