Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1866-08-15


distinct understanding of the presen
condition of our countryside state of it
organic law as settled by recent events
and a consideration of the errors and ir
regularities by which its action is dis
turbed, and a fair presentation Of thes
matters to the public without mixtur'
of the passion or prejudice of party, tha
they may apply the correction. This is
as understand it, the object Of the pro
posed Convention. To this object I an
desirous to lend my feeble aid, as ont
among the thousands whose aggregate
Judgment make up public opinion.
A large proportion of the leading mer
of the South have, for more than thirty
years past, been taught in the school oI
disunion, reared up and educated in the
political faith that allegiance to the State
is paramount to allegiance to the Union
and that citizen of the State may, al
the command of his State, lawfully bea1
arms and wage war against the United
States, and, as a corollary, against any
one or more of the sister States.
This not new doctrine; it is the same
which under forms of government dis
tracted Europe for more than 600 years,
made every barony and castle generally
robbers stronghold, and the whole
countrya military encampment.
Those holding the physical force in
eleven States in 1861, declared in con-
vention their secession from the Union
expelled its officers and repudiated its
laws, and stood prepared to maintain as
far as they might by force of arms, dis
tinct and independent nationalIties, con-
federated for the purpose Of attack or de-
fense against the Union as common
enemy. On the other hand, we asserted
absolute integrity of the Union that no
State could secede from or cease to be an
integral part of the Union; that its laws
constitutionally enacted, were Of binding
force in all the States and territories,
and that to levy war or oppose armed re-
sistance to the execution of the laws of
the Union, was treason even though such
resistance were in obedience to law Of
State and to the mandate Of its authority.
And it is this on which the issue was
taken between the Union and those hold
ing the physical power IN the eleven Sc
ceding States A civil war vas the con
sequence, great in its magnitude. great
in its results. The Supremacy Of the
Union has been maintained Illegal
and revolutionary declarations of seces-
sion have been annulled, together with
the ordinances in their support and main
teaance, and the several States, so far as
their official acts can effect that object,
resumed each its place as members of the
Union and acknowledged the supremacy
of its laws.
We have contended throughout the
contest that the seeded States were
States of the Union, and that the citizens
of those States, who in any way aided in
the revolt were guilty of treason. This
point is now yielded-it is ssettled and not
open to discussion. Your call invites
only those who hold The Union in every
case indissoEuble and perpetual, and it de-
clares that no delegate will take a seat in
the Convention "aoho does not Legally ac-
cept the National situation and cordially
indOrse" the great principle above an
nounced
This I most heartily approve. n
would not willingly meet in council or
Join in political action with those, ifsuch
there be, who would again open that
question, the agitation of which has in
aicted such untold misery upon the
I assume, therefore, that the laws of
The Union enacted pursuant to the Con-
are paramount, neither weakened |
nor affected by the laws of the State
hat no State can secede from the Union,
either temporarily or permanently-that
he ordinances of secession, though bear
he names of the States, were the acts of
men, who temporarily
lsurped the power-that during the
whole contest, from its beginning to its
fose, each and al! the States, notwith-
landing their ordinances of secession,
7ere States of the Union, and in the
Union, and at the close of the contest
he usurped power was withdrawn and
he supremacy ofthe Union acknowledged
" the authorities Of the States.
1t follows as necessary consequence
hat even in the heat and violence of the
ebellion, the States in which rebel vio- {
ence most prevailed were each and all Of
hem as States entitled to their represen7R 4
alton in the two Houses of Congress
uch was clearly the understanding of s
be statesmen who then ruled the stormy
rene. Tennessee was represented after {
be ordinance of secession in that State {
as passed, and I know it was the ex- ,
ressed wish of President Lincoln that '
the Senator from Arkansas, s
hose term was not expired, and who
ad taken no part in the rebellion, should
ome to Washington and resume his seat
/ the Senate. !
The difficulty existed not in the right
f the State to be represented, but in the {
Ieans of electing and certifying Sena- f
,rs and representatives. With that !
ificulty the Houses of Congress had in S
le first instance nothing 10 do; but {
hen the State returned its Senators and q
lembers then it was the province of the c
70 Houses Of Congress each to examine 7
le credentials of the proposed member l
its own body. ascertain whether the S
embers of each were duly appointed
nd whether they personally conformed $
the requisites which each House had c
.tablished for its members. il
It cannot, therefore, be nationally con "
nded. that State in which the rebel a
m has been suppressed, the ordinance il
secession resoinded and annulled, and e
e power of the Union acknowledged,