The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-06

Oe cllaHS6u ny lile elHuN OF Tffle. Ten
years hence, if these States remain as
they are, the Iight of representation
will be no stronger--the right Of ex-
clusien be no weaker.
The Constitution Of the United States
makes it the duty of the President to
recommend to the consideration of Con-
gress "such measures as his shall Judge
necessary Or eXpedient." | know of no
measure more imperatively demanded
by every consideration Of national in
terest, sound policy, and equal justice,
than the admission of loyal members
from the now unrepresented States.-
This would consummate the work of
restoration, and exert most salutarv
influences in the establishment of
peace, harmony and fraternal feeling
1t would tend greatly to renew the CON
fidence of the American people in the
vigor and stability Of their institutions.
1t would bind Us more closely together
as a nation, and enable us to show to
the world the inherent and recuperative
power OF Government founded upon
the will Of the people, and established
upon the principle Of liberty, Justice,
and intelligence.
Our increased strength and enhanced
prosperity would irrefragably demon
strate the fallacy of the arguments
against free institutions drawn from our
recent national disorders by the enemies
of republican government. The adj
mission of loyal members from the
States now excluded from Congress, by
allaying doubt and apprehension, would
turn capital, now awaiting an oppor~
tunity for investment, into the channels
of trade and industry. It would allevi-
ate the present troubled condition of
those States, and, by inducing emigra-
ton, aid in the settlement OF fertile
regions yet uneHltivated, and lead to an
increased production Of those staples
which have added so greatly to the
wealth Of the nation and the commerce
of the world. New fields OF enterprise
would be opened to our progressive
people, and soon the deVastations of
war would be repaired, and all traces of
our domestic differences ettaced from
the minds OF our countrymen.
In our efforts to preserve "the unity
Of Government which constitutes us one
people, by restoring the States to the
condition which they held prior to the
rebellion, we should be cautious, lest,
having rescued our nation from perils of
threatened disintegration, we resort to
consolidation, and in the end absolute
despotism, as a remedy for the reeur-
renee of similar troubles. The war
having terminated, and with it all oc-
casion fer the exercise of powers of
doubtful eonstitutionality, we should
hasten to bring legislation within the
boundaries prescribed by the Consti-
tuition, and to return to the ancient
landmarks established by our fathers for
the guidance of succeeding generations.
"The Constitution which at any time
exists, until changed by an explicit and
authentic act Of the whole people, is sa-
the opinion of the people, the distri-
button or modification of the consti-
tutional powers be, in any particular
wrong, let it be corrected by an amend
ment in the way in which the Consti-
tuition designates. But let there be no
change by usurpation; for'' cit is the
customary weapon by which free Govern
ments are destroyed" WASHINGTON
spoke these words to his couutrymen,
when, followed by their love and graft
tude, he voluntarily retired from the
cares of public life. "To keep in all
things within the pale of our consti-
tutional powers, and cherish the Federal
Union as the only rock of safety" were
prescribed by JEFFERSON as rules of
action to endear to his "cOuntrymen the
tru0 principles of their Constitution, and
promote union of sentiment and action
equally suspicious to their happiness
and safety"
Jackson held that the action of the
General Government should always be
strictly confined to the sphere of its APP
propriate duties, and justly and forcibly
urged that our Government is not to be
maintained nor our Union preserved
+" by invasions OF the rights and powers
of the several States. In thus attempt
ing to make our General Government
strong, we make it weak. It's true
strength consists in leaving individuals
and States as much as possible to them
selves; in making itself felt, not in its
power, but in its beneficence; not in its
control, but in its protection not in
binding the States more closely to the
centre, but leaving each to move unob-
structed in its proper constitutional
orbit These are the teachings of men
whose deeds and services have made
illustrious, and who, long since with
drawn from the scenes of life, have left
to their country the rich legacy Of their
example, their wisdom and their patriot
ism. Drawing fresh inspiration from
their lessons, let US emulate them in love