The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-12

ouence, the State Government is limited, as to
the General Government in the interest of In
ion. az to the individual citizen 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 commence
ment, when we assumed place among the
Powers of the earth, the Declaration of indie
pendence was adopted by States; SO also were
the Articles of Confederation; and when "the
People of the United States" ordained and es-
tablished the Constitution, it was the assent of
the States, one by one, which gave it vitality
La the event. too, Of any amendment to the
Constitution, the proposition of Congress 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 character OF
our country, its capacity for comprehendine
within its jurisdiction vast continental empire
is due to the system of States. The best Sc
curly for the perpetual existence of the States
is the supreme authority" of the Constitution
of the United States The perpetuity 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 connex
ion is indissolube The whole cannot exist
without the parts, nor the parts without the
whole. So long as the Constitution Of the
United States endures, the States will endure;
the destruction of the one is the destruction OF
the other; the preservation Of the one is the
preservation Of the other.
| have thus explained my views of the mu
tual relations Of the Constitution and the States,
because they unfold the principles On which |
have sought to solve the momentous questions
and overcome the appalling difficulties that met
me at the very commencement of my admins
traton. 1t has been my steadfast object to es-
cape from the sway of momentary passions, and
to derive healing policy from the Fundamental
and unchanging principle Of the Constitution.
l found the State. suffering from the effects
of civil war. Resistance to the General Gov
eminent appeared to have exhausted itself.
The United States had recovered possession Of
their forts and arsenals; and their armies were
in the occupation Of every State which had at
tempted to secede. Whether the territory
within the limits Of those States should be held
as conquered territory, under military authority
emauating from the President as the head of
the army, was the first question that presented
itself for decision.
Now, military governments established for an
indefinite period, would have offered no securi-
ty for the early suppression Of discomfort; would
have divided the people into vanquishers and
the vanquisbed; and would have envepomed
hatred, rather than restored affection. Once
established, no precise limit to their contnu-
ance was conceivable. They would have occa-
stoned an incaculsble and exhaustng expense.
Peaceful migration to and from that portion Of
the country is one of.the best means that can be
thought of for the restoration Of harmony; and
that emigration would have been prevented; for
what cmigraBt from abroad what industrious
citizen at home, would place himself willingly
under military rule? The chief persons who
would have followed in the train of the army
would have been dependents on the General
Government, men who expected profit from
the nIseries of their erring fellow-ctizens. The
powers of patronage and rule which would have
been exercised, under, the President, over a
vast, and populous and naturally wealthy re-
glon, are greater than, unless under extreme
necessity, | should be willing to entrust to any
one man; they are such as, for myself, l could
never, unless on occasions Of great emergency,
consent to exercise. The wilful use Of such
powers, if continued through period of years,
would have endangered the purity of the gene
raj administration and the liberties of the States
which remained loyal.
Besides the policy of military rule over con-
quered territory would have implied that the
States whose inhabitants may have taken part
in the rebellion had, by the act of those inhabi-
tants, ceased to exist But the true theory is,
that all pretended acts of secession were, from
the beginning, null and void The States can
not commit treason, nor screen the individual
citizens who may have committed tire ason any
more than they can make valid treaties or en-
gage in lawful commerce with any foreign Pow
or alto
themselves in condition where their vitality
was impaired, but not extnguished-the func-
tons suspended, but not destroyed
But if any State negects or refuses to perform
its offices, there is the more need that the Gene
raj Government should maintain all its authority
and as soon as practicable, resume the exercise of
all its functions. On this principle have acted,
and have gradually and quietly, and by almost
mpercepu6le steps, sought to restore the right
fu 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, ::ave been reopened, so that the
laws of the United States may be enforced
through their agency The blockade has been
removed and the cuStom-houses re-established in
ports of entry, so that the revenue of the United
States may be collected. The Post Office De-
partment renews its ceaseess activity and the
General Government is thereby enabled to COM
municate promptly with its officers and agents
The courts bring security to persons and proper
ty; the opening Of the ports invites the rcstora-
ton Of industry and commerce. the post office
renews the facilities of social intercourse and of
business. And is it not happy for us all, that
the restoration of each one of these functions of
the General Government brings with it a bless
ing to the States over which they are exten1ad2