The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-07-27

THEIR CONDITION,

IprOmisc, but by heroic force, to the
Federal authority, II is the just duty
of our people, to fix the condition
and determine the rights Of the con.
quered domain and its inhabitants
In this VIC cannot be embarrassed By
Questions Of State Rights, as the
communities, lately in revolt possess
none Of the attributes Of States
within the meaning Of the Federal
G Constitution. II isan abuse Of terms
to speak of South Carolina as q
State like Vermont OF Iowa. A
State is community prohibited from
exercising sovereign powers-forming
part of the Federal Government, and
owing sole aud unqualified allegiance
to il.
State constitutions cmanatc from
popular conventions Of the people OF
the respective Siatcs--thc Federal
Constitutions, is the work Of u popu-
lar convention, Of all the States
The latter is the supreme law through.
out Federal Territory, qualified only
by State Constitutions, adopted by
local conventions, and sanctioned by
Federal authority, on the admission
of States into the Union.
Secession was accomplished by
separate State action, through con
vcntions of the people. it was, in
this view, the declaration of State In
dependence within the spirit and
meaning of the Federal Constitution
il was the self fdcstruction--thc actual
suicide of States. BY this process,
their oxistance, M States, ceased, as
to the Federal Union, and they ap.
lpcarcd only as rebels, holding federal
territory by force. 1t il claimed that
States could not scc,c lc. This is an
abstraction II is folly to claim that
u community coWd not do things,
which it had actuaiy dome. We hold
the inhabitants of rcvoltcd States MS
rebei enemies, against whomwc wagcd
war, and over whom, we claimed
sovereign authority. They claimed
to be "Joreigaers," and of course,
lost all constitutional rightsand ceased
to he States, as fully as if they had
allied with Francei When conquer.
ed were they forced to become States
aud citzcns2 What rights survive to
inhabitants of rebel Statcs2 A large
majority of the white population had
forfeited life by treason aud crime,
and they lice only because of federal
clcmcncy. AS communities they are
" dead in tresspasses and in sin. -
The loyal aud disloyal, alike, "can
live, aud move and act, only as fed.
cral authority permits. Federal
orders Gx the qualification of voters,
and prescribe oaths TO the voter, re-
gardlcss of State laws. Their rights
to exercise such powers, no one doubts,
When forced to drop the bayonet,
they have no right to assail us with
the ballot.
The rebellion was not the work of
unorganzed masses of the people, but
ofevil communities perfectly organ
lied, aud competent to enforce, all
their orders for taxation, confscation
and conscription.
As il has failed, it would be alb
surd to claim for the actors, whose
hands are red with noble blood, the
right to vote, or for communities the
functions Of States, The real situa.
ton is this: Within the meaning of
the Federal Constitution, there are
no States, in the late revolving teriio.
rics, nor are there any inhabitants,
who can exercise as matter Of right,
the powers and privileges pertaining
to the citizen of State. Strictly
speaking they are territories, from
which the Federal power can andwill,
in It's own time and manner organize
real States, with the consent and
through the cooperation of such in-
habitants, black or white, as may
through Federal action, be vested
with the right to vote and hold office
In the exercise of these just and
essential powers, the Federal Govern
mcnt, should and will be directed by
considerations of prudence as well as
Justice. But let no one suppose that
these communities, will be reconstruct
ed as States, within one or three OF
six years. There can be nothing lost
by caution and delay.
1t is quite safe to assume, that
for the next two years, no revoltcj
community will be restored as 1
State unless 1t comes to Congress
with eontrition not only prohibiting
. slavery, giving to certain freedmen
tho elective franchise. We mus
I guarantee to such community a Re
/, publican form Of Government, and W,
will be reluctant to accept as Repub
liean, a Constitution which foreye
disifanchises and degrodcs one hal
Iar ana third of tho naonla Al -