, 1866-11-26

w 3Ssl4S Ane teA uS VI huAIArS to1 AtsSats sA0t
Is wholly different question. An amend
mcnt TO the Constitution may undoubtedly
be adopted which shnll declare that no State
shall make or enforce any law depriSlng any |
class Of male adult citizens Of the right Of |
suffrage On account OF race or color. Will
johnson favor or oppose such m amend
,nent: Can the Republican answer the qucs-
ton! Neither Congress nor the dominant
Republican party arc iu the mood to be hum
buEgcd or thwartcd By the apostate who un-
fortunately occupies and disgraces the Ex-
eeutivc chair.
cRNTRAL1zAT1oN.
Whenever the Government Of the Unlon is
nbout 10 exercise its just powers, and enforce
Its authority over the rchellious States, one
method In constant use among those who op-
pose the Administration, Of thwarting this
purpose, Is to raise the CRY Of ccntralizatiou.
This alarm cry Is constantly rung in our ears,
by men whose sole object is to eave the Con-
fcderate section against the Just punishment
for their crimes, and to cripple the Federal
Government In The exercise Of Its undtsputed
powers. Doubtless the GENERALIZATION Of al1
power In the Federal Government would
le grtat evil and wrong. No
party and no man seeks to do
1t, as all are alike convinced that the safety
Of our institutions aud their posnanenec de-
PEND upon strict malntainauce of the diyi-
ding line between the powers given to the
Fcdcfal Government aud those reserved to
the States. But It does not seem to be so
well borne In mind By some, that thu full aud
complete exercise OF all the powers which
By the Constitution orc given to the General
Government, are Just rs essential to our safe
~ and existence as people. The great OBJ
ject sought In the establishment Of the Fed
cral Constitution, was to secure through the
General Government that Justice and freedom
which there was imminent danger the people
would lose through the feebleness or conflicts
Of the disuuited States. Consolidation, or
centrniization to this extent is
necessity; and so far from being an
evil to be condemned or deplored, 1t Is
an indispensable need, and on inestimablc
| Messing. When, therefore, the cry OF cen
trarzation Is raised. 1t ia always question
Whesiar It should not rather excite Our ap-
rfobatiu4 and increase our sense Of sccuEity,
iran aiafih our fears and raise our opposi-
! tton. II tue powcr eouglt to be exercised,
or tho measnzeto be enforced, is one iegih-
mate,y within tne G"ope Of the Federal nu-
thority. and Is aimed at patriotic ends. II
Should be hailed with .sy and receive our
earnest and loyal eappo+, The General
Government is clothed with .l.b authority.
and ccslnin great powers arc Capitalized Ia
lis hands, as absolutely essential !, the free
dom of the people and the safety NJ The
nat:ol So far from there bcin!, any d.,rar
in the use Of these powers, the true eroa.a
for alarm would be for that Government ID
neglect or refuse their exercise. and srccumb
I 10 the usurpcd and luischieyous authority ol
the Stntcs.
Where the line Of partition rms between
the authority Of the General Government
and that Of the States, Is It not al
ways SO clearly seen as 10 leave no room fos
honest difference Of opinion. But of this
great truth there can lc no doubt, aud, bear.
J. In, II always in mind, NC need not 70 fal
astray In our conclusiors, na,nelv, that the
: ayowetl object Of Ike institution Of the Fed
, eral Government Has to secure the blessing:
of liberty aud Justice to the people mud t1ci,
rostcrite. These blessings wero to be thus
secured BY the establishment and protection
!; in 7crr State Of republican form of Cor
!, t; ::.e.::t, and by this means guaranteeing to
The pic all those rights and immunltlcs
. , wi!tE pvr!ain everywhere to the citizens o.
asett tic. Tie fundamental principles o
republican form Of government, are under
stood universally to be the freedom and
equality Of all citizens. The rights Of man,
md exact Justice, with no privileged class
no a'1sfocracy, and no slaves, these ars
knoN TO be implied In The Idea Of Rtpub
lie: and Wien our fathers eEcc.cd the Gov
eFntncnt OF the Chion, Que leadin. obicc!
WAS to establish O power whose right ant
duty It should be 10 enforce the principles o
Republican Government everywhere within
Its Jurisdiction, and that extended over al
the States then within, or that mir tlt hero
after enter, the Union. Whatever is Justly
implied In tic idca Of Republican Govern
1ncnt, whatever Of equal right and Impartial
+, Justice belong to that form Of free institu
tions, It Is the imperative duty Of the Fedc
rul Government to tnaintAn aud enforce
The meating uud purpose Of TIC Federal Con
stitutton Is to establish and maintain every
+ where In the land the fundamental prtnci
. pies ofRepublican Government. All powe
necessary TO this end il centralized IN 1t. 7,
this end 1t Is consolidated Government, mi
in this centralization lies our cLlcf security
and should be our highest pride.
Without this supreme authority Of tn
Union to enforce human rights and equa
I Justice everywhere, doubtless VIC shouI,
I have all sorts Of oppression aud wrong I,
; States that had forgotten their allegiance I,
republican, principles, and whoao Govern
+ 'nrrt nae nccn seized by class, or party
+ determined 10 build up their fortunes an
:. power Oh tho ruin and oppression of th
t people. Agalnst such usurpation and tyr
!: Eoy the General Government is set up as a,
! abiding watch and defence. Aud that su
+ p'cnle Government tails In the exercise Q
! lit clcarcst authority aud neglects a mos
, sacred du,g II III any quarter Of It's wide do
'nnin, In any one of the many States, slnel
. citizen Of its many millions is deprived Of IN,
one of the rights which belong to him as
member Of the republic. No one can get 81
far oa, OF into q State so1cmotc, as to be lie
yond the reach Of tho protecting power O
, tho General Government In all his rights As
} citizen Of the republic. It was to defend hu
: man rights mud maintain tho principles Q
free republican government that the Coasti
} tuition wns framed. To this extent ut leaa
, ali power IL contained In 1t, and VIC find Fl
this Constitution NO reason for alarm, bu
rather full ASSURANCE Of safety and protee
lion for nll classes, ofwlatever race or colol
I so long as they bear the image aud can clair
: the rights Of humanity.