The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-12-13

States is the supreme authority" OF the
Constitution OF the United States. The
pe.petuity Of the Constitution brings with
it the perLetuity of the States; their mu-
tual relation makes us what we are, and in
our political system their connexion is in
dissoluble. The whole cannot exist with
out the parts, nor the parts without the
whole. So long as the Constitution Of the
United States endures, the States will en-
dure; the destruction Of the one is the de-
slruc,ion Of the other; the preservation of
the one is the preservation OF the other.
have thus explained my views ef the
mutual relations Of the Constitution aud
the States. because they unfold the prin-
ciples on which have sought to solve the
momentoas questions and overcome the
appalling difficulties that met me at the
very commencement of my administration.
Ii has been my steadfast object to escape
from the sway of momehtary passions. and
to derive healing policy from the funda-
mental and unchanging principles Of the
Constitution.
| | found the States suffering from the sf-
fecis Of civil war. Resistance 10 the
General Government appeared To have ex-
hausted itself. The United States had re-
covered possession Of their forts and arse
nals; and their armies were in the accu-
patton uf every State which had attempted
To seceIe Whether the terr rritory within
the limits OF those States should be held Is
conquered territory, under military au-
lhority emanating from the President as
the head of the army, was the first ques-
ton that presented i:self for decision.
Nnw, military governments established
for an indefinite period. would have offer.
ed no security for the early suppression Of
discomfort; would have divided the people
into the yanqnishers and the yanquished i;
and would have enyenomed hatred, rather
than have restored affection. Once eslab-
Ii.hed. no precise limit TO their eontinu-
ance was conceivable. They would have
occasioned an incaleulable and exhausting
expense. Peaceful emigration to and from
/ hat portinn ni the country is one of the
best means That can be thought Of for the
restoration of harmony; and that emigra.
tim would have been prevented; for what
emigrant from abroad, what industrious
citizen at Lome. would place himself will
insly under military rule: The chief per-
sons who would have followed in the train
ol the army would have been dependents
on the General Government, or men who
expected profit from the mlserirs Of their
erring fellow citizens. The powers oil pat
ronage and rule which would have been
exercised, under the Presideat. over a vast,
and populous, and naturally wealthy re-
gion. are greater than. unless under ex-
irene necessity, | should be willing TO en-
trust TO any nne man they are such a, for
myself, could never, unless on occasions
nl great emergency. consent to exercise.
The wilful use oi such powers, Il continu
"a through a period of years, would have
endangered the purity Of the general adj
mnislration and the liberties OF the States
which remaiscd lnval.
Besides the policy Of military rule over
conquered ierritnry would have implied
that the States whose lnbabitantsmas have
| taken part in The rebellion had, by the act
of thnss inhabitants, ceased 10 exist. But
thr true theory is. that all pretended acts
Of secession were. from the be2lnniog. null
aud void. The States cannot csmru trea-
son. nor screen the individual citizen wis
NAV have committed usasos, any more
thsn they can make valid treaties or en-
gage 10 Iawisl commerce With any foreign
Po~sr. Tbs States attempting 70 seceie
placed themselves in condition where
their vitality vss impaired. but not sxtin-
gurshsd-thsir fancbens suspended, but not
destroyed.
But Vi any State neglscts or refuses to
perform its sffices, there Is the more need
that the General Government should man
tain all its as,hority, aud a. sson rs prsc-
ticable, resume the exercise oi all ITS func-
liens. On this principle have acted, and
have gradually and quietly. and BY almost
impsrcspiibls steps, sought to restore the