The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-08
RecOnstructIOn.

We have frequently use', and may
again employ, this term, because it is
convenient If understood, as frequently
it is, TO imply that Tennessee, or any 9TH
err State is,or has been out of The linton, We
take occasion to say that no such politi-
cal doctrine is embraced by the Press.
When we exhort the citizens of Tennes-
see to reconstruct their State government,
we intend neither more nor less than
that they shall abandon their rebel posi-
tion, submit to the government and laws
of the United States, obey the Federal
authorities, and thus bring themselves
practically into the political condition
which has been interrupted not destroyed
by the rebellion.
The PRESS adopts the political creed
which declares that all laws of the United
States affirmed TO be constitutional by
the Federal Supreme Court, have para
mount claim TO the obedience of the in
dividuAl citizens of every State, and that
to resist by force of arms, the execution
of such laws is treason--not treason
committed by the State, as such, but by
the individual men and women engaged
in such resistance.
The Press stands committed to main
tain the reserved rights of the States
meaning thereby all the rights which the
States have not surrendered 10 the Fed
eral Government according 10 a fair in
depreciation of the Federal Constitution.
And further, we hold that when the
legislative and ultimate judicial authori-
ties of the United States have affirmed =
law, it is binding upon the citizens of
the several States, who have no c0nstitu-
t'0nal means of resistance; and any
actual resistance implies a resort 70 the
natural right of revolution, belonging to
all people, every where, and always
subjeotiDg those who undertake ii, TO the
pains and penalties of treason, in case
Of failure.
Among the reserved rights Of the
States, so far recognized and maintained
by both the Federal Legislative and
Judicial authorities,is that which belongs
to each State, TO dispose of the negro
slaves within its borders without the
control or interference of the Federal
Government. And without intending TO
indicate, in advance of the practical
question, any opinion as to the dispO-
sition proper to be made of this popula.
ton, we assert that this right will belong
TO the reconstructed State Of Tennessee as
entirely as il did before the rebellion.
These are our views Of the normal and
peaceful relations between the State of
Tennessee and the Federal Government.
At the same time we hold that these re-
lations are suspended by belligerent
condition, but as we have said, not de-
stroyed. During the time of this sus-
pension, the Federal Government has the
belbgaent right to dispose Of the slaUes
as Of horses, of rebels, according to its
discretion, limited by the laws Of war
Whatever may be thought Of the erDe,liea-
ca Of the measures actually adopted by
the Government in regard TO slaves, its
right to adopt them can hardly be called
in question.
We have thought proper to make this
definition of our position, in regard TO an
important point, lest, in The hurry Of
composition we may sometimes use Ian
guage liable 20 be interpreted in q sense
which we do not intend 70 convey. We
would also ask our fellow-oitizens 10 see,
in what We have just propounded, the