Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-29

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POLITICAL RESULTS OF THE WAR.
In the next place, we call upon you
to recognize, in their full significance,
and to accept with all their legitimate
consequences, the political results of
the war just closed. In two most inn
portant particulars the victory achiev-
ed by the National Government has
been final and decisive. First, it has
been established beyond all further
controversy, and by the highest of all
human sanctions, the absolute suprem-
acy of the National Government, as
defined and limited by the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and the per
manent integrity and indissolubility
Of the Federal Union as necessary
consequence; and, second, it has put
an end finally and forever to the ex-
istence of slavery upon the soil or
within the jurisdiction of the United
States. Both these points became di-
rectly involved in the contest, and
controversy upon both was ended alb
solutely and finally by the result.
FRUITS OF VICTORY.
In the third place, we deem it Of
the utmost Importance that the real
character of the war and the victory
by which it was closed should be ac-
curately understood. The war was
carried on by the Government of the
United States in maintenance Of its
own authority and in defence OF its
own existence, both of which were
menaced by the insurrection which it
sought to suppress. The suppression
of that insurrection accomplished that
f result. The Government of the Uni
ted States maintained by force of arms
, the supreme authority over all the
territory, and over all the States and
, Ipeople within its Jurisdiction which
4 the Constitution confers upon it; but
: it acquired thereby no new power, no
enlarged. jurisdiction, no rights either
Of territorial possession or of civil au-
. thority which it did not possess before
Fl the rebellion broke out. All the right
. full power it can ever possess is that
, which is conferred upon it, either IN
: express terms or by fair and necessary
5 implication, by the Constitution Of the
g United States. 1t was that power
C and that authority which the rebellion
+ sought to overthrow, and the victory
; of the Federal arms was simply the
[; defeat of that attempt.
h The Government of the United
5 States acted throughout the war on
s the defensive. 1t sought only to hold
G possession of what was already III
G own Neither the war, nor the vic
0 tory by which it was closed, changeC
n in any way the Constitution of the
United States. The war was carriec
on by virtue of its provisions, and un
2 der the limitations which prescribe
c and the result Of the war did not either
e enlarge, abridge, or in any way chang'
j. or affect the powers it confers upol
L the Federal Government, or release
n that Government from the restriction
o which it has imposed.
n The Constitution of the Unitet
4 States is to day precisely as it was be
s. fore the war, the "supreme law of tn
If land, anything in the constitution 0
laws of any State to the contrary not
10 withstanding J" and to-day, also, pre-
e, cisely as before the war, all the power
m not conferred by the Constitution
n upon the General Government, no
le prohibited by it to the States, are 'r'
le served to the several States, or TO th
u people thereof"
D. This position is vindicated not onl
IN by the essential nature of our Cover
I'd ment and the language and spirit
IT, the Constitution, but by all the act
re and language OF our government, |
C. all its departments, and at all time
IS. from the outbreak of the rebellion [
en- its final overthrow.
ar SOLE OBJECT OF THE WAR.
no In every message and proclamatio
he of the Executive it was explicitly dc
no clared that the sole object and purpos
" of the war was to maintain the al
n. thorty of the Constitution and
ed preserve the integrity of the Union
y, and Congress more than once reiter
ms ted thissolemn declaration, and addc
ng the assurance that, whenever this o
I'm iect should be attained the war shou
cease, and all the States should reta
their equal rights and dignity unir
us paired. 1t is only since the war clio
nd cd that other rights have been assert'
we on behalf of one department Of Il
IN General Government.
de- ASSERTIONS OF CONGRESS.
nd 1t has been proclaimed by Congre
'ar that, in addition TO the powers co
ate ferred upon it by the Constitutio
the the Federal Government may no
be- claim over the States, the territo
in and tho people involved in the inst
not rection, the right OF war, the rights
dg- conquest and of confscation, the rig
asst TO abrogate all existing governmen
tits institutions and laws, and to subjC
4 Il 90 af.I.