The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-08-29

Al OuiVu 40 uOVOooaiJ OVhoO1uouoOj ouN
second, it has put on end finally and for
ever to the existence Of slavery upon the
soil or within the jurisdiction Of the Uni
ted States. Both these points became d.
rectly involved in the contest, and contro-
versy upon both was ended absolutely and
finally by the result. d, t..5
.t Fruits Of Victory.
!, 8. In the third place, we deem it Of
the utmost importance that the ZEAL char.
acter of the war and the victory by which
it was closed should be accurately under.
stood. The war was carried on by the
Gonernmen of the United States in main
tenance of ita own authority and in de.
fense Of its own existence, both of which
were menaced by tha insurrection which
it sought to suppress. The suppression
of that insurrection accomplished that re-
suit. The Government of the United
States maintained, by force Of arms, the
supreme authority over all the territory,
and over all the States and people within
its jurisdiction, which the Constitution
conlers upon it; but it acquired thereby
no new power, no enlarged jurisdiction,
no rights either of territorial posse ssion or
civil authority which it did not possess be.
fore the rebellion broke out. All the
rightful power it can ever possess is that
which is conferred upon it, either in ex-
press terms, or by fair and necessary i'm
plication, by the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States. II was that power and that
authority which the rebellion sought to
overthrow, aud the victory Of the Federal
arms was simply the defeat of that at.
tempt. The Government Of the United
States acted throughout the war on the
defensive. Itsought only to hold posses
sion of what was already its own. Neith-
er the war, nor the victory by which it
was closed, changed in any way the Con-
stitution of the United States. The war
was carried on by virtue of its provisions,
and under the limitations which they pre-
scribe; and the result of the war did rot
either enlarge, abridgo, or in any way af-
feet or change, the powers it confcrs up
on tho Federal Government, or release
that Government from the restrictions
which it has imposed - ..
The Constitution of the United States
is to day precisely as it was before the
war, the "supreme law of the land, any
thing in .the Constitution or laws of any
State to the contrary Notwithstanding =
and to day, also, precisely as before the
war, "all the powers not conferred by the
Constitution upon the General Govern.
ment, nor prohibited by it to the States
are reserved to the several States, or the
people thereof"
This position is yinaicated not only by
the essential nature of our Government
and the language and spirit of the Consti
tuition, but by all the acts and the Ian
guage Of our Government, in all its dc
partments, and at all times from the out
break of the rebellion to its final eyer
| throE.
Sole Object Of the Contest.
| In every m, ssage and proclamation o
the Executive it was explicitly dec are:
that the sole object and purpose Of th'
war was to maintain the authority Of tho
Constitution and TO preserve the integrit.
Of the Union; and Congress more thai
once reiterated this solemn declaration
and added the assurance that wheneve
the objec, should be attained the wa
should cease, and all the States should re
tain their equal rights and dignity unim
paired.
1t is only since the war was closed tha
other rights have been asserted on behal
of one department of the General Govern
ment. .. ..... .u.
Assertigss Of Congress.
| Il has been proclaimed by Congress
that, in addition to the powers conferred
upon it by the Constitution, the Federr
Government may now claim over th
States, the territory and the people III
volved in the insurrection, the rights Q
war-the rights Of conquest and Of conf;
cation, the right to abrogate all existin
governments, institutions and laws, an
to subject the territory conquered and ii
inhabitants to such laws, regulations an
deprivations as the Legislative Depar
ment OF the Government may see fit
impose. Under this broad and sweepin
claim that clause Of the COnstitutio
which provides that mo State shall, will
out its consent, be deprived Of its equi
suffrage in the Senate Of the Unite
States" has been annulled, and te
States have been refused, and are still r
fused, representation altogether in bot
branches Of the Federal Congress. An
the Congress in which only part of Il
States aud Of the people ofthe Union a,
f.; represented has asserted tho right thus
/. exclude the rest from representation, an
from all share in making their own Law
/ or choosing their own rulers until the
t shall comply with such conditions on
perform such acts as this Congress th'
a composed may itself prescribe. Tb
right has not only been asserted, but
has been exercised, and is practically e.
forced at this present time Nor docs
6ud any support in the theory that Il
u States thus excluded are in rebellir
d against the Government, and are thereto
+ precludcd from sharing its authority
r They are not thus in rebellion. They q
= bne and all in an attitude Of loyalty to-
!. ard the Government, and of sworn all
! glance to the Constitution of the Unit
d States. In no enc Of them is there 4
i. slightest Indication Of resistance to Il
Q authority, or the slightest protest again
!, its just and binding obligation. I'll