The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-21

IL as Jnes unreasonable right OF the
peopie on the United States to make such
I ehanges in the Constitution as they, upon
! due 'dehberation, may deem expedient.
4 But we insist that they shall be made in
1 the mode which the Constitution itself
points out, in conformity with tho letter
and the spirit Of that instrument. and with
the principles Of self-govornment and
equal rights which lie at the basis ofyour
republican institutions. We DENY the
r1gnt OF Congress to make those changes
IN the fundamental law without the con-
currence OF three-fourths Of all the States
including especially those to be most Sc
rlously affected by them, or to impose
| them upon States or people as Conditions
OF representation, or OF admission Co any
OF the rights, duties or obligations which
belong, under the Constitution, to all the
States alike. And with still greater en-
phasis do we deny tho right Of any portion
| or the States, excluding the rest of the
states from any share in their councils,
| TO propose or sanction changes in the Con-
stltutlon which arc to affect permanently
their political relations, and control or
cocrcc the legitimate action Of the several
members OF the common Union. Such an
exercise OF power is simply q usurpation-
Just as unwarrantable when exercised. by
Northern States as it would be if exercised
oy southern, and not to be fortified or nal
mated by anything in the past history
e!tner OF those by whom it is attempted, or
OF those upon whose rights and liberties
It Is to take effect. 1t finds no warrant III
the Constitution; it is at war with the finn
damental principles of our form of Govern
ment. II tolerated in one instance it be-
comes the precedent for future invasions
OF liberty and constitutional rights, de-
pendent solely upon tho will OF the party
IN possession OF power, and thus leads. by
dlrect sequence, to the most fatal and in
t0ieraDle or all tyrannies-thc TYRANNY OF
shifting and irresponsible factions. 1t ia
against this, the most formidable Of all the
dangers which menace the stability of a
tree Government, that tho Constitution of
the United States was intended most care
1uily to provide. We demand n strict and
stcauiaSt adherence to lts provisions. Iu
tins, and III this alone, can we find lasis
of permanent union and peace.
4. But it is alleged, in justification OF the
usurpatlOn which we condemn that The.
equation Of the Southern States and
people ls not such as renders safe their
te-adnissiCn to q share i'll til. Government
o1 the country; that they are still disloyal
III sentiment and purpose, anu that neitn ncr
the honor, the credit, nor the interest of
the nation would be safe if they were re-
aomlt'ed to share in its councils. We
might reply to this First, that we have no
rlSht fof such reasons to deny to any
Portlon CT the States or people rights cz-
presslv conferred upon them bv he Con-
stltution Of the United States Second,
that so long as their acts are those of low
atty, so long as they conform III all their
pubic conduct to the requirements of the
Constitutlon and laws, we have 40 right to
exact from them conformity in their sen,i-
mcnts and opinions to our own. Third
That we have no right to dlstruet the pur-
pose OF the ability of the pcupi. of the
Cnion to protect and defend, ualcr all
contingencies and by whatever mcans may
be required. its honor and its welfare
These would, in cur Judgment, be full
and conclusive answers to the plea thus
advanre1 t"r tho exclusion Of theso States
tT"'i. the Union. Bat we SLY further, that
th!s plea rests upon o complete mis.Dpre-
hcnslon OF an unjuat pervcrsion of exist
ing facts. We do not hesitate to affirm
that there Is no section u; the country
wherc the Constitution ard law. Of t!l
United States find moro PROMPT and en-
tire obedience than in those States and
among those people who were lately in
arms against them, or where there il less
purpose or danger of any future attempt
TO overthrow Their art!.olity.
II would Srcm to be both natural and
inevitable that. in State. or scctious so
recently swept by Tie ~hirlwind Of war,
where all th" ordinary modes and methods
of orsaa!ze,i industry have D,.": broken
up, and t3c soi.tl., and influences tha;
guarantee social order have been dc
stroyed, where thousands and tens .f,hou
sands of turbulent spirits !::.:r been sud
dei!lv looscd from the dI-c:i,i.u" If war,
and thrown. without resources OF restraint
upon Il di>vrsann-d and chaotic society,
added to tho overthrow of ambition and
hope, scenes of violence ahm:iI defy, for a
time, the imperfect discipline of law, and
cNcltc anew thc fears aud for bo,iinSs Of
the patriotic and wcl!-dispoee,!. Il il M
questlonablv truo that local disturbances
ot TINS kI"'i. accompanied by more or less
OF violence. do stu oG c"- !..,. .!"- are
confined entirely to the cities and larger
towns of the Southern States, where diff
tcrcnt races and interests arr brought
most closely III contact, ant, where pas
"i"ns ana rcarntrcnt- are aiwav, most
easily fed and tanned INTO outbreak And
even there they are quite as much the fruit
OF untlMclv and hurtful political agita ton
az of any hostility on the part of the pco-
ole to tic authority Of the National Go
vcrnment
But til" concurrent testimony Of those
best acquainted with the condition of So
clctv and the state OF public scrtmrnt IN
the South, including that OF its rrprc-,.u-
tatlvcs III tins Convention, establishes l:.c
tact that the great mass of TIE Sua;h,.u
people accept, with as full and sincere. sub
MISSION as do the people Of the ":hcr
states, the r"-cstabisheu supremacy of the
natl"na! authority, and are prepared, IA
the most loyal spirit. and with i Icai
pulckcnUi alike by thcr interest and their
pride. to cooperate with other states and
sections III Whatever may be necessary to
defend the rights, maintain the honor and
promote the welfare OF olI. common r,t,:-
try.
History affords no instance where a pco-
p!" 80 powerful N numbers, IN resources
and in public spirit, after war 50 long in
its duration, so d, .tructive in it's progress.
and 50 adverse il .ts issue, have accepted
Hgit@t an! It's cu:IscQucncNs WIKI 80 much