Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-27
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Z u SNOl r-EE.'E 81 =
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THH amendment of the Constitution OF
the United States, so as to abolish slavery,
is much more important measure than
many people suppose. Ifit is adopted, 1t
will destroy slavery in a legitimate way
Some of the; eopperhead lawyers. in Nov
York express doubts whether such an al
teratiou can legally be made. The opinion
of Reyerdy Johnson ought to silence such
doubts. But by rscurriug TO the fifth arti.
Gle of the Constitution, We fiud that the
only restriction it contains 10 behalf of
slavery is, that the Constitution shall not
be so altered as to prohibit the slave trade
prior to 1908. This makes it plain.
One bsnefr' the, alteration is that it
VIII enable shese pspOerassso aseomplish
thsitlob5est ltthd dsslt "a dsstsoy
slavery 10 a constitutional way, but who
think the administration is now attacking
IL in'an unconstitutional way by proClama-
tions. They viii favor the amendment aud
vote for it, OF course. b
Ifftis not altered before the war ends,
great trouble may arise. The doctrine of
State anuihilation, which Mr.. Sumner
hOldsr is not Likely to prevail. Ifthe con-
trary doctrine prevails, 1t follows that the
State governments OF the rebel States are
indeed broken up aud dissolved, because
their legislatures aud their State officers,
from the governor downward, have abdira-
ted their several offices, and ,here is no
State gOvernrnent in existence. Bot the
constitutions, the statutes passed before
the secession, and the jud;cisl decisions,
still remain in force, and constitute the
machinery OF State government. The only
defect is that there is no one to start the
machine aud run it. But there 1t remains
unbrOkeu, with all its slaveholdiug feat.
uFes; and that is the machine which is TO |
be started anew. The people of the State
may not choose to alter it; and if they do |
not, every master will claim his slave if be
can tiud him IN the State. BY the State
law he will take those who have been sol.
diers 10 our army as well as otlers. Or if |
during the war the loyal people alter their
State constitutions, and abolish slavery, it
may be restored again after the war is
over. The amendment Of the constitution
of the United States is therefore of the
highest Importance to settle the question,
aud put it at rest, and destroy it's power to
do further mischief.
By the way, il seems to US that the law
If Errl Il. !
The 9th article, to declare whether the
States shall act by their legislatures or By
We nave not noticed in this
any provision on this subject.
While We are upon this subject, We de.
sire to sny that we think the administra-
lion has been upjustly censured even by
some of its general supporters, for it's mil
iIary interference in re.organiziug State
governments in the rebel States. little
reflection must convince any Intelligent
man that there is no other method of pro.
ceediug. There being no State govern.
ment in existence, and no organized body
Of loyal people 10 the State, the movement
for reconstruction must of necessity be in
itiHied, II It begins during war, by the
commanding general, or military COVER.
nOri and be must protect it, until the 10y
al people become able to protect them.
selves. There is no other practical way
of setting the machinery Of State govern
ment in motion 10 one of the rebel States,
SO long as there is a rebel force in it
Their new administration aud legislatures
must have a military beginning, or else
they must wait till peace is established.-
We ought not to require the loyal people
in any rebel State thus to wuit but we
should do all in our power to help them
organize, aud commence all the functions
of State government. The administration
ought therefore TO be sustained in its
measures for recognizing the loyal cit
izeus of tsV9ltsd States as speedily as pos.
sibls. tgl ag.II aEt.sE