The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-11-18


Some weeks since, We published q statement
OF lhe two plans for the Reconstruction OF The
Rebel States then most prominent One OF these
affirmed that the rebel States mad always been H.
the Union, aud by return to their allegiance
they would be again in the exact condition they
were before the rebellion, With nothing altered
or changed. The other theory supposed tha
theee States had forfeited all rights a. State
and the soil and its inhabitants we're as absolutely
At the disposal OF the Genetal Cover ment, a.
they would have been conquered provinces
new theory has since appeared, which ill.,
slsts that the rebel States are still States bu
they have now no such government as the L 5
Constitution requires, aud that. under the Con
stitusion, 1t lie the express duty of Congress 20
supply that deficiency. This theory proposes
reconstruction which shsll be constitutional -,
every respect W. will ebdO-vor To illustrate
as understand IL.
/. The Constitution OF the United States aud
all laws aud treaties made under it. are declared
g. be the supreme as Of the land, and, Of cour-e
are binding every citizen, under all oncum-
Stances. In Case any Stale. as South ca OH
Tor instsnce, should let its State Government <,
by default. so Us not To elect any State or loca
officers or Legislature or in case the peopl
shonld abolish the existing State Constitution
With ut making any Other, and the Stale ST,
tnervD, have 10 government, and 10 rep essuIa
too 10 Congress-would the authority CT Ins
General Government therefore ceas- 10 Souti
CarolinaS The Q. Constitution AID every
Law OF Congress. with iIs penalties. would eontin-
ue ia force over even citizen OF South Carolina
precisely as they did before. The general Gov
erament IS not dependent on State action tor ~,
powers bur derives them entirel, from The Con
sutulion
2. In case any Stare should cease 10 have
State Government. a. supposed, What would b,
TIE day of Co@gF.ss? The Coasti;Gl;oa de-
clares that the UuHed States shall guaranty t.
every State 10 TINS Cuion republican form,
Of government" Yet here il a State in the T.
ion which has form OF government. Is il
not clearly the duty OF Congress 10 Cause one 10
De established 10 that State' Does the wore
guaranty impls any less than thatf Whei
you guarantee the payment of a note, sou acre,
that II the maker OF the uote tail 10 pay II, as b,
promised. you vii psy it or cause it To be paic
SO Congress. by this guaranty, is required I,
stand guard over every State, and if il have ne
government, or one not republican IN form Ii !
20 make such government for ths, Stale, or
cause 1t TO be made.
8. The government of The rebel States, having
ceased 10 perform ANY Of the numerous du.ies
required of States BY the q S Constitution
have ceased to be State governments or n.
United States. such q, are described and refer.
red to ia the CoHst'tUtion. Suppose the Con
sttution to require OF each State. through IL
goEernn ent, the doing Of twenty different things
and the State governmsn; shoald neglect, for
three years, TODD any one Of them and not Oh
y neglect, but Tsfsse; and not OILY refuse, bu
resist their performance by force and not only
resist. but call in the aid Of foreign armies 10
make tha, resistance greater could such q
governments be said TO be State government Of
this Unionf
Let Us look, for moment, at some Of the
things required Of each State by the Coastitu
ton:
/. Each State is required TO elect Senators
and Representatives in Congress. The Congress
siOnai chairs Of all the rebel States are vacant
and have been nearly three years.
10 case Of vacancies in Congress, the Gov
ernor Of State Is required 10 Oil them. No Va.
cancy has been Aled by any rebel Governor.
g. The Constitution gives Congress exclusive
power over all arseuals. forts, &c in the severa
States The rebel States have taken possession
OF these By force wherever they could.
T. The Constitution says: NO State shall en !
ter into any treaty, alliance or Confederation. 50
All The rebel States hsve made such Con.eder
alton and that, alsO, for purposes Of hostiHt |
TO the Un,ed States.
The Constitution says. NO State shall |
without consent Of Congress, lay any duty O. |
tonnage, keep troops or ships of var in time O. |
peace, or enter into any agreement or compse
with another State :" all the rebel Ssstes bav.
done these things.
G. The Cousti uton SAYS: Congress shai
have pOser to lsy and collect taxes. duties I'm.
ports AID excises" All the rebel States have
taken possession Of the Custom Hoses. snc
driven Ou' every S collector ANY loya
collector Of The Excise la~, entering reb,
STATE "'gn' teiok himself fortunate if he escap
cd hanging.
T. The Constitution saws: "COngrsss shsl
have power 10 establish Pos. Ofices." All m.
Post Offices ia the rebel States have been sssz-s
by the State authorities, and are used "a a., |
Post Offices Of foreign nation.
5 The Constitution says: Congress shall
have power TO provide for calling forth N. mi,
ia TO execute The laws Of the Union. suppress
instructions. aud rePtl invAsiOns- The mini. |
Of the rebel States csunot De called out bv the |
Fsssaosnr because any messenger be might 5, nd J