The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-08-25

W lllNil Jh9Nl'N tNli' lNtN7'iA l'l'ENll'N' F'A !
Of liberal state.manShip which toer- {
ltcs what it cannot prevent, and builds t
It's plans and its hopes for the future =
rather upon community of interest and |
ambition than upon distrust and the :
of force.
II. In the next place, we call upon you
to recognize in their full significance,
and to accept with all their legitimate
the political results Of the
war Just closed. In two most import
ant particulars the victory achieved by L
the National Government has been final
and decisive. FIrst, it has established
beyond all further controversy, and by
the highest Of all human sanctions, the
absolute supremacy of the National Gov
crnmcnt, as defined and limited by the |
Constitution of the United States, and /.
the permanent integrity and indiSsolu- |.
bility of the Federal UnionaS Il necessary |
consequence; and, StcD"R, ii has put an
end finally and forever to the existence
of slavery upon the soil or within the
jurisdiction of the United States. Both
these points became directly involved in
the contest, and controversy upon both
was ended absolutely and finally hy the
result.
III. IN the third place, we deem ii of
| thcutmo,t importance that the real char
actcr of the Wuraud the victory by which
! it WAS closed .hould be accurately under
stood. The war was carried ON by the
Govcrnmcnto ofthcI 'mitcd States inmain-
tcnancc of its own authority and in de-
| fence of its own existence, both of which
were mcnaccd by the insrrrcction which
it sought to suppress. The suppression
of that instruction accomplished that
result. 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 with
in its jurisdiction, which the Constitu-
ton confrrs upon it; but ii acquired
thereby no new power, no enlarged jul
risdirtion, no rights either Of territorial
possession or of civil authority which it
did not possess before the Rebellion
broke out. All the rightful power it
can ever POSSESS Is that which IS confer
rcd upon it, either in express terms or
by fair and necessary implication, by the
Constitution of the United States. 1t
was that power and that authority which
, the Rebellion sought To overthrow, and
the victory OF the Federal arms wa,
, simply the defeat of that attempt. The
Government of the United States acted
, throughout the war on the defensive. II
sought only to hold possession of Wha
wa. already its own. Neither the war
nor the victory by which it was closed
. changed in any way the Constitution OF
the United States. The war was carried
. on by virtue Of its provisions, and un
, der the limitations which they prescribe
, and the result OF the war did not cithc
= enlarge, abridgc, or in any way chang
t or affect the powers ii conicra upon TIN
+ Federal Government, or release tina
, Government from the restrictions WhiCl
= it has imposed.
n The Constitution of the United state
is to-day precisely rs it WAS before tn
@ war, the supreme law of the land, amy
f thing in the Constitution or laws of an,
O State to the contrary Notwithstanding;
Il and to-day also, precisely as before til
d war;" all the powers not conferred by tn
o. Constitution upon the General Govern
ment, nor prohibited by ii 10 the State
q are reserved to the several States, or
ic the people thereof"
This position is vindicatcd not onl
il by the essential nature of our Govern
=. mcnt, and the language and spirit of tn
Is Constitution, but by al! the act- and I'll
# language Of our Government, in all il
J. departments, and ut all time, from I'll
O. outbreak of the Rebellion to It's lin.
r overthrow. In every message and pro-
lnuuton Of the Executive it was inpli
=, Idly declared that the sole object an
20 purpose of the war was to maintain Il
I'd authority Of the Constitution and TO pre-
IF scrVe thC int gritty of the Union; an
ne Congress more than once reiterated tn
to solemn declaration, and added the 81
ld surancc that whenever the object ,hou
in he attained the war should cease, and /
rs the States should retain their cqu
H. rights and dignity unimpuirod.
1t is only since tho war has closed tn
to other rights have been asserted ON h
.at half Of one department oi the Gcncr
i'm Government. IT has been proclaim,
ms by Congress that, in addition to t
of powers conferred upon it by the Cons
,st ton, the Federal Government may no
~. claim over the States, the territory, III
ms the people involved in the insurrcctiO
nd the rights of Wur-the right of cOnqlC
zen and of conhscation, the right to abroga
lg- all existing governments, institution
or and laws, and to subject the terrific
llv conquered and it, inhabitants to ~
ed, laws, regulations, and dopriNations
,ut the legislative department Of the Gc
the ernmcnt may see fit to impose. Und
)ns this broad and sweeping claim, Il
FIJI clause of the Constitution which p
md vidus that "no State shall without
the consent be deprived Of it equal suitru
,ne in the Senate of the United Statcs,'
bli- been annullcd, and ten States have be
md refused, and are still refused, reprc-,
art tution altogether in both branches of
ties Federal Congress. And Il Congress
the which only Il part Of the States and
ties The people Of the Union are represent
10 has asserted the right thus to excl
Of the rest from cprcsuntation, and fr
i0,t all share in making their own laws