The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-12-13
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, DEC. l3, 1865.

among the powers Of the earth, the Decla.
ration Of Independence was adopted by
States; so also were the Articles of Confed.
eration; and when "the People Of the
United States" ordained and established
the Constitution, 1t vas the assent of the
States, one by one, which gave it vitality
In the event, too, Of any amendment to the
Constitution, the proposition of Congress
needs the confirmation Of States. Without
States, one great branch Of the legislative
government would be wanting. And, If we
look beyond the letter of the Constitution
to the character of our country, its capacity
for comprehending within its jurisdiction
vast continental empire is due to the sys
tenn Of States. The best security for the
perpetual existence Of the States is the
supreme authority" Of the Constitution
Of the Uaited States The perpetuity OF
the Constitution brings with it the perpe-
tuity of the States; their mutual relation
makes Us what We are, and in our political
system their connexion 10 indissolubls.
The whsie cannot exist without the parts,
a r the parts without the whole. So long
IS the Constitution OF the United States en-.
lures, the States will endure; the destruc.
ton of one is the destruction of the other;
he preservation Of one 10 the preservation
e the other.
have thus explained my views of the
mutual relations Of the Constitution and the
states, because they untold the principles
0 which have sought to solve the mo
| nentous questions and overcome the ap
NIL n,,1S hat
commencement Of my administration. 1t
h.s been my steadfast object to escape from
tic sway of momentory passions, and to
ddive healing policy from the fundamen.
tai and unchanging principles of the Con
sttution.
found the States suffering from the ef
| fe.ts Of civil war. Resistance to the
Gneral Government appeared to have ex
hassted itself The United States had re-
| covered possession Of their forts and arscn-
ais: and their armies were in the occupation
ofeyeryState which had attempted to secede.
Whether the territory within the limits Of
those States should be held as conquered
| territory, under military authority eman,t-
ing.from the President As the head of the
sru3y, was the first question that presented
itself for decision.
Now, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offered
no security for the early suppression OF dis
content; would have divided the people
into the vanquishers and the vsnQuished !;
and wou|d have envenomed hatred, rather
than have restored affection. Once estab-
lished, no precise limit to their continuance
was conceivable. They would have occa
stoned an incalcu!able and exhaus,ing ex
pense. Peaceful emigration 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 emigra-
ton would have been prevented for what
emigrant from abroad, what industrious
citizen at home, would place himself will
ingly under military rule? The chief per-
sons who would have followed in the train
of the army would have been dependents
on the General Government, or men who
expected profit from the miseries Of their
erring fellow citizens. The powers of pat
ronage and rule which wouid have been
| xerc,seS, under the President, over . vast
and pcpulous. and naturally wealthy region,
are g-eater than, uCless under extreme
necessity, l should be willing to entrust to
any one man; they are such ss, for myself,
| could never. unless on occasions of great
emergency, consent to exercise. The will
fuI use OF such powers, if continued thrO'
a period of years, would have endangered
the purity Of the General Administration
and the liberties Of the States which re-
mained loyal
Besides. the policy Of military rule over
conquered territory would have implied
that the States whose inhabitants may have
taken par, in the rebellion had, by the act
of those inhabitants, ceased to exist. But
the true theory is, that all pretended acts
of secession were, from the beginning, null
and void. The States cannot commit trea-
son, nor screen the individual citizens who
may have committed treason, any more
than they can make valid treaties to engage
IN lawful commerce with any foreign Pow
er The States attempting to secede placed
themselves in condition where their vital
ity was impaired, but not extinguished-
their functions suspended, not destroyed.
But if any State negects or refuses to
perform its Offices, there is the more need
that the General Governme ent should main
tain all it's authority, and, Is soon as prac-
ticable, resume the exercise Of oil its func-
| tiOho. ou uNuts AAvC oSsS"S o"Ns
have gradually and quietly, and BY almost
imperceptible steps, sought to restore the
rightful energy Of the General Government
and Of the States. To that end, Prov
sional Governors have been appointed for
The States, Conventions called, Governors
elected, Legislatures assembled, and SEN
ators and Representatives chosen to the
Congress Of the United States. At the
same time, the Courts Of the United States
As FIR as could be done, have been reopen.
ed, so that the laws Of the United States
may be enforced through their agency. -
The blockade has been removed and tn.
Custom Houses re established in ports o
entry, so that the revenue Of the UniteC
States may be collected. The Post Offic.
Department renews it's ceaseless activity
and the General Government is thereb,
enabled to communicate promptly with il!
officers and agents. the Courts brins
security to persons and property tn,
opening Of the ports invites the restoration
Of industry and commerce; the Post Office
renews the facilities of social intercours.
and OF business. Aad is it not happy fol
US all, that the restoration OF each one o
these functions of the General Government
brings with it blessing to the States ovel
which they are extended Is it not SURE
promise OF harmony and renewed attach
ment to the Union that, after all that has
happened, the return of the General Gov
ernment is known only as beneicence
i know ve,y we'll that this policy is At
tended with some risk /; that Tor its success!
it requires at least the acquaintance Of tn
States which It concerns; that it implies ~
invitation to those states, by renewing thel
allegiance to the United States, to resum,
thei functions as States Of the Union
But it is risk that must be taken; in TN
choice Of difficulties, it is the smallest risk
and to diminish, and, if possible, to remov
all danger. | have LETT it incumbent Oh IN
to assert one other power Of the Genera
Government-the power Of pardon. AS NJ
State can throw = defense over the crime Q
/ | ,uon,,n ,h, rou~r rardoD ovrl,,s,vo,,