The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-14

urc but limited one. and III that manner
always retain the powers Of redress.
The sovereignty of the States is the
language Of the .Confedcracy, and not the
language of the Constitution. The latter
contains the emphatic words: The Con
stituton and the laws Of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof,
and al treaties made or which shall he
made, under the authority of the United
States. shall be the supreme law OF the
land; and the Judges in every State shall
be bound thereby anything in the Consti-
tuition and laws of any State to the contra
ry notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government Of the United
States is limited Government: and so IS
every State government limited govern
ment With lis, this idea Of limitation
spreads through every form of adninistra-
ton general, State, and municipal, and
rests on the great distinguishing principle
of the recognition of the rights of man.
The ancient republics absorbed the indi,
vioGal in TIE state, rres;rihcd lis relz-
iea and controlled h ctivi;y. The y
nlor'cAn system rests or Tie assertion al
the equal rl-it ~ cye~v man 70 life. liher-
y, an! Tie pursuit u happiness; % free
corn "a conscience, 20 the culture ai.ti *
crciSc of all his faculties. i a conse
quence. the S,ate government is limited
as to the General Government in the in>
dirid,ial citizen IN The interest Of freedom
States, w:ti proper limitatious al power.
are essential t. TIE existence oi the C,n,
stilUtion Of The t'nitel. States. At the
very commencement. when We assumed
the place among Che powers OF the earth
the Declaration Il Independence was
adopted by S,atcs. 50 also were the arti.
cles Of Confederation; and when '..iie peo-
PIE Of the ,'ui.cd States ordained and
established the Constitution, it vas the
assent Of the States, one by one, which
gave it vitality In the event, too, of any
amendment to the Constitution, the Dropo.
sition OF CONGRESS needs the confirmation
Of States. Without States, one grea'
branch ol the legislative government will
be wanting. Aud. if we look beyond the
letter Of ;hc Constitution to The character
oi our country, is ca aciiy for compress
hendlng within is jurisdiction vast con
tnental empire is due to the system of
States. TIE best security for the perpct-
ual existence Of the States Is the supreme
authority OF the Constitution oi' the
tni'oi States. Tie Eerpetu;;y ot tho
Constitution brings wi.h it the pernetuitv
- I'll St"t~5 tle;s ,,.t,,..; relation .s..t> -
US what We are, and in our political sys
tenn their connection IS inl:.solub,c The
whole cannot cxist without The parts. nor
the parts without the whole SO long Il
the Constitution of the United States en-
dures, til, SIates Will cndure; the dcstruc
ton OF the ole is the destruction OF the
other; the preservation of the one is the
preservation .! the other
/ have thus explained my views Of the
mutual relations Of the Constitution and
the States, because they unfold the prin-
cipies on which i have sought to solve
the momentous questions and overcome
the appalling difficulties that met me Il.
the very commencement ofny adninistra
ton. 1t has been my slcaiFast object .9
escape 'rom tue sway Of momen:ary pas
sions, and to derive healing policy from
lie fundamental and uncha1ging pr.nci
pies Of 'le Constitution.
| found the States suffering from he
effects OF civil war Resistance to the
General Goyerament appeared to have
exhausted itself The United S ates had
recovered poaess;on Of their forts ana ar
senais; and their armies were in the oc
cupation Of every State which la attemp-
ted to sccede. Whether the territory
within the limits Of those States should
be held as conquered territory, under
military authority emanatng from the
President, as the heal of the army. was
the first question that presented Itself Tor
decision.
Now military governments established
ior an indefinite pe.i>d. would have olfe-
o.I 10 security Tor the early supIl eseiou of
't,seontent; weull have driven tic rcaslai
mt he Ytn4ais!iers AMI the yaaanishei:
ini would have ci4venon ci hairei rather
than have res.orci affection. Oace cs.ab
i''..cd- 40 precise li'nt to their contiuuance
Was conceivable. They would have oeca
stoned an ncalcuable aud exhausiing cx-
pense Peaceful emigration to and from
hat portion OF the cnrntrv * orc of the
best means that can be Thought of for ,l.
restoration of harmoay, and that einier,. |
iion would have been p,evea,ol; for what
cmlerant from abroad what indus,r;ous
:.t'zen at home. would place himself vii |
lns'y under military rule ? The chicf
persons who would have followed in the
tram OF the army would have been dc
pendent on the General Government. or
men who expected from the miseries of
their efring fellow citizens. The powers
Of patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under the President. over
Il vast, and populous and naturally wealthy
region, arc greater than, unless under
extreme necessity, / should be willing to
en'rust 20 any olc man; they are such as.
ioT ny elf, / could never. unless on occa.
sions of great emergency, consent to excr
else. The willful use of such powers If
continued through period of years. would
have endangered the purity of the general
administration and the liberties Of the
States which remained loyal
Besides, the policy of military rule over
"A cOnuVprod torri.or,r ,ro,l1 -. =. I. I