The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-06
vooDsEIELD MONROE COUNTY. OHIO SEPTEMBER 6, 1865

SentatlVeS from one state.
The power of the States, as States. be-
ing coordinate, and their rights eo-equal.
one State cannot exercise powers or enjoy
privileges to which every other State is
not equally entitled.
Thus, every State is entitled to two
United States Senators, no matter what
may be the locality or how small the pop
ulation, And the Senators from major
ity of the States cannot exclude Senators
from a minority of the States, without
thereby violating their constitutional
rights.
The six New England States, with a
population half million less than that
Eof the single State of New York, have
twelve Senators, while New York has on
lily two. And the State of Ohio has a
greater population than five of the New
England States, and yet they have ten
Senators while Ohio has but two. Nor
will we complain of the fact that one cit
izen of New England exercises five times
more representative power in the Federal
Senate than does citizen of Ohio. unless
that great disparity of power be used to
subvert the very rights which it was ere
ated to protect. But we are told that
the people Of certain of the Southern
States have been in open insurrection, and
that therby the States in which the insur-
gents lived have forfeited their political
existence. It is true that the people of
the South, at first in small numbers, after
wards majority, did rise in,insurrection
But have they not been terribly punished
for this fault? In their slaves alone they
have lost two thousand million dollars
Their lands have been ravaged; their hou-
ses have been burned, and the region in
which the war was waged has. been cor
verted into charred wilderness. Can
Justice, nay not justice, but can human
vengeance demand more than this? And
where, let us ask, is the provision in the
Constitution, which declares that State
shall forfeit its political existence-its
rights under the Constitution, because a
portion of all its citizens have been insur-
gents? No such power exists, ,and it wo' d
be absurd to suppose that the Constitu-
ton would provide for its own overthrow
by authorizing the disintegration of the
Union, but it does provide for the sup
preston of insurrection and domestic vi
olence. Where individual persons have
done wrong they are amenable to the civ
Ill laws, but the acts OF individuals cannot
forfeit the existence OF States, nor confer
powers upon the Federal g Gqxernment un-
known to the Constitution. si
BY what process is the Union to be re-
stored? By what means are we again te
become countrymen in heart,as well as in
name? IF we continue to treat the South
ern people as enemies, can weexpect then
| to become friends? Would it not be vel
to remember that civil wars are like fam.
| lily feuds, and when, after strife has ceas
ed, and the cause of the difficulty has
been calmly considered, that both parties
are generally found to be more or less il
fault?
Unselfsb patriotism can restore the I'm
ion, while selfish ambition may involv,
the country in new horrors, and our insti
tutions in total ruin. It requires no art
no mystery, no diplomacy to restore tn
Union. We have but to sayto our coun
trymen of the South, Come, let us agail
be friends: if in aught we have both erred
then let us both profit by the terrible les
son of the past four years, and if only on
has been wrong, then let that one be gen
erously forgiven.
Had our civil authorities been infu
enccd by the same spirit of generosit
and wise Cancellation which inspired GU
armies; or had soldiers like Sherman an
| Mcclellan been authorized to treat fo
peace, the war would not have survive
the second year, ,and the Union would hav
been restored with sentiments of cordia
admiration and affection, warming tn
hearts of our countrymen North an
South; for generous manhood begets re
spect.
Our country can only be brought bac
to the happy and prosperous conditio
which existed prior to the war, by return
ing to the fundamental principles upo
which our institutions were based, an
those great doctrinal truths taught b
Jefferson and Madison, and the other ear
ly fathers of the Republic.
THE NEGRO PROBLEM.
Gen. Cox proposes to create negr
dependency to the United States, frol
contiguous territory of the States of a.
ALBANIA, Georgia, Florida and South Ca1
olina, without breaking up the State Of
carnations. I dissent from this solr
{ ton, because Congress has no authorit
under the Constitution, to convert one {
more States into "a negro dependency:
because if such dependency" were ere;
ted, war of extermination between IL
: hostile races weuld be the inevitable resul
; and lastly because the dependency coul
2 only be established after having obtaine
f the lands of the white inhabitants by fir
exterminating them; or by the Govern
ment purchasing the lands on the cond
ton that the white citizens would abal
! don their homes that the negro migl
= possess them.
The plan of purchase is unpracticabl
even were it Constitutional. The area
: the proposed negro dependency wou
! contain nearly thirty million acres of Il
i best land in America, which at an avera.
: cost of twenty dollars per acre. wou
! amount to about six hundred million do
lars. Six hundred million dollars! Whe
!, lis that enormous sum to come from?
i it to be added to our present debt of fol
thousand millionsl or GOES Gen. Cox pr