The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-18

TO defend and maintain the supremacy
OF the Constitution, and preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality
and rights of the several States unim-
pared and as soon asthese objects are
attained the war ought to cease. :"
m y, on that platform he stands now.
This resolution was introduced into
the House of Representatives by the
venerable John ]. Crittenden, of Ken
lucky, and in the Senate by the now
President Andrew johnson, of Tennes-
see. Andrew johnson has been faith
ful to the pledge it contained. The
Radicals who then sustained it have
been false. They, and not the Presi-
dent, are the traitors to it. The Col.
showed most conclusively that the Con-
stltutlon guaranteed to the South her
representation in Congress, and that
the war was fought for restoration of
the union-meaning the Union as it
was, or it meant falsehood. He
showed that this was the policy of Mr..
Lincoln, supported during his lifetime,
by large majority Of the very same
men who now follow the lead Of Thad.
Stevens in his doctrine of State suicide.
lie said the dominant party in this
State, who profess so much love for
West Virginia, in blindly following the
leadership of Thad. Stevens, were COM
uniting themselves to doctrine that
would blot West Virginia out of exis-
tence as State. #, according to the
position assumed by Congress, secession
and rebellion deprived Virginia of her
locality in the Union, of her representa-
ton, or right Of representation in the
councils Of the nation, how could she
give that consent which by the consti-
tuition was necessary to the erection of
a new State within her boundaries?
No better Illustration could be needed
than this Of the Inconsistency of the
Radical leaders. Virginia was regarded
as State for all their purposes, but is
regarded as no State when they have
anothefpurpose to carry out. She GER
tainly is no more out Of tie Union now
than she was in the time of war, when
southern armies held her northern from
tier. If the policy of Congress is to be
made the law Of the land, does it not
follow, as a matter Of course, that the
State Of West Virginia vanishes out of
existence: How can terms Of read
mission to the Union extra-eenstitu-
tional be imposed on Virginia, without
treating her as & unit from the time Of
her pretended secession? How can she
be kept out of the Union as "a rebel
State, without keeping her all out
The only possible answer is revolution
airy. In the haste with which men fol-
low political leaders, they forget the
injury done to great principles on
which the Union rests. 1t is time to
regard LAW and establish It's supremacy
over all the land. We drift along from
one grand error to another, and are
rapidly losing sight of the only safe an
ehorage for the ship Of State. lncon-
sisteneies mark the whole course Of the
Radical politics. 1t IS not law, but
mad desire for success and power, which
seem to guide the course of those who
SO foolishy accuse the President of
'usurpation,' when they advocatenoth-
ing but usurpation.
His speech was a very full and elab-
crate discussion Of the various topics
which agitate and distract the country,
and proved beyond all controversy,
that the Radical party was, by the
course it is pursuing, preventing the
accomplishment Of the very object for
which the war was waged-a restora
ton of the Union-the contamination
so much desired by all who revere the
institutions of their country
We only regret that every man in
the County had not been present to
hear his arguments.