The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-12-30


and destroy the Constitution,
In regard to the position in which the
Abolitionists view the " rebelliols States, >
we venture to say that no two individuals
of their party agree, and not one of them
all can give a consistent, practical, clear
explanation of the status of those States.
Congress, by excluding the Senators and
Representatives from the "rcbellious'
States, undeniably ignores their State
hood, yet both Houses accept the votes OF
every one of the States which has ratified
the Negro Amendment TO the Constitu-
ton, as of full force and effect. 1t must
seem to the candid mind that If Alabama,
Mississippi, and the rest, are regarded as
States of the Union in the exercise of the
highest sovereign power pertaining to
Satehood-that of passing judgment upon
a proposed amendment of the Federal
Constitution,-they are also TO be regard
ed as States in the matter of representa-
ton in the Federal Congress. But the
Abolition Congress decides otherwise, /. e,
that they arcNStates when they vote for
the Negro Amendment, and they are not
States when they ask representation in
congress. This decision virtually assumes
that Congress has the authority to make
and unmake States at will. and invests
the Senators and Representatives with
supreme power over the people, as their
masters, whereas. agreeably TO all former
teaching, they are merely the agents and
servants of the people.
The Presidents conduct is more crook
cd aud inconsistent than that of the Con
gress. He claims that all Executive Proc
lamations have the force and authority OF
supreme law. Agreeably to this power
he has declared slaves free, and practical.
ly made freemen slaves. lie has unmade
States and her sought to restore them tc
Statehood. BY converting States into
conquered provinces and placing Provis-
ional Governors and other officers un-
known to u system of government over
them, he has asserted his supreme author
ity over States. Yet he subsequently de.
clared hat these conquered province.
were States, and as such were entitled &c
govern their own domestic concerns in
their own way. Under this high author
~izatien and ample recognition of their true
rights, the /" rehellious" States proceeded
to exercise these rights. They organized
their State governments legitimately and
in accordance with every constitutional
State and legal right. In cases where
they elected Governors and other State
officers to suit Mr.. Johnson's peculiar
fancy, he recognized them as States; but
in every case where a State did not please
him in her election of State officers he
officially ignored the election aud ordered
his Provisional Governors to continue il
Office. And this exercise of power b,
the President brings US to a most start
ling question in reference to the poweri
and limits of the Government. We have
lust above shown that Congress assume.
the power to make and unmake States
In the Presidents action towards the re
bellious" States he arrogates to the Execu
tive also this same power. We ask Abo
E~litions to explain this strange anomaly o
pcwer-to tell Us whether Congress pos
~Isesses the power irrespective and indie
pendent of the Executive, and rice rersa
or, If the power is vested in both, in cas-,
of a conflict in the application of this pow
! er, whether that of the Executive or o
the Congress is to be considered para
mount? If the power does belong Il
either, or to both, however, as regard
the Southern States, it certainly belongs
j in equal measure, as regards any of tn
Northern States, and thus Congress may
q whenever it sees fit to do so. reject tn
Senators and Representatives of Oregon
f land so can the President ignore our Stat
5 election and place over us a Provisiona
Governor and other officers.
! IF there are, among the Abolition part
.of Oregon, any who are devoted to tn
lConstition and the Union, and who hav
: been deceived and misled by that part
during the past few years of horrors an
I war and relentless taxation, We ask the,
to now examine into the acts of that pa
fly, to contrast them with its past pledgt
and solemn assurances, and to judge al
! cordingly. Let them also carefully il
Yestigate the long.record of the DEM
cratic administration Of the Government
and contrast their acts with their prom
ses, and, We can assure them, they wi
: find no variance with the professions an
= the practices of our party. These exam
nations and investigations ought to sati
i fy them and all reasonable, sensible, hol
e est. patriotic men, that the Abolition part
is false in everything beneficial to tt
people or the country, false to their ON
pledges, and bent only on the destruetio
Of the Constitution and the Union; Will
on the other hand, as the Democrat
e party is the only party in existence whic
ever preserved and sustained the Const
: tuition in its entirety and purity, and CO.
tributed to the greatest good of the who