The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-27


sentation, until they show their aptitude
terms it, by the facility with which they
can put their hands and their mouths in
the dust, and, like fawning sycophants, de
grade themselves by base servility,
1 am in favor Of no change in the Con-
stitution. I would leave the question of
suffrage to the States, because the Consti-
tuition leaves it there. l would recog-
nize the rights of the Southern States to
their old position in the Federal system,
instantly, without experiment, without
condition, save only that they acknowl-
edge the supremacy of the Constitution,
and admit its provisions to be the binding
rule of the State and Federal action; aud
this because the Constitution creates a
confederation of equal States.
Two theories have alone prevailed in
this Government since its beginning. One
party denied the right of secession; the
other party maintained it. Both agreed
that if the ordinance of secession were
invalid, it were utterly void, imperative
for all purposes, ineffective upon either
the people or the territory, either in their
relations to the Federal or the State Gov
ernment. They also agreed that if it
were vaiid,it severed the tie which bound
the State to the Union. The State resum-
ed the delegated powers, ,and became again
wholly sovereign. They both agreed
that the States were soyereign-were inde-
pendent-except in so far as they had
consented to be bonnd by the Constitu-
ton, and that whenever they recognized
the power of. the Federal Government as
defined by the Constitution, they had per-
formed their whole Federal obligation,
and that in no event were they subject to
control or interference with the organiza
tion Of their local Government or the
management of their domestic policy
The one party, however, claimed that
when they denied the Federal power, and
obstructed its operation, armed coercion
might be used to compel obedience to its
lawful requirements. This was the ex-
treme doctrine of the Federalists-this
was theory of those who called them
selves the friends of the Government
This was the theory on which the war
was commenced. This was the theory of
coercion This was the theory of Mr..
Lincoln, when he said that after war the
same questions would exist as before
This was the. theory of the Crittenden
resolution, and the Republican party in
Congress. afis sasd = s.
This was the theory Of Gen. Sherman
when he entered into his truce with Gen.
Johnston And he said rightly, that its
observance would bring peace from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande-a veritable
peace, pacifcation. Resistance to Fed
eral authority would have ceased, armed
forces would have been dispersed, arms
and forts would have been given up, the
Federal laws would have been executed
On,the other hand the State Governments
would have been left intact, the functions
of civil society would have been left un-
impeded. the civil law would have been
administered by ordinary tribunals, the
ordinances of secession would have been
repealed or treated as nullities, the Fed
eral Governments would, by this time
have revolved harmoniously IN their re-
.spective orbits, and then to the States
would be left, as they properly belong the
questions of negro suffrage and new Con
stitutions, and the relations of labor.
think Gen.. Sherman proved himself ever
more wise in negotiation than formidable
in war, and that his craftsmanship, NOR,
than his arms, would have maintained the
/ Union. II ef - 91 q
But in these latter days new theory
has sprung into being. 1t is the offspring
of more than Yankee ingenuity, stimula
ted by more than Yankee faHaticism.
| L. ! l,,4 afe ,P hoth ual
id and invalid-valid to destroy the State
invalid to destroy the Union. The Stat,
of Virginia adopted and ratified the Con
stitution, not as part of the people o
the United States, not as majority Of th
people of Virginia. but in her capacity a
a sovereign State, regulating her relation
to other sovereigns. The old Confedera
tion had been practically dissolved, tn
new one had been formed. Virginia wa
absolutely sovereign, and as such, CAV
her assent to the Federal Constitution
By that act she became member of tn
Union. By that act alone-by her com
mand alone her citizens owe obedience t
, the Federal Government. Virginia re
/ peals the act of ratification, and thereb
endeavors to secede from the Union, an
to release herself from Federal obliga
: tions. and her citizens from obedience
Federal law.
These gentlemen aver that the act {
. repeal does not dissolve the tie whic
$ binds the territory to the Union, but doe
destroy its State Government; does di:
f solve it as political community; doe
) absolve the Federal Government from a
: duties, and does confer upon it all power
f of management and control. /! will nj
{ say that the gentleman do not themselv'
f believe this doctrine, but will say thi
: if they can maintain it, the war was n;
e for the Union, but for conquest; and tt
f result is that the South is subjugated, n,
f to the Constitution, but to the will of ii
E North. Aud then it follows that the in
position of negro suffrage, of new Coz
f stitutions. of amendments to the FEEDER
!. Constitution, the restoration of civil la
; or the continuance ef military rule, a
It questions of policy, not power; and
J. this position do these gentlemen, most
O all things, desire to reduce them.
n Midway between these positions is Il
T theorv adented by the Administration O