The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-05-11

unuer the S0-calleu G0nfeQerate States O
g either of them, or been any agent thereo
:. during the Rebellion, should have no pc
litical rights in the State, but should b
and remain alien thereunto forever. /
the people of the State should, by goo'
degree of unanimity, vote to call con
vention to make these or like proposition
part of their Constitutional law, then
meeting for the election of delegates to
Constitutional convention could be call
ed, a Constitution framed and submitted t.
the people for ratification Such vote
upon such propositions would be conclu
slve evidence that the people of such
State were truly loyal, and in accordance
with those ideas which control the loya
mind of the other States, and by which
the future of the country is to be governed
1t no considerable number voted upon
these questions, or they failed to command
the assent of large portion of the people
this would also seem to be conclusive ev-
idence that within the military district
either the spirit of the Rebellion had not
been subdued, although ii its physical force
might be broken, or that the community
was not in condition to resume its "prac-
tical relations" as State of the Union,
and | would hold it under military rule
as belligerents until the influx of North
ern enterprise, capital and sentiment
brought in by our brave soldiers coming
there to settle, and by our school teach
ers educating the colored citizens of the
United States therein dwelling, had so
far changed the feelings of majority of
the people of such State that it was in fit
condition to become State of this Union,
whether the time needed for this purpose
was one year or century.
If, however, Constitution should be
adopted containing the provisions above
suggested, then, the State being organ
lied, all military rule should be withdrawn
as soon as the State Government should
show that it was able to preserve the peace
and protect all citizens of the United
States in its borders, in life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. The State
could then elect its members to either
House of Congress, to be admitted or re-
jected, as either in its wisdom might de-
termine. But no such election of mem
bers of Congress ought to take place un-
til all military rule had been Withdrawn;
because there can be no greater wrong to
the fundamental principles of our Govern
ment than the election of members of ell
ther House of Congress under the over
shadoWing power of the President, espe-
cially when exerted in the military form.
Such elections abolish all distinctions be-
tween, and independence of, the legisla-
tive and executive departments of the
Government, and tend to a consolidation
of power, quite as much to be guarded a.
gainst as secession. [ am one of the old
fashioned Democrats who do not believe
that the Executive has any part or lot in
the fraternal relations of the several
States to each other and to the Union
other than that which the President ex-
ercises as part of the law making power.
The theory of State rights has been in
such bad company of late, and has been
so mangled and misrepresented, as an a
pology for Secession, that there is danger
that the Hamiltonian theory of federated
powers may be carried too far, and we
may leave the States without any rights
at all. Indeed, it would seem that the
relations Of the States to the General
Government might be adjusted by sim
gle consideration. All sovereignty re-
sides in the people. For the manage
ment Of their domestic concerns, the peo-
pie have chosen the agency of state, for
the management of their national and
foreign affairs they have chosen the Fed
eral Government. In all that relates to
the former the State is the supreme agent.
In all that relates to each other, and to
the national Government, that is supreme
There would seem, therefore, to be no ne
cessity for any clashing between these
two agencies of the people. Meanwhile
in such military districts as are comprised
within the boundaries of States, the Mil
itary Governor should be charged with
the economical administration of an ex-
ecutive Government which should insure
the safety of his property, taxing the in
habitants of such districts for the cost of
such Government, SO that by contumacy
and adherence to the spirit of treason the
State should not tax the treasures of the
loyal States for the expenses of their mil
itary government.
The material resources of the State
should be developed its means of CON-
munication with other States and parts
of itself fostered, so as to afford the full
est opportunity for emigration. Perhaps
some may think have held too much
stress upon the several propositions which
are laid down as conditions precedent to
the action which should bring back re-
volted State. would have them put
nakedly to the people Of the State before
any election of officers was called, be-
cause I would eliminate all the elements
of personal difference as to the rulers
from the adoption of principles of govern
ment. 1 would first present the princi.
Piles; they being determined, then the
questions of men could be discussed
Upon the first proposition that would
require to be submitted to the people Of
each rebelious State before it can ask to