Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-01-12

toDtlon tDrOu8nout tue COuhtvy. AoO
ollowing very Important passage has
been added by the author, aud appears
in new pamphlet edition:
These conclusions concerning the
powers of the President cannot be shsk-
en- by the assertion that "rebels have no
rights The assertion i,selfis not trne,
in reference either to the seeded States
or their people.
II Is not true Of those Ststes, for the
government OF tho United Sts,ss has
never admitted, ard cannot admit that,
40 States, they are in rebellion. A State
is simply incapable OF doing any valid
act, 10 conflict with the Constitution or
laws OF the United States; and the
Constitution is as much the supreme
law Of the land in Tennessee to-day as
Il was before tho void act Of secession
WAS attempted by part Of lie people.
Ese the act was otieclual, and the State
5 Independent. Of the government OF The
ni,ed States, and the war is war Of
conquest and sabjugation.
Nor - the Assertion that rebels have
no rights applicable to the people OF
those States. 1t IS strange that any one
aaving even that acquaintance with
pubic law, which Chathams indignant
protest has made familiar to Americans,
could have tailed to feel it to be untrue
When many million. of people arc in.
volyed in a civil war, humanity, and that
public law, which in modern times is
humane, forbid their treatment ~ out
avs. And # pubic law and the Con-
-tituton and laws of tho United States
are now Their rules Of duty towards us,
on what ground shall we deny tba. pub
lie law aud the Constitution, and the
laws made under il, are also oar rules
ei duty towards them 7 The only Just
idea OF law is, that IL is a rule OF &C
ton that governs all who are within It's
scope. None are SO degraded, even by
crime, as 10 be too low Tor liz protection
zone are so elevated by position or pow
/, er, as to 10 above It's reach. And when
We advance to that highest conception
OF human law, known, practically, IN
our own country only, and come 10 con
,titatona! law, The embodied will OF the
people by winch they govern the gov
eruofs, what governors are beyond its
j control what citizens are too low for
ia protection Penalties and !orfcitures
may be inflicted by the lee sla,iyc pow.
er ~ punishment for crime, bnt not even
treason, the most deadly OF all crimes,
can set free the legislative or executive
peoples law has imposed on them, or
remove one man, or any number of men,
from under It's protection.
But II II were conceded that rebels
have no rights, there would still be
matter demanding the grsvest consider
alton. For the inquiry which have
lyited is not what are their rights, but
what are or rights.
Whatever may be thought OF the |
wisdom OF the proclamation OF the /
President, concerning the emancipation
Of slaves, no one can doubt ts practical
il II is TO take effect. To /
set tree sbout four millions OF slaves, At (
an early fixed day, with absolutely TO
for their future in their re.
Istious with US, and to do this by force,
must be admitted TO be n matter of vast /
concern, not only 10 them and 70 their !
but to The whole continent on
which they must live. There may be !
great diversltics OF opinion concerning
the effect Of such an act. But that it,
effect must be Of stupendous.. importance,
extending not only into the border lo,
al States, but into all the States, North
as well as South, ! suppose no rational
man can doubt. Xow las the Presi.
dent acquired tie power 10 decide tie
question whether tbs great act shat BE-
done Z How have the people OF the
United States. or ANY part OF them, con-
TERED on him the rightiul power 10 de
ternli4e Tor them this question Of such
an emancipation, 10 be made under
such circumstances II tho people
who are in the rebellion have no rights,
the loyal people of kentucky, Of Iudi-
ana, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and Penn
sylvsuia have rights. 1t is among those
lights that the President shall not As.
sumo TO decide for them question
mhch they deem of vast importance to
themselves, and which they have never
consented be should decide. H. is among
he rights of all OF US, that the powers OF
each state 10 goyern its own internal
affairs, should not be trespassed on bv
any department OF the Fedora, power
aud It is right essential to The man.
tenance o. our system of government. Ii
Is among the rights OF all OF us, that the
erecatiue power should be kept within
lis prescribed constitutional limits, end
should not ie.q'slate, by its DEGREES, upon
subjects of transcendent Importance TO
the whole people.
\ REBEL VIEW OF BANKS Policy.
The Mobile Tribune says: