Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-03-29
sFEEUH OF mR. ssARDENG, OF
KENTUCKK,
On tie PTsstdezt's Policy for The Restoration 0
The fHsuSgsHt States
From the National Iutollfgencer, March IO.I

From the National Intellgencer, March To-
HOUSE or REPREsENTATIvEs, February q, 1865
The House being In committee 0f the whole, (Mr
Dawes, of Massachusetts In the chair) and the bust
in order being the consideration Of the Presidsns
Sr. Harding, Of Kentucky, addressed iAe connIt,e6
follows;
MR.. CHAIRMAS: At an sSrIy day of the present sss-
sion I submitted 10 the House this resolution:
Resolved, That the Union has not been dissolved
and that whenever the rebellion In sly Of the
cedsd States shall be put and subdued either by
force OF the Federal by the voluntary subis.
sion OF the people OF such State to the authority Of the
Constitution then such State will thereby be restored
to all rights and privileges State Of the Union
under the CONSTITUTION Of such State and the C0nSt;u
tOn Of tho United States including the right 20 regulate,
order and control It's own domestic institutions accord
ing 70 the Constitution auo laws OF such State, free
from ell congressional OF e1eeutive control or dicsa-
Iyyas anxious vote should be taken upon this rasou.
ton a. the time i presented, but the ruling
10 ity ia this House would not allow it. They med
unwilling 60 take grouud before the country this ian
por1ant question They would neither vote for the
resolution take the responsibility Of voting against
L. Aud We have not bssh able to bring tho House
a vote upon Il up 20 The pFHsent time
This resolution Is in direct antagonism 20 the Presl
dents plan Of reconstruction announced In his mes
sage and proclamation Of the sth Of December, 1853
And whether the Teslouton takes the true ground in
regard the condition Of The SOuhsn States after the
rebellion shall have been subdued depends entirely up
on tho correctness its Et proposition, which declares
'tba Uaion has not besn diRsolved' The whole con-
troversy turns this question. hold that al the
dinanoes OF secession in the Southern States gbSo-
Iutsy null and void and being So did not could not
work any change in the constitutional relations Of those
States. The President ia bis inaugural address, uses
this language;
the Constitution, the Union Of these States "a peFpe-
tual Continue 90 execute sill the express
provisions Of National Constitution, and the Union
Will endure forever; it being impossible to destroy Il
oont itselg1 But II destruction of tbe TTnIon
by one or by part only, Of the STATES, be lawfully
possible the Union is iess perfect than befOrs the COn-
stulIOn, having lost the vital clement Of perpetuty
IL f0ows from these views, that State upon Its
mere motion can lawfully get ont the Unon that re-
solves and ordinances TO that sisct legsly void
and that OF violence, within any State States,
against the authority OF nc United Slaiss nsurFse-
tionary or revolutionary, according oreumsta
therefore consider thai, In view Of the Constitution
and laws, the Union is unhrOksn."
This view Of The question taken by the President
seems to ms entirely sound But Whether his practice
now is not open with his theory remains TO
be considered Il certain that his view of the sub.
iect was everywhere endorsed by the Republican par
~, Il was also endorsed everywhere by Democrats
and conservstivss who still stand by and malnisin it
as the ground. II follows, therefore, the Union
has been dissolved 1t must have been effected, not by
secession, hu By a successful revolution in the South
Bat whoever contends fer this acknowledges the tnde.
6endence Of the nth, snd, 20 be consistent should
abandon the war. But We know the revolution is not
yet success.
Southern States IN VisW Of constitutional law
clearly members CT the Union to-day 40 at any former
period It because these States are n the Union that
their citizens owe allegiance to the Federal Govern
msnt and submission ana obedience to its Consultation
aud laws Citizens Of these states who resist the an
thOrity of the Constitution ana laws are rebels because
tbg States themselves in heBnion. And II Is be-
cause these States IN the Union that war can be
constaonaly and justiAshly prosecuted agelnst the
insurgents TO compel their Obsdionee 70 the Oonstu
\ ton and laws of the UAiOn.
M Charman II State Is in the Union, It follows as
necessary consequence that whenever the rebellion In
such State sabdued and the Insurgents brought back
TO their glance either by forea Of the Federal arms
or by their voluntary submission 10 the authority
OF he COntiiuoD, then the State Is at once restored
10 al its rights and privileges a. State OF The Union
may represent Itself In Congress- and do all othsr acts
which av sister State may lawfully do under the Con-
stitutoa OF the -isd States This Is clear cOnstitu-
tona right which be wrested from the State only
by the hand Of violence and usurPaton There can be
no sueh thing as reeonstruc on the rebuilding Of
Union which never broken or dissolved
Mr.. Chairman The Constitution kno~s no difference
between States in the Union. Il guarantees to every
l State In this Unon republican form Of governments
The rights and powers sre reserved TO the States
| respectively The Constitution alike protects and
guards from Federal slcr0sChmsnt the local institu
/ tious laws and constitutions Of every State in the
Union. Il imposes the sams restraints executive
power in every SuSe. The President can no more lay
his hand on the constitution laws and local instiii.
lions Of Louisiana than those Of Massachusetts. To
DO thsr would be papsble violation Of the Oenstlu-
tion and daring act Of usurpaton. And, slr Is thsre
a man hsEe from this North who will consent TO the
srcse over bis State Of the power claimed by the
President AID then hold up his head and cEim 20 be
/ free citizen Of free Statel
| Bgt vet sir though he President and his party, sd
We have ssen openly pledged before Jhs whole
country to the doctrine that the Union was not dis
solved bnt was perpetual" ne now find him, in his
late message and proclamation, at open with bis
own published theory. Now we hear only Of Sta e
governments subgerted Destroyed Of the re-estsb-
nahment of State governments, and OF framing new
State governments in tbs South. What room 10 there
Hto frame and set up State governments' II the
old still stSndi1gi Sir, Il s manifest that The
Preadsnts plan Of reconstruction involves and goes
beyond the Odious doctrine Of Stste suicide. Assuming
that the State governments subvered snd destroyed
and the Union dissolved he proceeds with his plan for
the reconstruction Of the Union by framing and set
ting up new State governments in the mode prescribed
by himself That s by his imperial sdict he strikes
down States and State governmeRts abr0gstes their
constitutions and laws, makes distinction between
the loyal and dsloya treats all rebes and disfrsn
ehises aud strips the whole SoUthesn population o
every civil and.polllioEl right
But then, as mere act u grace and mercy, bis Ex