The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-31

to wars waged between alien and indie
pendent nations, and can have no place
or force, IN this regard, in war wagcd
| by Government to suppress an insur-
rectioH Of its own people, upon its own
soil, against IFS authority. If we had
carried on successful war against any
foreign nation, we might thereby have
acquired possession and jurisdiction Of
their soil with the right to inforco our
laws upon their people and To impose
upon lhem such laws and such obliga-
tions az we might choose But we had
before the var complete Jurisdiction
over the soil Of the Southern Statos,
limited only by our own Constitution.
Our laws were the only National laws
in force upon it. The Government Of
the United States was the only Govern
ment through which those States and
their people had relations with foreign
nations, and It's flag was the only flag
! by which they were recognized or
known anywhere on the face of the
earth. In all these respects. and in
all other respects involving national
interests and rights, our possession
was perfect and complete. It did not
need TO he acquired, but only 60 be
maintained; and victorious wara9ainst
thc rebellion could do nothing moro
than maintain it. 1t could only vindi-
cate and rc-eatablish the disputed su
premGcy Of the constitution 1t could
neither enlarge nor diminish the au-
thority which that constitution confcrs
upon the Government by which II was
achieved. Such an enlargement or
labridgcment Of constitutional power
can be effected only by amendment Of
the constitution itself and such amend.
ment can be made only in the modes
which the constitution itsclf fprcscribos
The claim that the suppression Of 4en
instruction against the Government
gives additional authority and power
20 that Government, especially that IL
enlarges the jurisdiction of Congress,
and gives that body the right to exclude
States from representation in the Ma
tional councils, without which the'na-
tion itself can have no authority and
no existence seems to us ut variance
alike with the principles of the consl-
tuition and with tho public safety.
S way TO Amend the COnstitutiOn.
Third--But il is alleged that in ccr-
tain particulars the constitution of the
q United States iaila TO secure the abso.
s lutte justice and impartial equality
, which the principles of our Govern
\ mcnt require; that il was in this re
C spect the result Of compromise anC
D concessions, 90 which, however neces
+ sary when the constitution was formed
= we are no longer compelled TO submit
7 and thai now, having the power
=, through successful war and jusf war
f rant, for its exercise in hohostilo con.
duct OF the insurgent section, the ac-
Z tual Government Of the United States
may impose its own conditions, and
make the constitution conform in al
its provisions TO its own ideas Of equal
= ity and the rights Of man. Congress
at it's last session, proposed amend
, ments 10 the constitution, enlarging in
? some very important particulars the
authority of the General Goverement
over that Of the several States, and re
duCing, by Indirect disfranchisement,
the representative power of the States
, in which slavery formerly existed and
, it is claimed that these amendments
t may be made valid rs parts Of the ori-
, ginal constitution without the concur
renee Of the States TO be most seriously
affected by them, or may be imposed
upon those States by three-fourths of
the remaining States, as conditions OF
their readmission to representation in
Congress and in the Electoral College
FuIl Concurrence of the states
Requisite.
1t is the nnquestionablc right of the
people Of the United States to make
such changes in the constitution rs they
upon due deliberation, may deem ex.
Tcdient. But we insits that they shall
,, be made in the node which the consti-
tuition itself points out-in conformity
with the letter and the spirit Of that
instrument, and with the pli2oiple OF
f-goyernment and Of equal rights,
which lie at the basis of our republican
institutions. We dcny the right of
Congress TO make these changes in the
fundamental law without the concur
renee Of three-fourths of all tho States,
including especially those TO be most
seriously affected by them; or to i'm
pose them upon States or people, as
conditions of representation, or admis.
sion to any Of the rights, duties or OBJ
legations which belong, under the con-
stituton, to all the States alike. And
with still greater emphasis do we deny
the right Of any portion Of tho States
excluding the rest of the States from
any share in their councils, to propose
or sanction changes in the constitution
which are to effect permanently then
political relations, and control or coerce
tho legitimate action Of the several
members Of the common Union. Such
IN exercise of power is simplyan usm-