The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-08-18


they are responsible az this moment for
the sad spectacle ofa divided country?
The disunion party of the South has
perished 1t lookup arms to make good
It's principles. Itnade war upon scale
such as the earth has rarely Witnessed
With FIVE millionsof people and no imi-
grafton, without recognition or credit in
the family of nations, without finances or
foreign trade, il withstood for four years
tho shock of twenty millions of brave
and heroic population, constantly rcplen-
ishcd by arrivals from the shores of the
old world, and supported by credit and
resources which ii after times will read
like the fables ofthe middle ages. But
the final hour came at last, and that par
ty which sought b destroy the Union fell
before the cannon and the bayonet. It's
armies surrenderd and went home
Peace, like an atgel-visitant, came with
its song of love q ii charity aud goodwill
to fill the land 18th JOY. The people
from one ocean 70 the other welcomed the
celestial messenger with universal jubi-
lee. Plain and honest people thought
the end had comc-that the Union was
restored The President joined them in
their simple faith, and announced in his
annual message that the healing princi.
pies Of the Constitution should nov close
the gaping wounds which war had made.
With consummate skill and compre.
hensivc craftsmanship, he commenced
their application to the disordered parts
Of the machinery Of government, and the
beautiful system Of our fathers once more
showed life aud motion. But in the
midst of his labors, and while the Gov
ernment was reviving under his benef-
cent treatment, the old party Of disunion
at the North sounded its ancient rallying
cry, and rallied around its ancient aud
true c0lors. 1t now confronts the Execu-
tive and obstructs his labors in behalf of
the Union, and in behalf Of the just
rights aud liberties Of the people. What
is the issue thus formed What is the
precise point to try before a jury of the
American people at the approaching cleo
tons! Let there be no mistakes. Let
the case be fairly stated and then 60 be-
fore the country for a verdict. The
President holds that secession was simply
insurrcction against law. As such it had
no legal force. 1t changed nothing in
our form Of Government 1t created
nothing aud abrogated nothing. Il
neither added to nor diminished the Con-
stitution or the laws. It has spent its
force aud subsided, and the waves Of Fed
cral authority have again flowed in upon
every portion of the Southern soil. The
same Government which existed before
the attempted revolution goes back into
chat section. Slavery, ii is true, is abol-
Iishcd, but :! is by the consent of the
Southern Sta!os themselves, q consent
wisely based upon the social results ofthe
war IN their midst. But the powers OF
the Constitution, in all its relations TO the
States and to the citizens of the States,
are the same to day that they were before
gun was fred. These | understand TO
be the premises Of the President, and
they are certainly mine. From them fol-
low, as inevitable conclusions:
|. That no State has the legal right to
sever its connection with the Federal
i Government.
2. Failing IN such an attempt, they re-
main their ancient place, fixed immova-
bic, and shorn of none of their attributes
as States.
! 3. The right to immediate representa-
ton in Congress as living, lawful and
Legitimate members of the Government.
4. That the American Union is re-
stored, and stands unbroken, without
flaw or blemish, aud with domestic tran
guilty in all her borders in the presence
of the nations Of the earth.
Such are the principles and such the
view of our condition which the friends
of the Administration present for the
consideration of the people. On the 9th
or hand, what do its foes present? The
ablest and most consistent Of their party,
led by Mr. Stevens in the House. and
by Mr. Sumner in the Senate, hold that
by virtue of some deadly mystery in our
body politics, some hidden, fatal chemi-
cal which escaped the vigilance of the
fathers, eleven States have either been
killed by the Federal Government. which
made war to preserve them, or have
themselves committed suicide-that they
are dead-no longer political organiza-
tions, and that the American Republic
has lost by the recent conflict nearly half
the States which it formerly possessed.
!, shall only state this position-not
argue it. If it is correct, then repre-
sentatives from those stagnant regions OF
political death have indeed no business
at the seat of this Government. They
may go home and prepare to enter upon
a longer, drcarier night of bondage than
that which closed over the Hebrew cap.
tives when they mingled their bitter tears
with the waters of Babylon, and refused
to sing the songs of their distant and
desolate homes. IF such policy can be
established for one year, the same reason.
ing may continue it for century. II
the Constitution can be SO changed and
amended by a dominant faction as to
consolidate and perpetuate power in its
hands, and to destroy tho existence of
! States, who shall bid them live again
and when will the dawn of their resur.
rection appear Not until long after
the moss has gathered upon your graves
and mine-not until new and far distant
generations tread this continent-per
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