Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-24
when and what WIN be the End 2

viii be declared reinstated In the Union, and what
are the causes Of delay. On both points we are
uuprepared TO givsan answer. A few weeks age,
were that the period was near at hand
but the readiness with which the Southern Con-
ventons me, the terms frat proposed seems 70 have
invited additional demands upon the reserved rights
Of the States, and as the Administration evidently
els itself called upon to consult northern feelings
whilst Il inclinss 70 do justice to the South nothing
q settled becEuse there is no fred policy underly-
ing the series II events daily transpiring, The
action Of the Government is evidsnty spasmodici
each step u an experiment and the succeeding one
determined BY no legitimate result following the
preceding, but by the incidental effect it may
hare upon some collateral interest," not german to
sbe leading qasstisps ~ issse Under this state of
things there IS a fair opening for the display Of
prophetic power, but none for the philosopher, or
statesman who, from the broad principles of poll
Teal jasties sad constitutional guarantees, would
arrive at conclusions conforming Herewith.
The closest observer Of passing events can dis
cover but little coherency in the acts of the Ad-
ministrston, as compared with its professions. 1t
has done much fop the South, and, we believe
would do more, but for reasons which We viii not
now look into---hoping that coming events may SO
sbape themselves as to make such enquiry alto
gether unnecessary But, that We may not be ac-
cused Of preferripg the charge Of Inconsistency
without cause, let Us look at facts-not in spirit
Of captious discomfort but Tor the sole purpose Of
throwing little light upon the chaotic confusion
Of disorganized political system The present
condition of things Is peculiar, and, in the absence
Of presidents to guide the process, Of reconstruc-
ton, might be unreasonable to expect perfect
sstency and impartiality in melting out Justice to
the weaker party especially in view of the prone
ness Of nan 10 be infxeneed BY considerations no,
Alwa-s strictly patriotic and unsel6sb.
President johnson has repeatedly declared that
the,Soufhern. States were never out of the Union.
IF til, be true, they never were out Of the reach
Of the Constitution, but subject continually, To
its provisions. Where, then, does the Executive
End Authority for forcing State in the Union, to
amend its organic laws, and shape its domestic
policy 90 as to square with his wishes1 The Con-
stituton confers no such authority upon Congress
or the President, or both together; and If the
Otdlce Vi tue DOuNn WtEc ucNcE Out vi tuc CulOu
the exercise of such authority, is unconstitutional
because no State in the Union. can be deprived Of
Its vested rights and privileges whilst the Constitu
ton remains intact. This is the plain common
sense view Of the subject which the public will
adopt when passion: end fanaticism shall have giver
place to calm reason. But, the authority to. DE-
these things is also claimed under the head o
war power power as wholly unknown to thu
Constitution as any other that has been exercised
in direct violation Of its provisions, Had the Pres
iaent like some Of the radical leaders, claimed tina
the Southern States were out Of the Union, theI
these inconsistencies nigh, have been obviated, be
cause, in that case, those States would not hav
been under the protection Of the Constitution
the "waf power" would have had some piausibl
significance, and the terms now proposed, as tn
conditions Of restoration might have been exaete,
as the price Of admission, by foreign States int
the Union. But President johnson discarded thi
view Of the subject and, in attempting to dea
with the seeded States as a component part of th
Union, and therefore subject to the organic an,
siaints laws of the United States, every step he ha
taken towards restoration Is departure from tn
true interpretations Of the provisions Of the Con
stituton. AS conquered provinces and beyont
the pale of the Union, the conqueror would hav
the right to impose upon the Southern States, suc
terms as those now exaeted; but, as States in tn
Union, they can not constitutonally, be thus shor
Of their right TO regulate their own internal affairs
In assuming that the Union was never, for
moment, dissolved the only consistent course III
President could have adopted, at the close of tn
war, would have been to declare that the Unto
was saved and the war at an end. If then, It ha
heen deemed legitimate and constitutional to pur
ish the leaders of the rebellion, there eertainl
could have been found no authority for punishin
the States by any violation Of their franchises bt
cause no department Of the Government has tn
Constitution vested with any such power tn
radical party leaders the difficulty of dealin
with the South, In the Union, md therefore assel
ted that il was dissolved, and the war wage
against foreign power. This position, if correct
would have given them full power TO impose tn
terps now demanded, and perhaps others; but tn
theory of the President brings himself and th
South strictly within the provisions Of the Const
tsion, and power which he could not, legiti
Inately, have exercised over the Southern State
before the wal, Is forbidden now. Therefore "
contend that the President can not consistent
with bis assumption, demand of the South tn
surrender Of its reserved rights, and the absence
consistency on his part precludes any reliable cor
lecture a. 70 when, and what, will be the end.
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