The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-08-22
TIE johnson Party.

been organized by he late Philadelphia
Convention. In their declaration Of prin-
ciples, they first express gratitude for The
return Of peace. In their second article,
they declare the Constitution has lot been
changed by the war, and that " il has pre-
served lie Union. with the equal rights.
dignity am authority u iLsstates, PEREZ
ana unimpaired." To Judge Of what Is
meant bv this declaration we give tho tinl
resolution entire.
D. The Constitution oftLe Uussd States
and the laws passed ln pursuance thereof
are the supreme Jaw Of Tie lal1-dDythlnE
in the Constitution OF laws OF any state %
the contrary Notwithstanding Al tie
powers lot conferred by the Constitution
upon the General Government. nor rrohi1-
tied by o tOfhe states, aTe TeserVed 10 Tie
states Or - Tie people thereof anil linJr-
Tie rights thus reserved 10 the states is tie
right 20 prescribe qualifications i0r tie
elective franchise therein, which r.-At Con
gress canuct Interfere with No State orr
convention 0f states has the right 10 with
draw from thc mon. Orto exclude through
their action ID Congress " otherwise, ny
State or states from the Union. The uLiOu
Of these states is perpetual
This declaration i O simple denial Of tie
right OF secession when stripped Of useless
verbage ard does not say whether the
war for the preservation OF the Union, was
a success or a failure. Il is also a partial
recognition Of state rights a. advocated
BY Calhoun in former days, and believed in
BY Gov. Orr and Alexander II. Stephens
The whole question Of the relative rights
and authority ofthe States and the Govern
men, Is leit unsettled. and the right of that
Government 70 suppress a rebellion initia-
ted and supported by State authority, is
mnotced, and not a word is said OF the
legality u measures taken to suppress lie
rebellion, OF IF its atrOcious character
Why should they wound the sensibllties OF
Dick Taylor, Of the guerrilla Moseby, or at
tack the leaders Of that rebellion low con-
fding in the sympathy OF their Northern
brethren
The third declaration, which assumes that
neither Congress or the Government have
any authority or power to deny the right
to any State Of representation in Congress,
or to Withhold il from being enjoyed by the
people of such State under the power con-
ierred by the Constitution. is where Tie
position taken by Congress IS condemned,
and The policy Of Johnson approved. True,
these States for five years, by their yOiGn-
tary withdrawal from the Union, had re-
manned unrepresented, and even 10y the
leaders Of this new party, AMI ly Johnson
himself, were admitted 10 he without gov
eminent, and it was considered necessary
to establish new republican forms of gov
eminent, in order that they might assume
their relations as States in the Union. Not
one OF these States in 1855 had the right 10
representation in Congress, ard there was
no government but TIA, upheld by military
power. In obedience 10 the orders Of the
President. and by his usurpation OF power
not conferred upon him 10y the COnsItu-
ton, conventions were held and cOnsttu-
tons were organized, none Of which were
submitted 70 the people FOR approval, a
fundamental principle ofTepub.can govern
ment Under Constitutions and state gov
crDments upheld only by military force. and
thus organized, Senator'S and Representa-
tlves from these rebel states knock al the
door of the Capitol and demand almitlance.
This declaration Of the Philadelphia Con-
vention suStains these demands and IL
uoros the right OF Congress as the le.isla-
live bOdy Oh lie nation, under The powers
belonging only TO that body by Tie Consti
tuuon. TO determine whether these state
Constitutions and governments are legally
and properly organized; whether these
new states are such by the consent Of tLeI
people; ard whether, II admitted - they
now exist, such admission would prove
hostile TO the peace and prosperity Of the
Union. Congress demands the evidence oil
LOYALTY from these states, and Tennessee
alone has responded 10 the demand, and
she has been admitted because she has fr-
nished the proof that she loves the Union.
The other States have the same right and
privilege as Tennessee, and tie Philadel-
phia Convention says to these states, resist
the demand, stand by the President, and
ignore and defy Congress in The exercise OF
its constitutional power.
The undoubted intention OF Blair Cow
an. Doonttle, Randall and other originators
Of tie new party, was to form il from the
Office holding, and conservative element Of
tie North. and the men Of the South who
had maintained Il semi-loyal position dug
inc the rebellion; but having thrown open
the doors, they were overwhelmed 3y Tie
leaders Of tie Gisioyai CopleIleals Of Tie
North, and Tie leading rebels oi TIE South.
who together constituted iour-l-tls Of Tie
entire convention. A .ew men ike Gen.
Dix, Il. j. Raymond, DooA,,.e, Blair, Ran
dan. and some generals and brave soldiers
OF our armies, who We're willing to sell
themselves tor a mess Of pottage, gave the
assemblage al air OF responsibility. In