The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-12-18
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
INSTRUCTION. PITH
OF THE PREsaDENT's VIEW.


There has been ten times more talk about
the theory of reconstruction than there is
any need of. The real difficulty has been
In carrying any theory into practice First.
we have TO destroy the rebel armies. 50 that
any loyal government can exist in the rebel
States. Next we must confine the exer-
else of the powers Of the State Government
strictly to the honestly loyal people. Hho
are they? Herein is The pi'h of the mat
ter, aud In the answer TO that question is the
pith of the Presidents Message. But,
before We refer to that, let US examine the
premises in which the Presidents spnclu-
sions are founded. The Constitution of
the United States, as we have often said
acts on ,ndiUidua!s only. Its strength lies
in the fact, that when any man. or number
Of men. resist the authority Of the National
Government. that authority strikes doa0s
upon the rebels in spite Of any State laUs
Lunatic as the States Rights party Of the
South has been. il is not able TO deny that.
except by claiming that Secession is cons,i-
tutional. Hence it is that. in the rebellion,
according to the whole practical theory Of
the Constitution, it was indiriduals rebel
led. II the States could not secede, much
less could its loyal inhabitants be in rebel
lion, because its rebel inhabitants acted IN.
der State laws. Hence, the sin Of the State
being done by individuals, its salvation
come in the same way. The idea that the
rebel States are foreign States is nonsense.
The idea tn at hundred thousand loyal peo-
pie in Tennessee have no right to resusci.
tate their State Government, because th 9
majority have gone into rebellion, is an idea
of gross injustice. We are not at war with
foreign States. If We we're, We ought to
make peace Immediately, for We have no
wish to make foreign conquests. It is pre-
cisely because they are not foreign States.
that we are fighting them. We are fighting
to conquer rebels in arms against their le-
gitimate Government. This is just, and so
recognized by intelligent men in oil ages of
the world In the only cases where legiti
mate Government is overthrown successful
y. 1t is historically and rightly attributed
to force alone. The only claim Of the p oles
to the sympathies of mankind is that their
own Government was overthrown by force.
The rebels in their associations to effect the
overthrow of our National Government are
rebels only. They are not States in fact,
aud cannot possibly be SO until successful.
There is no one of the rebel States in which
there are not many loyal inhabitants. The
legitimate rights of the State Governments
hence follow upon them. This is the doc
trine Of Mr.. Chase ia Mozart Hall. sad the
doct in. which Mr.. Lincoln has taken as the
initial points Of his doctrine of reconstruct
ion. Now in this principle there is, by no
means. as much difficulty in the prac tical
appiic ,tlon only that politicians. statesmen.
and various scots begin to differ. For it is
plain that the practical results will depend
upon uho are construct to be loyal people,
Two different constructions may be put up
on that question. II the rebel arms are
subdued. and South Carolina fluids she can
not help herself any longer, the great body
of her people. although stepped in rebellion,
may be perfectly willing to submit to the
laws and Constitution Of the Unitod States. I
Suppose that is all. and taking their word
for being Union people, they do, What Mr..
Seward said was all that was necessary,
send their Senators aud Representatives to
Congress. What will be the practical ef-
fectl Why. she will remain in the Union
with all her slaves. defy Mr.. Liucoln's proc
ama,ion. be restored to her forts, hold her
Secession Legislature, and proclaim State
Rights as furiousy as ever The demon of
Slavery and rebellion will be there as much
as ever. This is what is meant BY the /
"U MON as it was, and the Constitution as it |
is" 1t is Union with the bloodhounds |
who have sprung at your throat and Tapped
your blood till they ceased only for wan, of
strength. This is construction OF "loyal
people" which may suit Mr.. Montgomery
Blair or Mr.. Davis of Ky. or Mr.. James
Brooks Of Now York. or Mr.. Fernando
Wood; but it does not suit the loyal people !
of the Wes. and North, who have shed their
blood. and put forth their strength, and Of /
fer their wealth to destroy the dogs Of reb-
ellion. They want the destruction so com
ple,e that the work is never to be done again. /
Hio, then are the loyal peop!e' This is
the precise thing Mr.. Lincoln has under,ak-
en- to define. And here We may ask. how
came Mr.. Lincoln to offer his definition il |
q new proclamation? Why. Mr.. Fernando
Wood. Mr.. Vallandighhm. Mr.. Voorhees,,
and all tha, ilk, are under great concern of
mind that the President has never offered /
the rebels any terms Of amnesty-,old them
anything by which they chose. they might
return to their beloved Union whom thev |
have so long kicked and cuffed with all their |
might. The rebels were equally concerned. |
They said: You are he stronger; it is your
business to propose something" Mr.. Lin