The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-13

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thereby, anything in the Constitution or
laws Of any Slate 10 the contrary not~iih-
Standing"
Certainly the govern ment of the United
States is a limited government and SO is
every State government Limited govern
ment With US, this idea OF Limitation
spreads through every form of administra-
lion, General State aud municipal, aud rests
on the great Distinguishing Principle OF the
recognition OF the rights of man. The an
cient republics absorbed the individual in
the Stale, prescribed his religion, and con-
tfoiied his nctiviiy. The American system
res;s on the assertion of the equal right of
every man 10 lite, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness TO freedom of conscience. to
the culture and exercise of all his faculties.
As a consequence, the State government
is limited as 10 the General government in
the interest Of the Union, as 10 the individ-
uai citizen in The interest OF freedom.
Stales, with proper limitations OF power,
are essential 10 The existence oil the Const-
tuition of the United States. AT the very
ccmmencement when we assumed place
among the powers OF The earth, the Decla-
ration of independence was adopted by
States go also were the Articles OF Con-
federation; and when ''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, too. of any amendment 10 the Con-
siiruIion the proposition OF Congress needs
the confrmatioa OF SIaies.
Without States, one great branch of the
legislative government would be wanting
And ii we look beyond the letter OF the
Constitution 10 the character OF our country,
its capacity for CON pretending within lis
Jurisdiction vast continental empire is due
10 The system of States. The best security
for the perpetual existence Of the States is
the "su preme authority" OF the Constitu-
ton OF the United States. The perpetuty
of The Constitution brings with il the per-
petuiiy Of the States their mutual relation
makes 1s what We are. aud in our polItcs
system their connection is IndIsSoluble. The
whole cannon exist without the parts, nor
the parts without the whole So long as
The Constitution of the United States en-
dures, the States will endure the destruc-
lion of The one is tho destruction oil the
oiher; the preservation OF The one is the
preservation OF the oiher.
have thus explained my views of the
mutual relations of the Constitution and he
States. because they unfold The principles
on which have sought 10 solve the mo-.
menfous questions and overcome the ap-
paIIing difficulties shat met me at he very
commencement of my administration. IL
has been my stsadiasI object 10 escape from
the sway Of momeulsry passions aud 10 de-
rive a healing policy from the fundamental
aud unchangng principles Of The ConsIitu-
lion.
Ifouad The States suffering from the eff
fects Of a civil war. Resistance 10 The Gen.
eral government appeared 10 have exhausted
Itself. The UniIed States had recovered
possession of their .orts and arsenai, and
their armies were in lhs occupation OF sE-
cry Stale which had attempted 10 seceds.
Whether the territory within The limits of
those States should be held as conquered
territory. under military authority emaHat-
ing from the President as the head OF the
army, was the first question that presented
itself for decision. Now, military govern
ments, established for an indefiuiie period,
would have offered no seeuriy Tor The early
suppression Of discohtent; would have d.
vired the people into the yanquishers and
the vanquished; aud would have enveu-
omed haired, rather than restored affection.
Once established, no precise hmi, 10 their
continuance was conceivable. They would
have occasIoned an IncalculabIe and ex-
haustiDg expense. Peaceful emigration 10
and from that porten OF the country is one
Of the best means thai eau be Ihonght of
for the restoration OF harmony and that en-
igration would have been prevented for
what emigrsn; from abroad, what induslri
ous citizen al home, would place himself
willingly under military ruIe (!
The chief persons who would have fol-
lowed in the train of the army would have
been dependent on the General govern
ment, or MEN who expected profit from The
miseries OF their erring fellow citizens. The
powers of patronage and rule which would
have been exercised under the President
over vast aud populous, and naturally
wealthy region, are greater than, unless un-
der extreme necessity, | should be willing
TO enirusl 10 any one man thew are such
as, sor my sell, | could never, unless on oc-
casioDs of great emergency, consent 10 ex-
ercise. The wIIfu use OF such powers,
if continued through a 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
territory would have implied that
the States whose inhabitants may have TAX
en- part in the Rebellion had, by The act of
those inhabitants, ceased 10 exist. But the
true theory is, that all pretended acts OF
secession were, from the beginning null
and void. The States cannot commit ;rea-
son, nor screen the individual ciIizsns who
may have committed treason, any more
Than thsy can make valid treaties or engage
in lawful commerce with any foreign Pow.
or. The Stales attempting to seceds placed
themselves 10 a condition where their vi.
Ial;ty was impaired, but not extinguished-
their functions suspended, but not de-
sroyed
But if any State neglects or refuses to per-
formsits offices, there is the more need that
ihs General government should mainiain all
It's authority, and as soon as practicable, re-
sums-the exercise OF all is functions. On
his principle have acted, and have grad
nally and quietly, and by almost impercep-
ible steps sought to restore the rightiuI
energy of the General government and of
he States. To that end, Provisional Gov
errors have been appointed for the States,
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