The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-01-28

GA. Government, nnuuf th> ara ct liz
military power. Blu. this theory by no
means inn lies that these States must be
reduced 10 territorial condition main.
tanned, during ti!,ir territorial mlnorage,
u"d@r q Government provided for them,
y, The cXrence of the National, Trca.
snry. aud be rcadmittcd into the Union
as States. 1t simply means, what is
obviously true, that they have State lin
IS, territory, and people without the cs-
sen,,al machinery Of State Governmets
which are The tests and means of their
political existence.
Government represents, not merely
land and certain defined territorial linz
its, but the people who established it,
and who speak and act through it, as
their political organ. These people in
consequence Of their treason. having
disqualified themselves for the exercise
Of political rights, and privileges, their
State Governments have thereby become
suspended, mad must remain in alb.
.eyance until disqualification is removed
by act of Federal authority.
Reduced to this condition, the prov
isional control oveI these States, until
fully rcorgarize'l, aud restored, is vest
ed in the Federal Government but
when restored, it must be under Gov
ernments which have emena,ed from
their own people, under Constitutional
restrictions. l recognize the rights Of
every State to regulate and shape its
own institutions, but this right can and
should be exercised, only, in clear con-
tormi,y with the letter and spril orthe
Federal Constitution.
The Constitution rroseribes, tina,
THE United States shall guaranty ~
every State IN the Union, republican
form of government This provision
clearly implies AZ obligation, onpart OF
the United States, not only % guaranty
this form Ct Government. "to every
State" bnt the guaranty is to all the
States, that the government Of each
State shnN be republican in form,
whether the people thereof will it or
not This is the plain spirit, and inton,
Of the compact otherwise, the righi al
rcdv advertca to, that each Safe may
regulate lis own institutions, would be
come source Of imminent peril to the
Union. Without this salutary check
upon the action Of States, we might
soon have 4 cluster Of anti republican
governments, springing up within the
limits II the Cnon, t. accomplish its
re.rogression and ultimate over
throw.
The events Of the last few years hay-
ing fully demonstrated the irrcpress;b.e
antagonisin If slavery 10 ou Repub'i
can institutions, and left de question
no longer 20 abstract discussion, or in
depreciation, oar manifest duty, under
the Constitution, is while The authority
is ri-httally in cur hand, to see that no
new or remolelea Government is re-
ceived, which presents this obviously
anti.rcpublican feature.
Under proper auspices and a Just re.
gard for mutual rights, the process Of
reconstruction may keep pace with the
advance Of our arms. With suitable
assistance the people Of the insurgcnt
States may be restored to their legiti
mate lights in the Union as rapidly n,
the hostile power is expelled from their
borders To effect its contamination.
some rule should be prescribed, plain
and just Ill itself, compatible with the
dignity ofthe Government, and he per-
pctuity Of the Union. Emerging from
the calamities Of this conflict, let Us ~.
cure an honorable and permanent peace
and seal forever the terrific fountains OF
civil war. BY doing less than this, we
would prove fai,hless TO the sacred
trust committed to our care, enbitter
the heritage Of prosterity, and commit
a moEstrous crime.
No true patriot no sincere wishcr Of
restored and honorcd Union, could
desire the wicked and Infamous leaders
of this rebellion rcinttatcd in their pla
ces under this Government, whore, by
a repetition Of their gigantic frauds,
and intrigues, they might again attempt
what they have so signally failed to
accomplish by the rage Of battle.
Every motive of sell preservation, and
the sternest dictates Of patriotic duty,
demand Of W to guard well this vital
point. Let us expunge forever these
infamous names from the roll Of the
Union. Let rs appeal directly TO the
less criminal offenders and more tract
able masses. To none others would