The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15

system rests on the assertion OF theequaI
right of every man to life, liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness; to freedom of
to the culture and exercise
of all his faculties. AS a consequence,
the State Government is limited as to
the General Government in the interest
of the Union, as to the individual citi-
zen in the interest Of freedom.
States, with proper limitations of
power, are essential to the existence OF
the Constitution Of the United States.
At the very commencement, when we
assumed a place among the powers of
the earth, the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence was adopted by States; so also
We're the Articles of Confederation and
when "the people of the United States"
ordained and established the C0nstitu-
ton, 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 proposition of Con-
greSs needs the confirmation 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 char
acter of our country, its capacity for
within its jurisdiction
4 vast continental empire is due to the
system Of States. The best security for
the perpetual existence of the States is
the supreme authority" Of the Consti-
tuition of the United States. The per-
petuity of the Constitution brings with
it the perpetuity Of the States; their
mutual relation makes us what we are,
and in our political system their con-
nection is indissoluble. The whole can
not teXistWithOut the parts, nor thepartS
without the whole. So long as theCOn-
stitution Of the United States endures,
the States will endure; the destruction
of theOne is thedcstructiOn of theOther;
the preservation Of the one is the pres
ervatiOn of the other.
/ have thus explained my views of
the mutual relations Of the Constitution
and the States, because they unfold the
principles upon which have sought to
solve the mOmentouS questions and
overcome the appalling difficulties that
met me at the very commencement OF
my administration. 1t has been my
steadfast object to escape from the sway
of mOmentary passions and to deriVea
healing policy from the fundamental
and unchanging principles Of the Con-
stitutiOn.
/ found the States suffering from the
effects of a civil war Resistance to the
General Government appeared to have
itself. The United States had
recovered possession of their forts and
and their armies were in the
occupation of every State which had at
tempted 10 secede. Whether the terri
tory within the limit of those States
should be held as conquered territory,
under military authority emanating
from the President As the head of the
army, was the first question that pre-
sented itself for decision. Now, mill
tary governments, established or an in
definite period, would have offered no
security for the early suppression OF dis
content; would have divided the people
into the vanquisherS and the Vanquish-
ed; and would have enYenOmed ha-
tired, rather than restored Affection
once established, no precise limit to
their continuance was cOnceiVdb1e.-
They would have OccasiOned an meal
cuIable and eXhausting geXpense. Peace
full emigration TO and from that portion
Of the country Is one of the best means
that can be thought Of for the reStora-
tiOn OF harmony and that emigration
would have been prevented; for what
emigrant from abroad, what industri-
Gus citizen at home, would place him
self willingly under military rule?
The chief persons who would have
followed in the train Of the army would
have been dependent on the General
or men who expected
profit from the miseries Of their erring
fellow-citiZens. The powers Of patron
age and rule which would have been
exercised under the President over
vast and pOpulOus, and naturally veal
thy region, are greater than, unless un-
der extreme necessity, | should be will
ling to entrust to any one man; they are
such a., for myself, / could never, un-
less on occasions Of great emergency,
consent to exercise. The Wilfui Use Of
such powers, if continued through a
period of years, would have endangered
the purity of the eneraladministration
and the liberties Of the States which re-
loyal.
Besides, the policy of military rule
over a conquered territory would have
implied that the States whose inhabi-
tantS may have taken part in the rebel
lion had, by theact Of those inhabitants,
ceased to exist. But the true theory Is,
that all pretended acts of secession were,
from the beginning, null and void. The
States ScannOtcOmmitt treason, nOrScreen
the Individual citizens who may have
committed treason, any more than they
can make valid treaties or engage in
lawful commerce with any foreign pow
er. The States attempting to secede
placed themselves in a condition where
their vitality was impaired, but not eX
functions suspended,
but not destroyed.
But if any State neglects or refuses to
perform its offices, there Is the more
need that the General Government
should maintain all its authority, and,
as soon as practicable, resume the eXer-
else of all its functions. On this princi-
pie | have acted, and have gradually
and quietly, and by almost impercepti-
BILE steps sought TO restore the rightful
energy of the General Government and
of the States. To that end, Provisional
Governors have been appointed for the
States, Conventions 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, 50 that the laws of
the United States may be enforced
through their agency. The blockade
has hean removed and fine pcIIStoun houses
re-established in ports OF entry, so that
the revenue of the United States may
be collected. The Post Office Depart