The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-03-06
NUMBER |,

lif by headlong thrust, and hurled by
Almighty Providence, rho was deter.
mined the people Of this continent sho'd
not be 50 many discordant nations but
one united nation?
The joint committee Of fifteen 10 iS49,
succeeded in excluding California eight
months, until a majority Of the nation
should compromise and silence forever
the debate upon slavery. The compro-
mise was, by its terms, to be perpetual
compromise of 1850 fingered for four
years and then perished, giving place to
the now happily consummated adjust
ment of the slavery question by the CON-
plete abrogation of that institution.
When left Congress in 1861 commit
tees and conventions demanded stiphla-
tons that fetters be put on New Mexico.
Nevada and Colorado. You can never
keep States out of this Union. Present
distrusts of future States or of existing
States have no substantial grounds. They
are begotten of miserable fears and fac
tions. If ever this thing of keeping ont
States. by joint resolutions of Congress
could have had chance Of permanent
success, that time has passed away.
No State has ever been hindered in
coming into the Union except on ques-
tions Of African bondage, which has nov
gone to the dogs and is surely 6nished.-.
No State will ever hereafter be hiRdered
IN coming inte the Union on the ground
of slavery. 1t is grave to suppose that
the tendency to the Union have deserib-
ed has anything alarming in it. The
territory wants to be State, beeauseit is
a pleasant and good thing to possess the
privileges of a State. l would not keep
State in territorial condition any longer
than compelled. - @ ~aos nor
In the beginning, practically, every
State had slavery. We abolished il in
some States without any disorder, and
when slavery raised itself in opposition
to the Government, we destroyed it Alto
gether. We have done all this in ninety
years without imperial governmentor pro-
consular territorial system, but ipasgual
States, presided over by Federal or re-
stricted government, They are settling
the whole case of the African 10 the West
Indies just as we are. The conflict Of
opinion between the President and Com
gress in reference to the Freedman'sT TBu-
reau, is in its consequences comparatively
unimportant, aud would excite little in.
terest if it stood alone. s1eEJ 90 e sse7
Both agree that this Bureau was crea1
ted for transition period betweenswar and
peace, and should cease at the end Of that
period. The President. thinks that pc.
| riod nearly passed, and the original pro.
vision is sufficient. while Congress thinks
the original provision needs lenlarging.A
l agree with the President in the hope
that the extraordinary provision which
the bill makes will not be necessary, but
that the whole question may be simplf-
fed by simple reference to the existiag
law. a4o 6a e sifsq s'tasb
The law of March 8, 1865, WHICH crea5
ted the Freedman's Bureau, provides that
it shall continue in force during the war
Of rebellion, and one full year thereafter.
When does that yea. expire2r In this
Presidents judgment,as | understand ths
matter, the war of rebellion has, been
coming and is still coming to an end, but
it is not yet fully closed. 1t is ap this
ground that he maintains an army, COM
tinues the writ Of habeas corpas and ex.
ercses martial law where these things are
found necessary in the rebel States. The
! existence of the rebellion was legally an
nounced by Executive Proclamation in
1861. si i laH ba8 .basaes lgl7awoq {
The end Of the rebellion oughtite bsy
and may be expected to be announced By,
declaration by the President. OF, Congress,
or both. For all practical purposes, the
rebellion will. in law, acomeoto an endrif
the President or Congress--ohe or both
officially announces its termination III
Now. suppose this announcement to be
made by the President and by Congress,
or by either of them, tomorrow. isl
In that case the Freedman 81 Bureau isr
continued by virtue of the limitation pred
scribed in the act of March 8. 1865, one,
year after such proclamation shall have
been made. Thus the Freedmen'ssBu-
reau would continue by the, original lipir,
tation until the I'D day of February,
1867. q very proper day on which q
bring it to an end. IfCongrcss should
find it necessary to prolong its existencs,I
it can at once take the necessar j steps, .fors
at that date it will have been in session
nearly three months,
Ought the President of the United
States to be denounced in the house Of
his enemies, much more eaght he o.bei
denounced in the house of his friends, for
refusing, inthe absence Of any necessity,
to occupy or retain, and to exercise apowsi
ers greater than those which are exercisedI
by any imperial magistrate in the wolld?,
/ trust this fault of declining imperia.
powers too hastily rendered by a confds
ing Congress may be forgiven by . eeaes
erous people. 84s lesjhsg yer asdi
1t will be sad hour for the Republic
when the refusal of unnecessary savers
and patronage by the President shaiisbe
held to be crime. When it shall be No.
considered, the time viii have arrived for
setting up at the White House an imperi-
al throne, and surrounding the executive
with imperial legions. so 80 Esa y
The meeting was also addressed BY
Postmaster General Dennison, Henry J.,
Raymond, Francis B. Culling, Daniel s.
Dickinson and Geo. opdyke. TIE meet.
ing dispersed at late hour.2i1o s&F sbee