The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-13

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ernment. With us, this idea of limita-
ton spreads through every form of ad-
ministration, general, State, and munich
lpal, rests on the great distinguishing
lprinciple of the recognition of the rights
of man. The ancientrepublics absorbed
the individual in the State, prescribed
his religion, and controlled his activity.
The American system rests on the asser-
Ition of the equal right of every man to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
lness; to freedom of conscience, to the
culture and exercise of all his faculties.
AS consequence, the State Government
lis limited, as to the General Government
in the interest of Union, as to the indi-
lvidual citizen in the interest of free
1 dom.
i States, with proper limitations of pow
er, are essential to the existence of the
Constitution of the United States. At
very commencement. when we assumed a
1place among the Powers of the earth, the
Declaration of Independence was adopted
! by States; SO also were the Articles of
Confederation; and which "the People of
the United States" ordained and estab-
tlished 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 Constitution, the prop
osition of Congress needs the con6rma-
tion Of States. Without States, one
great branch of the Legislative govern
ment would be wanting. And, if we
look beyond the letter of the Constitu-
tion to the character of our country, its
capacity for comprehending within its
jurisdiction vast continental empire is
: due to the system of States. The best
security for the perpetual existence of the
States is thes'supreme authority" of the
Constitution of the United States. The
fperpetuity of the Constitution brings
with it the perpetuity of the States; their
mutual relation makes us what we are
, aud in our political system their connec-
ton is indissoluble. The whole cannot
{ exist without the parts, nor the parts
! without the whole. So long as the Con
the States will endure; and destruction
of the one is the destruction of the other
, the preservation of the one is the preser-
vation Of the other.
have thus explained my views Of the
mutual relations of the Constitution and
the States, because they unfold the prin.
ciples on which [ have sought to solve
the momentous questions and overcome
the appalling difficulties that met me at the
very commencement of my administra
ton. 1t has been my steadfast object tt
escape from the sway of the momentary
passions, and to derive healing policy
from the fundamental and unchangine
principles of the Constitution.
!, | found the States suffering from the
: . effects of civil war; Resistance to tht
! General Government appeared to have ex
hausted ITSELF The United States hac
= = recovered possession of their forts ant
! arsenals; and their armies were in the oc
cupation of every State which had at
!. tempted to secede Whether the terri
tory within the limits of those States
: should be held as conquered territory
under military authority emanating from
the President as the head Of the army wa
!. the FIRST question that presented itself fo
= decision.
!. No, military governments, established
for an indefinite period, would have of
fered no security for the early suppress
sion of discomfort; would have divides
= the people into the vanquishers and th
vanquished; and would have envenomet
hate, rather than have restored affection
= Once established, no precise limitto thei
: continuance is conceivable. They woul,
have occasioned an incalculable and ex
J hausting expense Peaceful emigration
: to and from that portion of the countr,
is one of the best means that can b.
: thought of for the restoration of harmo
!, ny; and that emigration would have beei
prevented, for what emigrant from abroad
). what Industrious citizen at home, woult
= Willingly place himself under militar,
rule The chief persons who woul,
have followed in the train of the arm,
! would have been dependents on the Gen
eral Government, or men who expecte,
proft from the miseries of their erin,
:. !. fellow citizens. The powers of patron
J age and rule which would have been ex
. (ercised, under the President, over vast
: and populous, and naturally wealthy re
lgion, are greater than, unless Wder ex
: treme necessity, l would be willing t,
entrust to one man; they are such as 70
:. myself, could never unless on occasion
: Eof great emergency, consent to exercise
The wilful use OF such powers, if con
! tinued through period of years, weal
= have endangered the purity of the gene
} Iral administration and the liberties of tn
. States which remained loyal.
:, Besides, the policy of military rul
: over conquered territory would hav
: implied that the States whose inhabitant
: may have taken part in the rebellion, had
! by the act of those inhabitants, ceased t
= exist But the true theory is, that al
= pretended acts of secession were, from tn
= beginning, null and void. The State
= cannot commit treason, nor screen the in
: dividual citizens who have committe
), treason, any moro than they can max
: valid treaties or engage in lawful com
!. merce with any foreign Power. Th
= States attempting to secede place
themselves in condition where their vi
7 tality was impaired, but not extinguishe
:. their functions suspended, but not de
= stroyed.
,e But if any State neglects or refuses t
!, perform its Offices, there is the more nee
d that the General Government shoul
Ill Al o,;tr on1 ,s eoop q