The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-01-27

l have thus given but very brief
sketch of the origin and formation Of our
Constitution and Government sufficient,
| however. / think, to show the unanimity
of its adoption. II was framed by the
best and wisest statesmen of the land.
and was consummated through much
labor and concession, il was made t.
harmonize rs nearly as possible with the
interests of all. and it is truly q Consti-
tuition of concessions. The solemn
compact was, however. finally made, and
1--WE the people" by its ratification and
adoption, bound into perpetual union.
| The preamble sets forth that, I'VE the
people.of the United States, i'm order to
form amore perfect Union, establish JUS
| tice, insure domestic TRANQUILITY, pro
vide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare, and secure the bles-
sings of Liberty to ourselves and our
| posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution Tor the United States of
America.
Here is the solemn declaration made
TO the world, that We thesspeople-not we
the people of the several sovereign
States of the Confederation-but we the
people of the United States, do ordain
and establish this Constitution. Now, it
having been thus established for them
and their i2osterity. where is the power for
its abrogation? Not within the instru-
ment itself surely, for it contains no pro
visions for its own dissolution. 1t pro
vides for, and proscribes the mode, of
any amendments or additions that may
become necessary, from time to time. and
also for the addition of territory to the
Union rs States, but not one word for the
ohr nf
rights of any part that has been once
properly admitted.
The second clause Of the sixth article
of the Constitution declares that, ..rhis
Constitution and the Laws of the United
States. which shall be made in pursuance
thereof, and all treaties made or which
shall be made. under the authority of the
United States. shall be the Supreme Law
of the land, anything in the Constitution
or Laws of any State to the contrary not
withs .anding."
The Constitution and the Laws made
in pursuance thereof, covers all of the
territory within its prescribed and ac-
knowledged limits, and the main question
of interest now is, whether this organic
charter has by any sectional acts been
broken down SO as to admit of recon
struction. There are, perhaps, two ways
by which the Constitution can be dissolv-
ed, The same power that can make can
mmake. 1t took a large majority Of the
whole people to make the Union, and
majority of the whole people would have
a natural right to dissolve it, this would
make pcaceallle sapanneioa; o., Q ma
jority could by snccesaea1 npvolution,
scsr their rights away, aad thuo BY vio-
lencc, virtually sunder their relations.
Some of the people OF particular
State orof particular section numer-
ically vastly in the minority, declared
their political allegiance dissolved, and
by rebellion refused the execution Of the
laws made i'm pursuance Of the Constitli-
ton. This does not of itself annul their
obligations and duties toward the Gov
ernment,-a man cannot expatriate him
self, while he remains within the juris-
diction of his Government-but If. after
reasonable time, the loyal majority can
not, or do not, restrain and compel the
obedience of the minority, then they
would by virtue Of successful revolution,
have natural right to carry the terrific
ry out of the Union. If the rebellion
does not succeed, then the condition Of
the States remain politically the same as
before any resistance had been inaugura-
ted, and those of the people who have
outraged the laws must suffer the pro-
scribed pains and penalties. Now i'm
either case what can we have to do with
re construction. If, on the one hand,
the Union is not legally broken, it is
sheer folly to talk of re construction and
if, on the other hand it is broken, is it not
perfect imbecility to gabble about re-
constructing that over which we have no
control. Suppose citizen leaves the
country and expatriates himself, can we
reconstruct him back? as much I'm the
one case as the other
We hear much said, also, by some Of
our sensational patriots, and this is one
of their points of construction, that
when the rebellion is crushed and the
supremacy of the Government is rein
stated Of reaandiny the insurrectionary
States back, into the condition of terri
tories; there are some few slight difficult
ties to encounter, however, in the riding
of this political hobby also.
Members of Congress- as well as all
other Government officers are under
oath to support and protect the Constitu-
ton; let see what II guarantees to
States.
Art. 4, Sec. 2. The citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all the privil-
eyes and immunities Of citizens In the
several States
Art. 4, Sec. 4. The United States
shall guarantee to every State in this
Union republican form Of Government,
&c, &c.
Art 5. No State without its consent,
shall be deprived Of its equal suffrage
in the Senate
Art 10. The powers not delegated
to the United States by the Constitution
nor prohibited by it to the States, are re-
served to the States respectively, or to
the people.
-Four of the States which are now in
insurrection, were Of the original thir
teen, and over which Congress never had
any control as territories, now how, or In
what way, can they be re-eossfrsctedf
Where IL the power granted to any
department Of the General Government,
to deprive State Of its lConstitation, or
take from it any Of its political or civfl