The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-02


ereign powers cannot exist within tn,
same Government. If sovereignty wa,
returned by the states. ii could not have
been impaired to the Federal authority
Opposite views as to the relative strength
| of these authorities have existed eve
| since. There was sufficient in tn
anomaly of the system to divide states
men and parties as to its nature: Up
| posing sectional differences on this ant
| other essential questions increased Will
time, and finally plunged the who'll
country into war. No one difference
caused the war. There was a combina
ton Of antagonisms, including those o
q social, commercial and partisan char
acter.
All of these questions were issues be
| tween the parties to the contest. An
appeal was taken to the highest of all
human tribunals, and decision has
been rendered from which there can be
no further appeal. We are concluded
by the result. 1t is true the Consiitu :
ton remains as it was, and it is also true
that, though the war power has ceased,
the war power is still invoked and the
South kept in state inconsistent with
peace and repugnant TO the Constitu-
ton. But l look upon this as but the
DeTlOu WHICH, IHttTteutb HDcLWCch WV
rendering Of final judgment and the
settlement of the case as to the precise
points which have been decided. 1t is
an interregnum, to be followed by such
measures as will adapt the fundamental
form of government to the new order OF
things, and incorporate into our system
the principles thus established by force
of arms. AS you well state, both State
sovereignty and slavery have been de-
termined against. For the former we
must hereafter have unity-fOr the latter,
freedom. Whether you and will 1t or
not, or whatever may be mems opinions
as to the true construction OF the Con-
stitution with reference to these two
great questions, it is folly to disguise
the fact that hereafter there can be no
such issues. The new Americanism
opens up before us, and common sense
demands that we should conform to it.
Now, what follows? State sovereignty
being dead, unity follows. The people
of the whole Union are one, and the
majority Is that one. This, you will
say, is consolidation; and SO it Is, but
not consolidation inconsistent with
free Government, nor with Republican
ism-nor does it imply that states, as
such, shall not continue North and
South with all needful Jurisdiction over
domestic rights. Slavery being dead,
freedom follows. This is one of the
difficulties now in the way of the COM
plete restoration of peace. There is "a
doubt in the minds of some as to the
points settled by the decision on this
question. 1t is held on one side that 1t
means something more than merely ex-
emption from physical bondage-that 1t
has been determined that all men shall
hereafter be free and equal, compre-
hending equality aud political and every
other right known to the law-that ali
appeal to arms to decide social issues il
the most radical of all measures, and we
should not be surprised if the victors
should seek to avail themselves of the
advantage gained to carry out their doc
trines to the extreme extent which the
opportunity affords.
/ note what you say as to the present
lamentable condition of the southern
people, and admit the force of your de-
scription Of their oppression and depri-
vatiOns. How could 1t be otherwise :?
The storm through which they have
just emerged may have disappeared, but
not its effects. The violence of that
hurricane has left its mark deep in the
recesses of the southern heart. Beside,
the very doubt which have referred TO,
as to the extent OF the application of the
principles settled by the war, produces
Irritation on one side and oppression on
the other. Until these are finally dis
posed of, much of this will continue.
Nor can executive, legislative, or Judi
cial action prevent Time and time
alone can restore the lost rights of which
you complain. But this time will be
very much curtailed by speedy real-
cation and appreciation of the funda-
mental change affected. m
The South has not lost any substantial
right by the war. 1t has gained much.
Its homogenity and unity with the peo-
pie 0f the whole Union have been Sc
cured. Sources of discomfort have been
removed, and the door opened forever
for the establishment of fraternal rela-
tions with other parts of the Union not
heretofore existing. She cannot be kept
down. Her teemlng soil; her climate
of rare adaptability to culture; her brave
and generous population; her peculiar
monopoly of an indispensable product,
with free institutions, and free inter.
course with all the world, she will spec
Oily recover not only her ancient pros
perity, but possess an additional advan-
tage which the new order of things will
hCCCSSaihJ pioholc'
/ am aware that there are positions
assumed and declarations made i'm this
letter which may render me liable to the
charge of inconsistency. If any thus
accuse, let them remember that no par
tizan associations nor opinions existing
before AMI during the war should con :
tinue when the whole aspect of public
affairs and the premises upon which
they were founded have been altogether
changed. 1 was opposed to the aboIi-
ton Of Slavery, because / believed. and
yet believe, that as it existed I'M the
southern states, it was q physical bles-
sing to the black race. / was opposed
to the war for the. reasons you SO truth
fully state, and because Thought the
Union could be maintained without
bloodshed-that the questions at issue
wer susceptible of amicable adjustment,
and because l saw that the South would
be vanquished and overpowered and re-
duced to a state of subjugated depen-
dence. This is now over. Slavery has
been abolished the war is ended. The
great questions which made issues be-
tween political parties have ceased. and
a new and entirely different order of
public affairs has lensued. Ny desire is
that We shall realize this change and con-
form to it. 1t is folly to fight over the
dead past when the tiue present and the
GREAT FUTURE opens SO brightly and
beautifully before US. l'ie
l want America to fill her mission.