Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-12-09


aud controlled his activity. The Ameri.
can system, resss on the assertion Of the
equal right OF every men to life, liberty,
and the pursuit Of happiness, to freedom Of
TO the culture aud exercise OF
all bis faculties. As . consequences, the
State Government 10 limited, ss to the
General Government 10 the interest Of
Union, as TO the individual citisen In the
interest Of freedom.
States. with proper limitations Of power,
are essential to the existence OF the Con
situation OF the United States. At the
very commencement, when we assumed
place among the Powers Of the earth, the
Declaration Of Independence was adopted
by States; so also we're the Articles OF
Confederation; and when "the People Of
the United States ordained aud established
the Consultation, u was the assent OF the
States, one ny one, which gave 1t vitality.
In the event, too. o. 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 Aud IL
we look beyond the letter Of the Cons'itu-
tion 10 the character Of our country. It's
capacity for comprehending within its juris-
diciion vast continual empire Is due to
the system Of States. The best security
for the perpetusl existence Of the States Is
the supreme authority" Of the Constitu.
tion OF the United States. The pcrpetuity
Of the Constitution briags with II the per.
petuity of the State; their mutual relation
makes rs what we are, aud In our political
system their connection is indssoluble -
The whole cannot exist without the parts,
nor the parts without the whole. 81 lcng
as the Constitutions OF tie United States
eudures, the States viii endure; the de.
struction OF the one Is the destruction OF
the other the preservation Of the Que is the
preservation Of the other.
have thus explained my views OF the
mutual relations Of The Constitutions and
the States. because they unfold the princi.
Piles on which have sought to solve the
momentous questions and overcome the
appalling difficulties that met me at the
very commencement Of my administration
1t has been my stendfsst object to escape
from the sway Of momentary passions, aud
to derive bealing policy from the funda'
mental srd uuchaDging principles Of The
Constitution.
THE ALrERSATlvB PRE- EYrxp FOR DEcI'IoN
found the States suffering from the
effects Of civil war. Resistance TO the
General Government appeared 10 have
exhaust ed ITSELF The United States bsC
recovered possession of their forts and arse
nals; aud their armies were in the ocesps
ton Of every State which had attempted
to secede. Whether the territory With,
the limits Of those States should be held
as conquered territory, under mil,ar,
authority emsnating from the President a
the head Of the army, was the fret question
that prevented itself for decision.
THE Erm.s OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
Now, military government. established
for su indefinite period, would have offsret
no security for the early suppression o
discomfort would have divided the peopl
into the vanquishers and the vspquished
and would have eDvenomed hatred, rsthe
than have restored sffrc!ion. ODcc estab
lished, no precise limit to their continuance
was conceivable. They would have occa
stoned an incslcuIsble and exhausting ex
pense. Peaceful emigration to aud from
that portion Of tho country is one Of tn
best means that can be thought of for tn
restoration of harmony and that emigra
tion would have been prevented for wba
emigrant, from abroad. what industriOu
citizen at home, would place himself viii
lingly under military rule Z The chic
persons who would have followed in tb,
train of the army would have been depend
cuts on the general government, or met
who expected profit from the miseries o
their erring fellow citizens The powers o.
patronage aud rule which would have beer
exercised. under The President, over vast
aud popuIous. and naturally wealthy re
siOn, are greater than, unless under extrem,
Necessity, should be willing to entrust u
any one nau they are such rs. for myself
| could never, unless on occasions of grea
emergency. consent TO exercise. The wilfu
use Of such powers, il continued through
period Of years. would have endangered
be purify Of the general admiuistrs ion
aud the liberties Of The States which re
,nsined Ioyal.i
THE STATES STILL III THE UNION.
Besides the policy Of military rule owe
. conquered territory would have implie
that the States whose inhabitants may bsv
taken part in the rebellion had, by the &C
Of those inhsbitsnts, ceased 10 exist. Bu
the true theory is. that ell pretended act
of secession were from the beginning, nu
and void Tae States cannot commit tres
son, nor screen the individual citizens wb
may have committed treason. any NOR
than they csn make valid treaties or er
gage in lawful commerce with any foreig
power. The States attempting TO seced
placed themselves in condition where the
vitality was impaired, bus not sxtioguishe
-!hsr fanctioss suspended buI 1ot d.
stroyed.
, WHAT HAS BgER DONE
But II any Stale negIects or refuse I
, peform It's offices. there 10 the more nee
that the General Government sboul
msintsin ell its authority, aud as soon 9
practicable, resume the exercise OF sil i
functions Ou this principle have actet
and have gradually aud quietly, aud by q
mos, impercep.ible steps sought TO resto
, the rigbtful esergy Of the General Cover,