The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-08-28


and in all other respects involving ma
tional interests and rights, our possess
sion was perfect and complete. 1t did
not need to be acquired, but only to
be maintained and victorious war
against the rebellion could do nothing
more than maintain it. 1t could only
vindicatc and rc-establish the disput-
ed supremacy of the Constitution. 1t
could neither enlarge or diminish the
authority which that Constitution
confcrs upon the enlargement or
abridgmcnt of constitutional power
can be effected only by amendment of
the Constitution itself, and such
amendment can he made only in the
modes which the Constitution itself
prescribes. The claim that the sup
preston of an insurrcction against the
Government gives additional authori-
ty and power to that Government, es-
pccially that it enlarges the jurisdic-
tion of Congress and gives that body
the right to exclude States from repre-
sentation in the national councils,
without which the nation itself can
have no authority and no existence,
seems to be at variance alike with our
principles of the Constitution and
with public safety.
Third: But it is alleged that in GER
tain particulars the Constitution of
the United States fails to secure that
absolute justice and impartial equali-
ty which the principles of our Govern
mcnt require that it was in these
respects the result of compromises and
concessions to which, however nccessa-
ry when the Constitution was formed,
we are no longer compelled to submit,
and that now having the power though
successful war and just warrant for its
exercise in the hostile conduct of the
menS of the United Strtes liay impose
it's own conditions, and make the Con-
stitution conform to all its provisions,
to its ideas of equality and the rights
of man. Congress at its last session
proposed amendments to the Constitu"
tion, enlarging in some very important
particulars the authority of the Gene
raj Government over that of the seve-
raj States, and reducing by indirect
disfranchisehent the representative
power of the States in which slavery
formerly existed and it is claimed
that these amendments may be made
valid as parts of the original Constitu
tion, without the concurrence of the
States to be most seriously affected by
them, or may be imposed upon those
States by three-fourths of the remain.
ing States, as conditions of thesr read
mission to representation in Congress
and in the Electoral College.
1t is the unquestionable right of the
people of the United States to make
such changes in the Constitution as
they, upon due delibcration, may
deem expedient. But we insist that
they shall be made in the mode which
the Constitution itself points out--in
conformity with the letter and the
spirit of that instrument, and with the
principles of self-government and Of
equal rights which lie at the basis Of
our republican institutions. We deny
the right of Congress to make these
changes in the fundamental law, with
out the concurrence cf three-fourtts of
all the States, including especially
those to be most seriously affected by
them or to impose them upon States
or people, as conditions of represents
ton, or of admission to any bf tho
rights, duties or obligations which be-
long, under the Constitution,tf all tho
States alike. And with greatsr en-
pliasis do we deny the right! of any
portion of the States excluding the
rest of the States from anyshare in
their councils, to propose q sanction
changes in the Constitution whieh are
to affect permanently their political re-
lations and control, or coece the le-
gitimate action of the sevenl members
of the common Union. Sch an exer-
else of power Is simply anusurpation |;
Just as understandable whjn exercised
by Northern States as it would be if
L Il 90 k. L.