The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-06

ernm6nG ID lIuiVcuJ 40 W tuo 0ohOidi
Government in the interest of Union, as
to the individual citizen in the interest
of freedom. "a
States, with proper limitations of
power, are essential to the existence of
the Constitution of the United States
At the very commencement, when we as
sumed place among the Powers of the
earth, the Declaration Of Independence
was adopted by States; so also were the
Articles. of Confederation; and which the
People of the United States" ordained and
established the Constitution, it was the
assent of the States, one by one, which
gave it vitality. In the event, toe' OF
any amendment to the Constitution the
proposition of Congress needs the con
firnation of States. Without States one
great branch of the legislative govern
ment would be wanting Ana, II we look
beyond tho letter of the Constitution to
the character of our country, its capaci-
tv for compromising within its juris-
diction a vast continental empire is due
to the system of States The best secu-
rity for the perpetual existence Of the
States is the supreme authority" of the
Constitution of the United States. The
perpetuity of the Constitution brings
with il the perpetuity ofthe States; their
mutual relation makes us what we are,
and in our political system their connec-
tion is indissoluble. The whole cannot
exist without the parts, nor the parts
without the whole. So long as the Con
stitution Of the United States endures,
the States will endure; the destruction of
the one is the destruction of the other
the preservation of the one is the preser-
walton of the other.
| have thus explained my views of the
| mutual relations of he Constitution and
the States, because they unfold the prin-
ciples on which L have sought to solve
the mOmentous questions and overcome
the appalling difficulties that met me
at the very commencement of my admin
istration. 1t has been my steadfast OBJ
iect to escape from the sway of moment
airy passions, and to derive healing pol
icy from the fundamental and unchang-
| ing principles of the Constitution
| found the States suffering from the
effects of a civil war. Resistance to the
General Government appeared to have
exhausted itself The United States had
recovered possession OF their forts and
arsenals; and their armies were in the
occupation of every State which had at
tempted TO secede Whether the terri
tory within the limits of those States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority emanating from
the President as the head of the array
was the first question that presented
| itself for decision.
! NANu military fol liol,
ed for al indefinite period, would have
offered no security for the early sHppres-
sion of discomfort; would have divided
the people into the vanquishcrs and the
yauquisheds and would have envenomed
hate, rather than have restored affection
Once established, DO precise limit to
their continuance is conceivable. They
would have occasioned an incalcnlable
and eXhaustiDg expense. Peaceful emf
! grafton to and from that portion of the
country is one OF the best means that
can be thought of for the restoration OF
harmony; and that emigration would
have been prevented; tor what emigrant
from abroad what industrious citizen at
home, would willingly place himself IN
der military rule2 The chiefpersons who
would have followed in the train IT the
army would have been dependents Oh
the Geberal Government, or men who
expected profit from the miseries of theiI
erriug fellow citizens. The powers OF
patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under the President
over vast, and populous, and natural
ly wealthy region, are greater than, un
| less under extreme necessity, l would be
willing to entrust to one man; they are
such as for myself, could never, unless
on occasions of great emergency, con
sent to exercise The wiltul use of sucl
powers, if continued through period OF
years, would have endangered the puri
ty of the general administration and til,
! liberties of the States which remained
loyal.
Besides. the policy of military rule
over conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabit
ants may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, by the act of those inhabit
| ants, ceased to exist. But the true the
ory is, that all pretended acts of seces
sion were, from the beginning, null anC
| void. The States cannot commit treason
nor screen the individual citizens who
have committed treason, any more than
thev can make valid treaties or engage
in lawful commerce with any foreign
Power The States attempting to Sc
cede placed themselves III a condition
where their vitality was impaired, but
no, cxtinguished-thei functions sus
pended, but not destroyed
Bat if any State neglects or refuses tc
perform its offices, there is the more need
that the General Government should
maintain all its authority, and as soon as
practicable, resume the exercise of ali lis
functions On this principle have act.
ted, and have gradually and quietly, and
by almost imperceptible steps sought to
restore the righttul energy of the GeDer
al Government aud Of the States To
that end, Provisional Governors have
been appointed for the States, Conven.
tions called, Governors elected, Legisla.
lures assembled, and Senator's and Rep
resentatives chosen to tue Congress OF
the United States AT the same time,
the Courts of the United States, as far as
could he done, have been re-opened so
that the laws of the United States may
be enforced through their agency. The
blockade has been removed, and the
Custom Houses rs-established in ports of
entry, so that the revenue of the United
States may be collected. The Postofice
Department rensws its ceaseless activity
/ 4 IL. Al