The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-06-15
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Il
Federal Government may rightly interfere
This seems to be substantially the view o.
the gentleman from Massachusetts,, mr.
Boutwell, He enforces the same position
but he does not use the same language.
/ submit that these gentleman do not sec
with their usual clearness of vision. If By
plague or other visitation of God every Of
ficer of State government should at the
same moment die. so that not a single per.
son clothed with official power should remain
would the State government be destroyed ?
Not at all. For the moment it should moi
be administered, but as soon as officers were
elected and assumed their respective duties
it would be instantly in full force and vigor.
If these States are out of the Union their
State governments are still in force unless
otherwise changed And their citizens are
to the Federal Government as foreigners,
and 1t has in relation to them the same
rights, and other, as it had in relation to
British subjects in the war of 1872, or to
the Mexicans in 1916. Whatever may be
the true relation of the seeded States. the
Federal Government derives no power in re-
lation to them or their citizens from the pro-
vision of the Constitution now under consid-
Grafton, but in the one case derives all its
power from the duty of enforcing the ''sl-
preme law of the land,' and in the other
from the power " to declare war"
The second proposition of the gentleman
from Maryland is this use his language:
"That clause vests in the Congress of the
United States plenary, supreme, unlimit-
ed political jurisdiction, paramount over
courts, subject only to the judgement of the
people of the United States, embracing with
in its scope every legislative measure ne
cessary and proper to make it effectual; and
what is necessary and proper, the Constitrr-
ton refers in the first place to our Judgment.
subject to no revision but that Of the peo-
ple."
The gentleman states his case too strongly.
The duty imposed on Congress is doubtless
important. but Congress has no right to use
a means of performing it forbidden by the
Constitution. no matter how necessary or
proper it might be thought to be- But, sir,
this doctrine its monstrous. 1t has no
foundation in the Constitution 1t sub
iocts all the States to the will of Congress;
it places their institutions at the feet of
Congress. 1t creates in Congress an abso-
lutte unqualified despotism. 1t asserts the
power Of Congress in changing the State
governments to be "plenary, supreme, un-
limited y" subject only to revision by the
people of the whole United States. The
rights of the people of the States are noth-
ing, their will is nothing. Congress first
decides. the people of the whole Union re-
wise. My own State of Ohio is liable at
at any moment to he called in question for
her constitution. She does not permit ne
eroes to vote. IF this doctrine be true,
Congress may decide this exclusion is anti
republican, and by force of arms abrogate
that constitution and set up another permit
ting negroes to vote. From that. decision
Of the Congress there is no appeal to the
people of Ohio, but only to the people of
and New York, Wisconsin,
1t the election of Representatives and if a
majority cannot be elected to reverse the de-
,ision the people of Ohio must submit Woe
be to that day when that doctrine shall be
for from its centralized despot--
SIN we will appeal to the sword
Sir, the rights of the States were the
corner of the Confederation. -
The Constitution recognized them, main
aimed them, provided for theirperpetuation
Dur fathers thought them the safeguard of
,ur liberties they have proved so. They
lave reconciled liberty with empire: they
lave reconciled the freedom of the individ-
lal with increase of our liberties This bill,
he avowed doctrine of its supporters, sweep
hem Instantly away. 1t substitutes despotE
SIN for self-government despotism the more
evere because vested in numerous Con-
.ress elected by a people who may not feel
he exercise of its power 1t subverts the
destroys the Confederation,
nd erects tyranny on the ruins of repub-
can governments. 1t creates unity - it de- |
troys liberty-it maintains integrity of |
erritory, but destroys the rights of the cit
en-.
Sir, if this be the alternative of secession
should prefer that secession should sue
eed. | should prefer to have the Union
issolved, the Confederate States recogni-
ed nay. more, | should prefer that seces-
ion should 60 on, if need be, until each
tate resumes its complete independence |
hould prefer thirty four republics to one
espotism. From such republics, while I
light fear discord and wars, | would enjoy
liberty, and hope for reunion on
lc true principles of confederation From
ne strong centralized despotism, overriding
le rights of the people, overriding the
ghts Of the States, can see no escape ex-
ept in apathetic contentment with slavery
r the oft-repeated, often failing, always
loody struggles of despairing hope l
ould rather live free citizen of republic
0 larger than my native county of Hamil-
m, than be the subject of more splendid
npire than Caesar in his proudest tri-
mphs ever ruled, or Napoleon in his loft
st flights ever conceived.
Sir, cling to the hope that these evils
ay yet be averted While [ would prefer
,paration to the unity which this bill would
cate, would fain hope that we may not
, compelled to accept either alternative
before it is too late the people will see the
esigns of those now in power, and will re-
lace them with men who do not wish rev.
but do heartily wish a restora-
on Of the Union, men who will seek by
eace the results which war has rendered
ell nigh impossible; who will try to attain
Y Cancellation the ends which never can be
.ached by subjugation; who will seek in
,nsent the foundation of the rights of Gov
in States rights the guarantees of
le liberty of the citizen; in the Constitu-
on the measure of the power of the Gov
nment and the extent of the snrrender of
ertect freedom imposed by the citizen up
1 himself, we may hope that we may again
ave Union and liberty; that interest which
one binds together nations occupying ter
tory like our own, will assert its power and
cal the wounds of war, and bring us again
to the bonds of fraterna peace. But if
ley will not now see those designs and pre-
mt them, however long and bloody and !
this war, it will end i predict
now while the thunders of battle ring
our ears and the exultant shouts of
ctory rise upon the cir - in recognition of
10 Confederacy, in final separation, and in
longer, bloodier and more desolating war
sspotism which ere then will have been
rmly established over them ,.,7 7.a