The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-01-24
Gov. stones Inaugural.

his Inaugural compensates boldly, eloquent
and speciously for the occasion. Having r
disposition to surrender all our space to Cove
nor or President, we select the argumcntativ
points of the Inaugural. Leaving out the us,
al introduction Of gratitude, congratulations o
our State condition, &c. &c we begin wit
the main question which seems to have occ.
cupied the mind of the Executive, viz: that q
instruc,ing Andy Johnson aad Congress as t
their duty.
| Let US not be deceived by the hattering as
surance INDUCED in by many, that the conflic
is over. To suppose that this embittcrcd con
test between right and wrong, Of adherence I,
the fundamental principles of the government
! and the intensified spirit of treason nurscd fo
half century terminated when the rebel arm
les were overthrown, is to forget all the seaeh
ings of history, and disregard the instructive
lessons of our own experience. Every indica
ton Of the times affords accumulatiDg evidence
that the great problem OF our national future
remains TO be solved. But I am not withou
hope. Th. substantial progress with which
under manifold difficulties. the work of restora
ton has been attained in so brief period ma,
be construed as a favorable indication of ths
future; and although short Of the anticipated
measure of success, it yet affords encourage
ing evidence that among the well disposed in
habitants of the south, the bitterness engend
cred by rebellion is rapidly giving way to a
common purpose of concliation. For this. all
parties should be grateful. And the nsurgent
states especially will not fail to perceive their
obligations to that magnanimous policy which
in spite ofopposing influences secured for thci,
efforts the friendly cooperation of national au
thority.
This policy, known as the Presidents plan oil
reconstruction, has been characterized by the
development Of extraordinary constitutional
power on the part Of the Federal Executive
aud this power having been exercised with 50
great degree of general appreciation, amounts
to practical interpret alton of the constitution
absolutely conclusive upon all parties, and un
avoidable as a precedent for the future. The
successful exercise Of this inherent power
demonstrates that the constitution contains,
when rightly interpreted, ample resources for
its own preservation.
Upon what grounds can this action Of the
President be justified ? The effort to consid.
er state, for political purposes, separate and
distinct from the people who compose it, is a
manifest absurdity. A state Is a body polite,
or civil community, united together for the
-
is the accredited legal organ through which
they act, and BY which they are known as a
municipal organization South Carolina may
have land and defined territorial boundaries,
but 1t can have no government without inhabi-
tants, and without government, although
having inhabitants, it would not be known or
recognized as state. The people Of that and
every other state in the Federal Union, are
nothing more nor less than municipal body,
exercising the powers and franchise Of a gov
ernment under the authority of the United
States, and in subordination to the paramount
sovereignty of the constitution, which is su.
preme law Of the land. This subordination of
states, and supremacy Of the constitution, are
our sheet anchor and bond Of perpetual union.
Any theory adverse to this would result in the
inevitable destruction OF ou. nationality.
The treason Of
a few individuals, or mere local insurrection,
would not have produced this result. But
when the people en- masse renounced their con-
stitutional rights and deliberately transferred
their allegiance to a hostile sovereignty. TAX
ing the entire power of the state with them,
and levying war to maintain their new relation.
It became treason Oh their part, involving. by
The established rules of national condnct, the
iestructibility of their political organizatio ns
For it is manifest that il these states had &C.
:omplished their reasonable designs, their po-
itical separation would have been complete,
although their territorial boundaries might
AVE remained as before. But, being over
'one by the power Of the union, they were
orcibly retained within its jurisdiction in the
ttitude Of a conquered people. Having with
reasonable intent violated the solemn GOV |
nants by which they were originally organized |
3 states, and having forfeited their rights un.
er them, they are now in no condition to
lain the benefits Of these covenants, which
an only be renewed by the disposition of the
ederal government, As the innocent and in.
lred party, in the exercise Of its sovereign
over.
Having thus asccrtained the true condition
these states, under the constitution, the
uestion as to whether they have been out of
ne union becomes mere abstraction. In
sga! contemplation they certainly were not,
Or all their acts in that direction, being in
cnfict with the constitution, became null and
old yet it is nevertheless equally clear, as a
natter OF fact, that for a period of four wears
ne authority of the union was forribly exclu.
ed from these states, and that, during that
eriod. they were out of their constitutional
rbits. Had this condition been maintained,
nd their separation been permanently estab.
shed, then the proposition that they were out
the union would scarcely have been disput-
d. And may We not, therefore, with equal
ropriety, admit that for all practicable pur.
oses these states were rot in the union while
his abnormal condition existed.
10 hold, as many do, that the functions of
nese states were merely suspended not dc.
trOyed by rebellion, would result in the losi.
al conclusion that their former condition re-
ived when the cause of that suspension was
nn1n nxoI. aud hr,,n |
d, by what right do we intervene in their az
'irs, and require their governments to be re-
'rmed before allowing them to resume their
ivil and political relations with tho union p
rom what source does the President derive
ghstul authority to appoint governors for
lese states, comforting power to elect dele
ates and organize constitutional conventions,
the qualifications Of electors, and,
y compulsory directions, require them to
jopt certain measures and reject others. He
,uld do none of these things for Pennsylva.
10 or Iowa, and he does them for the nsurg.
1T states only as the authorized agent of con.
itational sovereignty, and because their civil!
tality has been destroyed, and they have
'ased to exist except rs geographical bounda. !
es within the union, containing inhabitants I
,prived Of organized governments.
Upon this broad and exclusive theory the
ork Of reconstruction has so far progressed
was the landmark which guided Abraham {
ncoln in his labors, wherein he was ndorsed t
the overwhelming verdict Of the American '
ople. 1t is the graSd and abiding principle /
accordance with which the struggle was {
by US, and the union saved. And {
hesitate not in saying, that to abandon it now $
'u!d be an insult to the memory OF martyrs t
no have fallen in its defense, and a dshonor I
lie surrender to the enemies Wo have con- |
ered. {
Ii the view we have taken be not correct, c
en- the President has committed fragrant t
olation Of the constitution by arbitrarily in.
ding the sovereignty Of these states, in the I
seRce OF war and consequent military neces. z
y, for which he should not only be arraigned u
fore the tribunal Of public opinion. but de. q
rves the penalty Of impeachment. ?
At a juncture so frausht with danger to tie +
nd, honest convictions may be ftly uttered "
ne boldest advocate OF strict construction Il
II scarcely deny the rishtfulness Of the pow u
claimed and employed by the President; yet 6
H. latin Il - =