, 1863-09-19

reconstruction OF the Union, and thinks
the probable terms Of reconstruction be-
tween the North aud South will be The
adoption of gradual emancipation system
by all the rebellious States, which North
Carolina, in common with the other Slave
States, will accept, if the Federal govern
ment insists On the same as the only terms
that can be granted"
In relation to the foregoing telegraphic
dispatch and others Of similar nature, the
Louisville Journal comments as follows
eve somewhere have noticed something
of The same kind before. We do not be-
lieVe the representation concerning the
Raleigh Standard is true, so far as the al
legged "terms of reconstruction" are con-
cerned but, however this may be, We pro-
test against the whole ching What pow
er has the General Government to offer
terms to the revolving States What right
has it to do this ? None whatever. The
thing is utterly lawess as we'll as utterly
senseless
The Constitution is the supreme law
alike of the General Government and of
! the States, and the former can lawfully re-
quire the people of the latter to submit to
nothing but the Constitution. The Gene
rQl Government is simply empowered by
the Constitution to wage this contest for
the establishment Of the supremacy of the
Constitution itself. Nothing more and
nothing less When those who have re-
voted against this supremacy, and who are
struggling permanently 10 overthrow it,
shall make known their willingness to lay
down their arms and submit to the Consti-
tuition, the General Government cannot
lawfully demand of them anything further.
! The General Government at no time can
lawfully demand of them anything fur
ther The Constitution forms the only law
full terms possible in the case. The Gene
raj Government has no right to demand
anything else; and, when the people in re-
volt are willing to accept this, the General
Government is bound to grant it to them
and is bound not to exact from them any
thing more. The "terms" of the Constilu-
tion are not only "the cheapest the Gov
erDment can offer and the best the South
can accept but the only lawful terms pos
sible
We should like to know who it is that
buses himself in sending from Newbern
dispatches ike the one under notice. The
whole business looks to Us very much as II
it were an attempt on the part Of abolition
outsiders TO convert into their opportunity
the necessity Of the revolving people We
indeed have no doubt that such is the true
character of the thing. In this point of
view, the thing acquires a particular enor-
nifty and deserves the especial rebuke of
all the friends of the country. 1t is not
only arbitrary and destructive in principle,
but fatal in policy, and infamous in motive.
Those who are moving in the thing are the
enemies of their country. They are public
enemies both mean and deadly. If the
party in possession of the Government so
far newly sacrifices public duty and sound
policy as to sanction this thing, the voice
of the people in the coming Presidential
election, which in any event must blast that
most faithless and imbecile Of parties, will
blow the party from the heights Of power
as the tempest sweeps dead leaf from the
bough. If the tempest Of the public in
dgnation is not already high enough for
the men at the head of the Goyernmont,
let them but venture to meet the offer or
even the spirit of submission on the part Of
the revolving people with terms outside Of
the Constitution, and the tempest will pres
emily mount to its loftest and fercest pitch.
The loyal people of the Union will brook
the exaction of no terms but the terms of
! the Constitution. This is fixed fact
And we call upon the revolving people to
mark this fact. Il is as certain as the fact
of the rebellion itself The manifestation
of disposition on the part Of the people
in rebellion to return to their allegiance
would so strengthen the conservatives Of
the country and so paralyze the radicals,
that in spite Of the whole brood of uncon-
stiiutional and impoltic measures fulmina-
ted by the party in power, the doors Of the
Constitution would suddenly be flung wide
open, smashing as they swung back every
obstacle set mp by radical insanity Let
the people in rebellion only show a disposi-
tion to submit to the Constitution, and
way will very soon be found to assure them
that they will be required to submit to
nothing else. On this point they really
have nothing to fear.
Nevertheless it is undoubtedly the sol
emn duty of the national authorities to give
the people in rebellion this assurance in ad-
vance and at once The extraordinary and
unwarrantable measures to which we have
alluded render this step matter both Of
obligation and Of expediency. The loyal
people as one should demand the step. They
at the least should demand that no other
step inconsistent herewith shall be taken.
And such is the step foreshadowed in the
despatch quoted above We hope that ev-
cry patriot in the land will promptly lift his
voice against this step The thing is now
a little cloud no bigger than a mans hand;
but, if it is not quickly dispersed by the
sunbeams of enlightened patriotism, it will
ere long be struggling TO overcast the whole
political heavens.
EX-PREsIDENT fillmore ON THE MIC
CuB ~ NM, w The NJ, WOr1~ WILL