Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-07

many patriots suffered from haraSslng Tears
of an absorption of the State Governments
by the General Government, and many from
a dread that the States would break away
from their orbits. But the very greatness
of our country should allay the apprehen-
sion of encroachments by the General Gov
ernment The subjects that come unques-
tionably within its jurisdiction are SO nu-
merous that it must ever naturally refuse
to be embarrassed by questions that lie be-
yOnd it. Were it otherwise, the Executive
would sink beneath the burden the chan
nels of Justice would be choked; leglsla-
lation would be obstructed by excess 80
that there is a greater exemption to eXer-
else some of the functions of the General
Government through the States than to
trespass on their rightful sphere The
absolute acquiescence in the decisions OF
the majority" was, at the beginning of the
century, enforced by JEFFERSON q as the vi
tai principle of republics" and the events
of the last four years have established, we
will hope forever, that there lies no appeal
to force
The maintenance Of the Union brings
with it the support of the State Govern
ments in all their rights y but it is not one
/ of the rights of any State Government to
renounce its own place in the Union, or to
| nullify the laws Of the Union The largest
! liberty is to be maintained iu the discussion
of the acts of the Federal Government
! but there is no appeal from its laws, except
to the various branches Of that Govern
ment itse f. or to the people, who grant to
the members Of The Legislative and of the
Executive Departments no tenure but a
limited one, and in that manner always re-
| tain the power of redress"
! "The sovereignty of the States is the
! language of the Confederacy, and not the
| language of the constitution. The latter
contains the emphatic words "The cons
titution, and the laws of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof
and all treaties made, or which shall be
made, under the authority of the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the land
and the Judges i'll every State shall bt
bound hereby, anything in the constitution
or laws Of any State to the contrary not
withstandng.
Certainly the Government of the United
| States is a limited government and 50 is
every State Government limited govern
ment With us, this idea of limitation
spreads through every form Of administra
tion, general, State, and municipal ,and rests
on the great distinguishing principle Of the
rights of man. The ancient republics alb
sorbed the individual in the State, prescri
bed his religion, and controlled his activity
The American system rests on the asser
tion of the equal right of every man tC
lie, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
to freedom Of conscience, TO the culture anC
exercise of all his faculties AS a conse
qucnce, the State Government is limited
as to the General Government in the inter
est of Union, as to the individual citizeI
in the interest Of freedom.
States, with proper limitations of power
are essential to the existence of the Con
stitution of the United States At the very
commencement, when we assumed place
among the Powers of the earth, the Declara
ton Of Independence was adopted by States
SO also were the Articles of Confederation
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 anne ldment, to the constitution, the
proposition of Congress needs the confir
nation Of States Without States, one
great branch of the Legislative governmen
would be wanting. And, if we look beyonC
the letter of the constitution to the charac
ter of ur'country, its capacity for compre
hending within its jurisdiction vast cont
mental empire is due to the system of States
The best security for the perpetual exis
tence of the States is the supreme author
ity' Of the constitution Of the United
States The perpctuity Of the constitution
brings with it the perpetuity of the States
their mutual relation makes us what W.
are, and in our political system their con
nection is indissoluble. The whole canno
exist without the parts, nor the parts with
out the whole. SO long as the COnstitu
ton OF the United States endurcs, the States
will endure the destruction of the one is
the destruction Of the other; the preserva
ton Of the one is the preservation of tho
other
have thus explained my views Of tn,
mutual relations Of the constitution anC
the States, because they unfold the princi
plies on which have sought to solve til,
mOmentuOuS questions and overcome tn,
appalling difficulties that met me at tht
very commencement Of my administration
1t has been my steadIast object to escape
from the sway Of momentary passions, anC
to derive a healing policy from the funda
mental and unchanging principles of the
constitution.
| found the States suffering from the et
fects Of a civil war. Resistance to the Gen
eraI Government appeared to have exhaust
ed itself The United States had recovered
possession Of their forts and arsenals anC
their armies We're III the occupation 0
every State which had attempted to secede
Whether the territory within the limits o
those States should be held as conquered
territory under military authority emanat
ing from the President as the head of tht
Army, was the first question that presented
itself for decision
MILITARY CONVENIENT.
Now, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have offered
no security for the early suppression of dis
content would have divided the people
into the vanquishers and the vanquished
and would have envenomed hatred, rather
] than have restored affection. Once estab
lished, no precise limit to their continuance
was conceivable. They would have occa
stoned an incalculabIe and cxhausting ex
pense. Peaceful emigration to and from
that portion of the country is one Of the
best means that can be thought of for the
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