The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-09-22
The Radical Address-A Complete
Answer.


A party of men styling themselves the
National Republican Committee" or by
some other name of like radical import,
have recently issued an Address which
was published few days ago. with
great flourish, in the radical organ In
this city, the name of A. w, CAMPBELL
being conspicuous in the list of members
of the committee. The address consisted
mainly of hash of the stale and oft
exploded arguments of the Congressional
party, and has probably been read by few
and endorsed by less of the citizens Of
West Virginia. There is one point
in the address which is, perhaps
worthy of comment, and when that is
examined the reasoning of the whole
document falls to the ground. The point
we allude to is that in relation to the
power of Congress over the question of
the restoration of the Southern States to
their former relations in the Federal
Union. The answer made by the New
York World to this portion of the address,
the keystone of the whole structure, is
40 eomplata and satisfactnry th~tF
publish it below in lieu of any remarks
of our own. The point stated in the ad-
dress, and the Worlds reply are as fol-
lows:
What, then, is the ground of complaint
against Congress?
Is it charged that the action of the two
houses was tardy and hesitating9 Con-
slider how momentous were the questions
involved, the issues depending. Consider
how novel and extraordinary was the
situation. Consider hoo utterly silent and
blank is the Federal Constitution touching
the treatment of insurgent States, whether
during their fragrant hostility to The Union
or after their discontinue. Consider with
how many embarassments and dlfficui.
| ties the problem is beset, and you Will
NOT wonder that months were required
,, to devise, perfect, and pass, by two
thirds vote in either House, a just and
safe plan of reconstruction.
THE statement which we have put in
italics is remarkable, not on the score 10
its truth-for its truth cannot be success
fully ,controverted-bu remarkable on
account of the source from which 1t, at
this late day, emapates 1t is precisely
the doctrine on that subject, OF Presi-
dent BUCHANAN'S last annual message;
precisely the point of that par of the
message against which the whole
Republican press of that day raised
such resound!ng chorus ~ oblo-
guy The Constitution being lrterIg
silent and blank in regard 20 the
treatment of insmgent States IN. B.
1t is not by any means silent
and blank IL regard I" lie treatment of
ius,riectioos.) Bat as, bg the .rmal,
tie "ticldl confession Al The Republican
party, the Constitution grants u" power
50 deal with insurgeut States, It follows
thai the assumption by Congress 10 deal
with them is sheer usurpation. The
Constitution confers upon Congress Ger
tain powers which are carefully enumer
a,ed, that of dealing with insurgent
! States Doing couiessedly not among them,
! and Is then subjoins the following sup.
elementary clause, which is thu sole
grant of implied powers: TO m Ike Ill
laws which shall be necessary ana prop.
or for carryiEg into execution The FORE
GOING powers, and ali other powers vest
ed By THIS CONSTITUTION n the gnvern-
u.eut If the .Uuited States. or ANY de-
uartment or officer thereof Now as
the Constitution 10 utterly silent ard
blank as to the mode Of dealing
with insurgen5 States, its clearly fellows
that Con gfess has no authority to act on
shat subject at all The nail thus driven
is clinched by the following, which is the
tenth amendment. The powers not
delegated to the United States by this
Constitution, kor prohibited by 1t to
the States, are reserved to the States res.
pectively OF TO the people. "
Powers about which the Constitution
is utterly silent and blank" are surely
not delegated; and such powers cannot
DO exeicised by Congress without plain
and bold usurpation. The power 10 re-
construct State government, after they
have been broken down by insurrection,
is reserved, then, to the people Of those
States; and the moment such govern
ments, being republican ii form, are re-
established, the Constitution itself de.
fines their rights e.
The characteristic difference bet tween
the government established by the Con-
stitution and the Confederation which