Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-12-20

the pursuit of happiness; to freedom OF con
science, TO the culture and exercise of alIhi
faculties. As a consequence, the State Gov
erumsnt is limited, as to the General Govern
ment in the interest of the Union, as to tn
individual citizen in the interest OF freedom
States, with proper limitations ei power
are essential to the existence of the, Constr
tuition of the United States. At the yer,
commencement. when we assumed 3 place
among the Powers Of the earth, the Declara
ton Of Independence was adopted by States
SO also were the Articles of Consideration
and when the People of the United States
ordained and established the Constitution, 1
was the assent of the States, one by one
which gave it vitality. .Inthe event, too, o
any amendment to the Constitution. the
proposition Of Congress needs the confirma
tior of States. Without States, one great
branch of the legislative government would
be wanting. And, if we look beyond the
letter of the Constitution to the character o.
our country, its capacity for comprehending
within its jurisdiction a vast continental EN-
pire is due to the system of States. The
best security for the perpetual existence Of
the States IS the "supreme authority of the
Constitution ofdhe United States. The per
petuity of the Constitution brings with it the
perpetuity of the States; their mutual rela,
tion makes US what we are, aud in our polit-
ical system their conpexion is indissoluble.
The whole cannot. exist without the parts,
nor parts without the whole. So long as the
Constitution of the United States endures,
the States viii endure ;'the destruction of the
one is the destruction of the other; the pre-
scrvation of the one is the preservation OF fthe
other. -,
I lave thus explained my views Of the mu-
tual relations of the Constitution andathe
States, because they unfold the principles on
which have sought to solve the momentous
questions and overcome the appalling difficult
ties that met me at the very commencement
of my administration. 1t has been my stead
fast object to escape from the sway of mo-
nentary passions, and TO derive a healing
policy from the fundamental and unchauging
principles of the Constitution. >'---7r-,1-
found the Statessufering from the-efects
of a civil war. Resistance to the. general gov
ernment appeared to have exhausted itself
The United States had recovered possession
of their forts and arsenals; and their armies
werein the occupation Of every State which
had attempted to secede. Whether the ter
ritcry within the limits of those States should
be held as conquered territory, under militia
~ authority .emanating. from the President as
the head Of the army, was the first question
that presented itself for decision. ],
Now, military government, established for
an indefinite period, would have offered no
security for the early suppression of discon-
tent; would have divided the people into the,
and vanqnished and would have
envenomed hatred, rather than have restored
affection. Once established, no precise limit,
to their continuance was conceivable. They
would have occasioued an incalculable7 and:
exhaus.ing expense. Peaceful emigration to
and from that portion of the countryis is one,
of the best means that can be thought,o for
the restoration Of harmony and that cmi-
grafton -wnnld LaraG Gshaan ,.-e.---+-s-7e y
what emigrant from abroad, whataindustri-
Gus citizen at home, would place himself
under military rule? The chief
persons who wonld have followed in the train
OF the army would have beon 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, ever a vast, and popu.5
lous, and.naturally wealthyregon, are greater
than, unless under extreme uecessity,t should
be willing to ontrust to any one man they
are such as, for myself, | could. never, unless,
on occasions Of great emergency, consent TO-.
exercise. The wilIFul use of such powers, il
continued through period of years, would,
nave endangered the purity of the general
and the liberties of the States
which remained loyal,
Besides, the policy of military rule over
C c,nquered territory would hsye implied that.
the States whose inhabitants may have taken
part in the rebellion had, by the act of those,
ceased to. exist. But the true
theory is, that all pretended acts of secession
were, from. the beginning, null and void.
The States cannot commit treason, nor screen
the individual citizens Tho may have COM
E1itted treason, any more than they, can
make valid treaties or engage in lawful COM
merce With any foreign Power. The Staiesi
attempting 10 secede, placed themselves in a
condition where their vitality was impaired;
but NOT extingnishcd-their functions sus--
pended, but not destroyed.
But if any State peglects or refuses to per.
form its Offices, there is the more need that
the General Government should maintain all
its authority, and as soon as practicable, re-
sume the exercise of all its functions. On
this principle i have acted, and have gralu.
ally and quietly. and by almost impercept-
BILE steps, sought to restore the rightful ener-
gy of the General Government and of the
States. 70 that end, Provisional Governors
have been appointed for the States. ConYen-
tions called, Governors elected, Legislatures
assembled, 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 may be enforced through tteir agency.
The blockade has been removed and the Gus
tom houses re.establishsd in ports of entry,
so that the revenue OF the United States may
lie collected. The Post Office Departmens
renews its ceaseless activity, and the General
Government is thereby enabled to colnlnuni:
cate promptly with its officers and agents.
The courts bring security to persons and
property; the opening OF the, ports invites
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