The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-07
pscopnitEon of.fbe ri,7l,ts ~ r,o.5

ancient republics absorbed the indiyid-
ual in the State, prescribed his religion,
and controlled his activity. The Amer
lean system rests on the assertion of
the equal right of every man to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness:
to freedom of Conscience, to the culture
and exercise of all his faculties. As a
consequences, the State Government is
limited, as to the General Government
IN the interest of Union, as to the indi-
dom. -.
Estates with properlimitations of pow
er, are essential to the existence of the
Constitution Of the United States. At
the very commencement, when we as
sumed place among the Powers of the
earth, the Declaration of Independence
was adopted by States; so also were the
Articles of nfederatiOn;E and "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 to the Constitu-
ton, the proposition of Congress needs
the confirmation of States, Without
States, one great branch of the legisla-
lative government would be wanting.
And, If we look beyond the letter of the
Constitution to the character of .our
country, its capacity for rcomprehending
within its jurisdiction a vast continen-
tai empire isdue to the system of States,
The best security for the perpetual ex-
iStence of the States is the "supreme
authority" of the Constitution of the
United States. The perpetuity of the
Constitution brings with it the perpetui-
tyof the, States: their mutualSrelation
makes us what5we are, and iIrour polit-
cal system their connection is indissolu-
bic. The whole cannot exist without
the parts, nor the parts without the
whole. So long as the Constitution of
SNg,EN
viii endure: the destruction of the one
is the destruction of the other; the pre-
servatGon of the one is the preservation
of the other. !
have thus explained my views of
the mutual relations of the Constitution
and the States, because they unfold the
principles on which have sought to
solve the momeptous questions and
Lovercomothea appalling difficulties that
met me ut the verv commencement of
my administration. 1t has been my
steadtast object to escape from the sway
of momentary passions, and to derive a
healing policy from the fundamental
and unchanging principles of the Con-
stitutiOn.
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY OF RECON
STRUCTIoN.
1fOundl the States suffering from the
effects of Il civil war. Resistance to the
General Government appeared to have
exhausteditself. The United States had
recovered possession of their forts and
arsenals; and their armies were in the
occupation of every State which had
AtteInptedlto Secede. Whether the ter
ritory within the limits of those States
should be held rs conquered territory,
under military authority emanating
from the President as 1the head of the
army. was the first question that pre-
sented itself for decision. ~
Now, military government, establish
ed for an indefinite period, would have
offered no security for the early sup
preston of discomfort; would have di-
Yided. the people into =ths-Yanuuishers
and the vanquished; and would have
enVenomed hate, rather than have re-
stored affection. Once established, no
precise limit to their continuance is
conceivable. They would have occas-
Toned an incalculable and eNhausting
expense. 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 emigration would have been pre-
vented; for what temigrantf from abroad,
what industrious citizen at home, would
willingly place himself under military
ruler The chief persons who would
have followed in the train of the army
would have been dependents on the
General Government, or men who eX-
pected profit from the miseries of their
erring fellow citizens. The powers of
patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under the President,
over a vast, and populous, and natur-
ally wealthy region, are greater than,
unless under extreme necessity, /
.would be willing to entrust to one man;
they are such as for myself, 1 could
never, unless on occasions of great
emergency, consent to exercise. The
wilful use of such powers, if continued
through 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 conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabi-'
tants may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, by the act of those inhabi-
tants, ceased to exist. But the true
| theory is, that all pretented acts of Sc
cession were, from the beginning, mil
and void. The States cannot commit
treason, nor screen the Individual citi-
zens who may have committed treason,
any more than they can nlnke valid
treaties or engage in lawful commerce
with any foreign Power. The States
attempting to secede placed themselves
in condition where their vitality was
impaired, but not extinguished-th
functions suspended, but not de-
Dstroyed.
Bot If 7anystata neglects orirefuses to
erfOrm- It's Cott1ceS, 4there is the more
need that the General Government
should maintain all its authority, and,
rs soon rs practicable, resume the eXer-
cise of all its functions. On this prEn-
ciple have acted, and have gradually
and quietly, and by almost impercepti-
BILE steps, soughtTto restore the lrightful
energy OF the General Government
and of the States. To that end, pro-
visional Governors have been appoint
ed for the States, Conventions called,
Governors elected, Legislatures assem-
bled, and Senators and Representatives
chosen to the Congress of!the United
States. At the same time the Courts of
the United States, as far as could be
done, have been re-opened, so that the
laws OF the United States mny be en-
forced through their agency. The
blockade has been removed and the
Custom Houses re-estRblished in ports
of entry, so that the revenue of the
United States may be collected. The
Post Office Department renews Its
ceaseless activity, and the General
Government is thereby enabled to COM
municate promptly with its officers and
agents. The Courts bring security to
persons and property; the opening of
the ports invites the restoration of in
dustry aud commercej the post office
renews the facilities of social inter-
course and of busineSsIo And is 1t not
happy for us all, that the restoration of
each one of these functions of the Gem
eral Government brings with it a bless
ing to the States over which they are
lextended? Is il not a sure promise of
harmony and renewed attachment to
the Union that, after all that has hap-
pened, the return of the General Gov
| eFnment is known only as beneti-
cence
r. RISK ATTENDING THE POLICY.