Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-19
Theories OF tho War.

w NuS StII AuS 'AAAO1S NACNS ueIu ny re-
publtcaus as to the theory on which the
war should be prosecuted were brought
out. The true course, as we have always
insisted, is to prosecute the war MS war
in all respects, aud postpone the COntro.
Tersy as to the modes of reconstruction un-
til the war is fought through TO success
the true mode of reconstruction will then
be made clear by the state of affairs at the
South. But it is not human nature TO wait
for events, and all possible questions are
held to be always in order. We may as
well accept i! as an Inevitable fact, there
fore, that the conflict of opinions and par
ties is to go on duaiug the war, whatever
becomes of the nation. In the House de-
bate Mr. Stevens, OF Pennsylvania, advoca-
ted Mr.. Summers theory, that the rebel
States are politically dead by their rebel.
lion, and that the constitution has no APP
piicasion to them they have no rights un-
der it, aUd the government has 10 cousti-
tutiOnal duties towards them. Mr.. Ste
yeus ,said:-
"GentIemen will find that they cannot
execute the constitution in the seeding
States; that it is a total nullity there, and
that this war must be carried on upon
principles wholly Independent of it, They
will come TO the conclusion that the adop.
ton of the measures l advocated at the
outset of the WAT, the armiug of the ne.
goes, the slaves of the rebels is tho only
way left on earth in which these rebels can
be eztermiuated. They will find that they
must treat those States now outside of the
Union as conquered provinces and settle
them with new men, and drive the present
rebels as exiles from this country; for tell
you they have the pluck and endurance for
which gave them credit a year and q half
ago, in a speech which l made but which
was not relished on this side of the House,
nor by the people in the free States. They
have such determination, energy and en-,
DURANGO that nothing 6ut actnsl e1termin-
alton or exile OF starvation will ever induce
them to surrender to this Government. l
do not now ask gentlemen to endorse nv
views, nor do l speak for anybody but nv.
self. but in order that may have some
credit for sagaci!y, ask that gentlemen
will write this down in their memories II
will not be TWO years before they will call
It up, OF before they will adopt my views.
or adopt the other alternative OF dis
graceful submission by this side of the
country"
Mr. Oiiu, of New York, protested earnestly
against Mr.. Stevens theory as false and
perntcious, and as really jnstifying the re.
bellion, and said the war could not be JUS
tilted unless it was waged IN obedience to
the constitution and laws. Owen Lovejoy,
too, who is quite as radical an abolitionist
as there IS in Congress. repudiated Mr..
Stevens views, and declared that they are
not the views of the administration or the
republican party. He said -
ave do not want TO auuihila,e the sEsUes,
hGt the rebels In the states, just as we
you'd not desire to aunihilate or destroy
ssel because pirates have taken posses
son of that vessel, but the pirates them
selves. We are not lighting a nation, but
q horde of traitors and rebels who hA-e
armed themselves to overthrow aud repu-
diate the national government. We are rot
fighting 10 obtain redress from a nation,
but TO subdue rebellion. If all the eiti-
zeus of state are rebels. and will no: re-
pent and return TO their allegiance, then
would kill or exile them all if had tue
power. But this is not question of now
er, but one of theoretical right l hold
that if oue-third of the citizens of Ken
lucky are loyal, the state belongs to that
third that if oue-fourih of the cirizeus OF
Tennessee are loyal, the State belongs to
:bst fourth; and that just as soon as the
government can enforce their rights, it is
bound to enforce them; aud the whole
machinery of state government can be set
going by those who remain, who are loyal,
whether oue-half, one fourth, Cne-tenth or
one.hundtedth. The right Of the Federal
Government never was invalidAted, and
.nl e.
tionSl right TO use military force, to use all
means and appliances possible to regain
possession of that state, and place it in The
hands of loyal men, never ceased"
Nr. Thomas, of Massachusetts, also came
to the support of the Republican member
against Mr.. Stevens. He put the case with
great force, arguing the right of the Gov
eminent to coerce the rebel States on these
grounds:
"Because the authority of this Govern
ment ut this time is as valid over those
States as it was before the acts Of secession
were passed; upon the ground that every
act of secession passed by those States is
utterly null and void upon the ground that
an act equally null aud void cannot acquire
force because armed rebellion is behind it
seeking to uphold it; upon the ground that
the constitution makes as not n mere Con-
federacy but nation; upon the ground that
the provisions of that constitution strike
through the State government aud reach
directly, not intermediary, the subjects.
Subjects of Whom2 OF the nation; Of The
United States. If this 6e SO, Mr.. Chair
man, If these acts of secession be void.
what is our position today Gentlemen
say that there is belligerent power cxer-
cisiug authority against us. That is, You
say that the rebellion Is attempting revo-
luton. Very we'll. Who ever heard rs a
matter Of public Law, that the authority
of q government over its rehellious sub
jeets was lost until that revolution was sue
cessful-was fact accomplished?n
In this debate We have the Rist of the
Whole:eoutroversy. The theory adopted by
che Government and defended by NJ. Tho