The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-09-10

arg pO CuOiccSly dlVcIblubu, Ildt AZ u
idle to expect them all to be. restored
| by one and the same process to theil
proper position in the Union. The
four states which have already been
restored to normal rule-Maryland
Kentucky, Missouri, and Western Yir
ginia-have neither copied from an
other, and therefore no enc Of th esq
can be vouched as q precedent to be
followed by other states. To, selec,
any one of them as 4 model would
merely show ones own preconceived
preference, not an established princi.
'ple growing out of recognized prece-
Eaelits: The only rule which these
|precedents go to establish is, that the
StatesAre to be got back the best way
We can, and each in the mode which,
its own particular case shall reEder
practicable or expedient.!it AS. neither
of the Border states already restored
has atforGe,i u precedent for any
other, ,aich lesss can we llppeto draw
4 pr ccdent from the Isnri-rvs states
applicable in I'll "A ,oit:lEi .i,'.ree;o
the case t,f The. Cotton states, ". hose
governments have revoited aud levied
war against the United States.
The single available idea to be
drawn from what has been done, as
Ito what's yet to. be done, may be,
that wc are not to look in our written
constitutions for the rules which shall
guide us out of this great abnormal
difficulty, but should fall back upon
the great principles ofrigAt- and JUS
tice and freedom, ont Of which these
constitutions grew, and shonld aim,
sbove all things, at the. preservation
of the life and the perpetuation of the
substantial benefits Of our republican
institutions. 70 trs5 ~. II
The states OF the Union belong by
their very being to the ''United
States of fAmet.ica," and to no other
power Or nation. The people of the
states owe allegiance to the Govern
ment of the Union as Great ed by the
Constitution; and if thev renouncs
that allegiance, they become simply
criminal, and are Justly liable to the
consequences of crime. The govern
ments of the states are subject to tie
Constitution, and absolutely bound
by it, and any act which they at
tempt against the Constitution is Who'll
ly invalid, and may be justly treated
as simply void. By setting themsel-
YES in open hostility to the United
States, these governments have for,
feited their right TO be recognized as
the governments Of their respective
states, which are therefore in the con
dition nfstates without governments.
The people have therefore to recon
struct their state governments de
novo. Their case may be likened to
that of a corporation which is without
the officers necessary to appoint and
conduct a valid election. and is there.
fore compelled to apply to the SUI
|premc Court to order magistrate to
appoint a meeting and preside over,
the choice Of officers. It is proper
for the United States to sail upon the
loyal citizens Of any state, to choose
the officers required by the Constitu-
ton thereof in order that the functions
of the state government be orderly
resumed. The same authority should
appoint the time and prescribe the
mode Of proceeding, and designate
proper persons to preside over the elec
tions, to keep disloyal persons from
voting. and to certify the return of
votes, and. .a9ccntral officer or board
to ascertain and proclaim the result. 4
The time when this should be done
is, of course, determinable by the
Government Of the United, States, .a..
king into view the interest Of the
whole country, the Importance Of ma
king the paci6cation real and perma-sf
neat, and thus securing thelegitimate
objects fboth the state and natonaltt
constitutions-''to form 4 perfect IN y
sion, establish Justice, insure domes- i
''tic tranquility, provide for the COM
mon defense, promote the general W Q
fare, and secure the blessing Of lib |
0erty to ourselves and our posterity.
The question of time is moreover,
under the actual circumstance, of the
case almost purely q military quest.
ion. In suppressing the rebellion, and
bringing the states to a condition, Of
loyalty and submission, the Govern!
ment of the United States is compell-
ed to take and hold each state with
the stern hand of military force
There is not one of them now in