Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-24

ton Of such governments By the federal authori-
~ Is the purpose of the guaranty. No one re-
served state right can be Invested by is exercise
Is the right TO regulate It's own domestic policy,
not inconsistent with the constitution OF the
States, a reserved right of each state. Who de-
MES it,
Is it consistent with the constitution of the
| United States for state government TO declare
| that negro a woman shall not hold Office, or
vote or be g juror in such state IL clearly Is
| The power to declare is reserved night OF
each state. Can congress take il aways might
extend the inquiry 70 the entire class of subjects
which. hitherto, and until the monomania Of alb
clifton and negro equality had seized the public
mind, we're regarded as within the reserved rights
of the states, and ask, can congress take them
| away! This bill saws that IL can. The cOnsti-
tuition of the United States, If il means anything
means that it cannot. If congress can do what
Is proposed - be done by the twelfth section OF
this bill, ii is hard to conceive what il canno; do
IN the way Of debating state constitutions and
subyerting state governments. It's power would
admit of no limitation, except in It's own judg-
meRt of what might be for the general welfare "
and to concede TO it that discretion. would be 10
concede TO it the omnipotence of the British par
| lament and 10 such practical result have the
dogmas OF abolition led US
But admit that congress may judge a 10 what
Is republican form of government in state,
| that judgment is not one of unlimited discretion
but Is to be guided by the constitution what
that recognizes as republican government is SO,
and no different rule of republicanism can be
imposed by congress, until the constitution itself
is changed This would seem TO be too plain
proposition TO admit of question.
What, then, is 4 state government republican
In form! Is q slayeholding state such gov
| ernment, Is . state not guaranteeing freedom
and equality of civil rights to oil persons before
the law such government! Beyond question
IL Is or may be; for large majority of just such
states, SlavehOlding states, made the federal
| union and constitution, and protected slavery bv
express guarantees as local relation or institu-
ton Of states; and every functionary of the fed
eral government is estopped by the constitution
itself, by judicial precedent, and by the uniform
practice Ofthe government from ayOwing that a
federal state recognizing negro slavery is not or
cannot be republican state. To assert then,
| thai slavery and a republican form of government
| are incompatible, and that therefore the eXccu-
| tive or legislative power of the United States
| the constitution being unchanged by amendment
has right 10 declare that 4 state constitution
and laws recognizing negro slavery arc unc0n-
stitutiOnal and void * TO assert fasehood and
an absurdity; and for the federal government ex-
ecutiye or legislative, TO demand a, a condition
of recognition and protection TO a state in It's
government. that il shall abolish slavery, and to
enforce such demand by military occupation and
force is usurpaiion and revolution on the part Of
the federal government nothing less. This, sir,
in my judgment. is the logic of the constitution,
and no speciouS arguments or aorid rhetoric
upon slavery, its wrongs or its dangers can re-
flute that logic. Before the law and logic of the
federal constitution, the bill before the House is
revolutionary and void. If this is revolution
ary congress you have revolutionary power TO
pass this bill; but if it be- am bound by nv
oath of Office TO believe and assert, q congress
sitting under the constitution of the United
States, and having no powers outside of or un-
known TO it, then yon cannot constitutonalll
pass this bill.
But the question involved is not one of power
alone. 1t IS also one of policy, of expediency,
OF magnanimity--a great question, appealing
not only to the calmest Judgment Of the people
but 10 the best and nObest feelings Of their hearts
and among these, sir, l include the sympathies
which spring from indentty of race and kindred
blood. We sir, are white men, exercising the
powers of government made bv white men and
first duty is to use those powers for the ben
eft of white men and their posterity forever. Our
duty TO our own is kindred 10 our duty 10
our own families True charity begins ai
home.
Mr.. Speaker, the question most important 10
the people of the United States and 10 this con
with the constitutional rights of every state un
impaired; for, sir there can be small hope Of per
manent peace without union and that will be nc
union, in the sense Of the constitution into which
any state, shorn of us equality and sovereignty
shall be dragged the chariot wheels of military
conquest. Consent, free consent, not force, madC
the union of these states and free consent is the
only honorable and just agency that can secure
E its permanent restoration With whatever ab
tion and its consequent evils to the whole coun
try, could not without pain behold the repre- sen
tstives of conquered and DEGRADED states coming
TO our doors to-
{ Bend low aLd n A bonsusn'skey
, With ba;ei breath sud whispering hsnl lslcss''
, sue for admission here Let thst spectacle o.
the cegraiation Of American states. our consti
tuiionsi co-eguals 10 rights md -overeisnty, b,
spared to lhe American peopie fid 10 the uation,
OF the earth MagnaniUi;y j. sn element il ih,
highest statesmsnstin. Like mercy, 20 which j
il KINDRED
The throned monarch better than hi. crown
We can afford to be nls 3 nan nous; ne can al
ford to spire tie people ia the southern states
{ even II Ihey were absolutely conquered and BAT
? laid down their arms, and had full power owe
D them, the humiliation OF reconstruction upon tn
principles and the WAYS indicated by the bill be
i fore the House.
Mr.. Speaker, we have tried four wears OF dis
union and civil war. Destruction. desOla:ion
! political and social demOralization have marke'
4 the whole progress of the war. II has shaker
our political fabric 10 the loosening of its YER
e corner stones. In the wild delirium of their pa.
q sion the American people have made war on eacl
other as the fabled Titans warred. We nav
rushed into fields Of blood as If we felt upon n
= the. thews Of Anakim." and within II. ''th
i pulses Of n Titans heart" The whole actio
r of the body polite for the last four years ha
: been abnormal and spasmodic. The cry la
l. been blood, blood, when all through this fearfu
= ordeal Of passion the great want Of the natio
a has been craftsmanship, not blood-Tise mer
e rather than destroying armies. The war ha
C brought no benehcent results that statesmansii
v could not better have achieved.
!. We NAV endeavor 10 trace IN tie bloody tTac
= of the ways and footsteps Of the benig
n DE y whom We have dethroned as the prince {
l. p nee. in order euthrone him the God of ba
: tie but we will search in vain in the past Q
d future for compensation for the appalling evils
n the war. The Judgment Of history will be ths
b. the last four wears have been wears Of dishonol
i not of true glory TO the American people Prit
in ourselves upon our intelligence our chris
v tani.v. our freedom our power and boasting
D. q system OF constitutional government adapte
: by IL self-ad justing power Of amendment, {
cure its own defects and perpetuste itself withou
2 revolution, but turning inidels 10 our own sci