Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-09-23
Tie I've Thsories sf EeoOusiruestOn.
L. -. 49, r..t.IIi..aru.- NJ 10 4

i From the National IntolligenCer, Aug l0l
I The subi9inel article, which we copy from q
neutral paper, the Pailadeidhia Ledger, ssss. !.
! very conoisely and clesTly the two theories be-
tween which the people of this country viii be
called 10 choose in preceding 70 the task OF re-
constructing tho Union" Our readers do not
nesd 60 be informed thas in obedience equally
/ to our convictions Of constitutional duty and to
| evident considerations Of political aud military
/ expedency, We have uniformly held that tho
latter Of these theories, rs exp0unded BY oUf co.
temporary is the only logical one on which the
present '' war for the Constitution and Union"
/ csn be Tightfully conducted, as it is tho only
ons that offers possible solution Of the difficult
problem which this nation has to solve if it is
! to preserve its unity, restore peace within IFS
borders, ard maintanths freedom Of is i0sii-
tutions.
From the Philadelphia Ledger, August ~
There are two theories Of reconstruction Of
the Uniou which arisa At the present time, and
sra being more earnestly and extensively dis
ousssd the nearer the end Of the rebellion sp-
pears to be approaching. One Is the radical A0-
clifton theory, which declares this rebellion q
war in which States are banded together to ds-
siToy the Government, and not that is is merely
an nsuTectOn in which the persons in arms are
to BE regarded as individual violators of the
laws, ard rs such TO bo proceeded against by
g
treating the States-abstrsCt powers politically
SIS tho ones in rebellion, and not tho people IN
the States, tends necessarily 60 deprive the
S Btes of all rights under the Constitution which
they have endesveTed to 0veTrun and destroy,
by destroying the GOveTument. which procssds
from s1d Is based upon IT, The States being
really % TsH TitTOUg GFvsrnmBnt, are put IN
the category of seiusl bsEgereuts igst 90 much
so as alsn enemias, and are subiscjed therefore
& l-rEs.
the rights which bellgereRls can claim under
international law Ia just war q belhgeTsRt
State may be subjugatsd by a stronger power
II State, it may have its political sovereign
~ taken from il, its territory app 0priafed Dy
the conduor0T, and be held at tha congusTers
pleasure ag a dependence or province deprived
Of political independence or rights a5 q separate
independent government Ia this condition
of conquered States, the cOmqUer0r may impose
new conditions if be plesses, as the privilege Of
re entering the Union. He may declare that the
stan precedent 70 its rs-estabiishment ss q Slate
power, shall be the total and entire abolition OF
slavery forever, and any State coming back into
the Union with this restriction HpOn its power,
would have no night thereafter 10 declare slave
ry 70 be re-estabished. According TO this thso-
n, the subsequent Union would no longer hs
one Of sovereignty and equal 5t@te powers. Ths
States IN rsbeiIou having lost .heis sovereignty
by conquest, would no longer be the equals nor
possess The same political rights and powers as
the States which conquered them. This theory
is so entirely and radically different from the
idea Of the Union as established by our fathers,
and TIE common ides which prevails of the po-
iiiCsl relations of the States and the General
Government FeeiprOcAly, that it hss not yet
made much progress except among the extreme
New England smancpabOnists.
The other tho0Ey, and the one which the Pros
idHnt has hitherto favored is that tho rebellion
is simply an insuuBetion, a very agaifed and
exalted one, but still, one on which the power Of
she Government is to be brought 10 bear against
the individuals in arms. This thesry does not
recognizes any power Of violent separation from
me Union by The political action of any State |
government. All such Ststs action is illegal |
and void, because OF 3 usUpaiUn of ihe power |
not possessed by any State under Hni0n con
5tituionAlly formed, and having'a Federal gov !
eminent cons titUtionAly chosen. binder this |
theory the States remain in their integrity aud
sovereignty, whatever individuals, even en- 1
bracing a msjoTity Of the population, may do |
in opposition 60 the laws. The insurgents are |
simply regarded as = mob, who may usurp |
the contTOl Of the Government for . !
EmB end DEFY the laws, bat cannot /
deprive the Government permanently Of its |
rights and powers, or destroy the vaidty Of the /
laws. So soon as the mob is Pus down, ihe |
power and rights Of the State Government re- ]
turn Of themselves, having only bsen held in /
suspension by violence. According 10 this thao- /
~, if the people Of any Sste in roballion were /
to overthrow the usUTping authorities, and aid /
Tho General GUvel nm6ut in establishing its au-
tholity over the State from which it has been ex
c,uded by violence, then the State would be re- |
stored Immediately, under the Constitution, 10 /
the sovereiguty. Independence and equality pos /
sessod by the other Saes. Tho offenders /
againss tne laws within its territory may be /
punished for their crimes either by tbeir States /
authority or by the General Government but I
the State itself would lose none of its political /
rights or powers under the Constitution by rea- |
son Of the rebellion.
The latter theory IS The most simple and the /
most practicable for reconstruction and re-es-
tsblshment Of the Union, and, If u were not
for slavery il would no doubt be- universally 4
adopted. But here comes in the Presidents /
proclamation Of emancipation, wh ch il is con
Tended, confers, absolutely, the right Of libertY
10 slaves in the TebsliOus States, and which
cannot be taken from them sgain by any State
restored to the Union. The events which make
the reconstruction possible will give greater
prominence 10 the discussion of these tgT0 dis
tinct and opposite modes Of restoring tie
Union, with its former territorial extent snd
political Importance. General R0seeIans
5eiiie tu eHtcL+aAA l.i5 laJbeI tuoVAJ ha lAo OAo
by which, rs an officer of the Government, call
cd TO restore It's authority against Usurped pow
eT, he is to be governed, ia relation 20 the poo
pie Of the States where Union arms have
prevailed In his instructions to
his officers, and calling ap0n the people to put
themselves on the side Of constitutional govern
meut, he says Remember, We fight for COM
mon rights. What We ask for ourselves We
willingly accord TO others-fTesd0m under the
Constitution and laws of our countrywide
country Of Washington snd Jackson