The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-12-30
THE RADICAL WAR on THE
CONSTITUTION.

THE RADICAL WAR On THE
CONSTITUTION.
Enough is already known Of the Con-
gress now in session at Washington to
warrant the conclusion that the chief eff
forts of the Radicals will be directed
against the Constitution as it is and the
Union as it was, They will necessarily
and persistently labor and plot to obliter-
ate from the Federal Constitution what
ever of pure democracy or real republi-
canism exists in it, and TO destroy every
prominent feature in the system of State
confederation under which the Union was
formed. Already propositions have been
introduced in Congress to amend the Con-
stitntion in saeh manner as to strike down
the sovereignty of the States in every
essential particular, and to erect III lieu
ofthe present form of a Federal Cor leag-
ued) government, a consolidated, all-pow-
erful, entirely supreme National govern
ment.
The President, who but a few months
ago declared that States had certain SOW
ereign rights which could not be invaded
nor integfered with by Congress or the
Federal Executive, now turns upon his
oVn lately avowed theory, and lends vir-
tual support to the Radical cause in the
~-f4loEias significant language:
The s0seTeg7Sy oEthe States is the Ian
guage Of the GonfederacS and not the Ian
guage Of the Constitution.
By what species of logic Mr. President
johnson can construe that Article of the
Constitution which expressly declares that
al powers not granted by the States to the
General Government are reserved to the
States, to mean that the Constitution i'm
plies or gives no sovereignty in the States.
We cannot imagine but if the Article re-
ferred to does not. as plainly as language
can, convey the sense that, in all matters
not specially surrendered to the care and
control of the General Government, tbs
States retain their individual sovereignty
then We utterly misapprchend the use,
and meaning of the English language. L
is not necessary, however, to rest conclu
clusion upon this issue on the i~nterpreta
ton given it by any authority of this day
The Official history of the Constitution
and the Union is easy of access to all, ant
in that history we find that the great fra
mers and makers Of the Government an,
the Constitution, in the simplest, c~learest
most unmistakable language, exactly stat
ed the character, the form, the powers an,
the restraints, the duties and the prov
inee Of the General Government and tn,
States respectively. Behind the solemn
statements and mastery expositions o
those illustrious statesmen and patriot
No shall not endeavor to go, but accep
their interpretations of the powers ant
limits Of our General and State Govern
ments as absolutely correct Just and fnaI
until they are thrust aside by the peopl
in their highest capacity. as the Gonstitu
ton itself provides. But We shall nc
accept the interpretations of any of til
actual or possible or spurious statesmen 9
this day-no matter to what party the
belong-when their cxpositions differ fror
or seek to impair or destroy those hand
ed down to US from Jefferson, Madison
and their immortal compeers.
We ask the people to reflect upon tn
proposed acts Of the party in power in til
present Congress, so far as we have infol
nation of the proceedings in both House.
The AboItionists early in 1861 declare
they Warred for the supremacy of th
Constitution and laws Now that the wa
Is ended, they are victorious, and almOl
unlimited poker is theirs, the first wor
Of reformation or reconstruction
xitb them Is the amendment of the Cor
stitatio1 IN such way as to strike at th
vital rights Of the people and the States
and to erect Ia place of our present systel
of government, a great. supreme, consoi
dated, monarchical or despotie Natione
GoVernment. Thus, while using the Coz
stitution as a battle-cry, no sooner doe
TietcypeFch upon their banner than the
proceed to destroy it. Democrats hay
aH the time known that this was the ut
mats intention Of the Abolitionists, an
they hats time and again declared it br
they we're answered that they we're ira
tors for saying 50, and that the party
power contempla ed no such act. Nov
the TACT Is patent to all-the Abohtio
Congress has commenced, at the earlieI