The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-08-21

nor diminish the authority which that Con
Stitution confers upon the Government, by |
it which it was achieved Such an enlarge
ment or abridgement of constitutional pow
or can be effected only by the amendment OF
the Constitution itself; and such amend
rnpnt can be made only in the modes which
the Constitution itself prescTibes-
The claim that the suppression OF an m
surrection against the Government gives al
ditional authority and power TO that gov
ernment- especially that it enlarges the jul
risdiction of Congress, and gives that body
the right to exclude States from representa-
tion in the national councils without which
the nation itself can have no authority and
no existence, seems to us at variance ankle
with the principles OF the constitution ana
with the public safety.
Third But it is alleged that in certain
particulars the Constitution of the United
States fails to secure the absolute justice and
imnartial equality which the principles of
our Government require; that 1t was, ia
this respect, the result of the compromises
and concessions, TO which, however necessa-
~ when the Constitution was formed, we
are no longer compelled to submit; and that
now, having the power through successful
war. and lust warrant for its exercise in the
hostile conduct of the insurgent section, the
actual Government of the United States
may impose its own conditions, and make
the Constitution conform In all Its proVls-
TO It's OWN 1uElS VI hAAA bhN
rights of man. Congress, ut its last session,
proposed amendments to the Constitution,
enlarging in some very important particu-
lars the authority of the General Govern
ment over that of the several States, and
reducing by indirect disfranchlSement the
representative power OF the states IN which
slavery formerly existed; and 1t is claimed
that these amendments may be voted as
parts of the original Constitution without
the concurrence of the States to be most
seriously affected by them, or may be I'M
| posed upon those States by three fourths of
| the remaining States, as conditions of their
re-admission to representation in Congress
and in the Electoral College.
/ 1t is the unquestiouable right of the peo-
pie of the United States to make such chan.
! ges in the Constitution as they, upon due
| deliberation, may deem eXpedient but we
insist that they shall be made in the mode
| which the Constitution itself points ont in
conformity with the letter and spirit of that
instrument and with the principles of self
government and of equal rights, which liz
| at the basis of our republican institutions.
We deny the right of Congress to make these
changes in the fundamental law without the
| concurrence of three fourths of all the States
including especially those to be seriously
| affected by them, or to impose them upon
States or people conditions of representa-
ton, or obligation which belong, under the
with still greater emphasis do we deny the
right of any portion of the States from any
share in their councils, to propose or sanction
changes in the Constitution which are tC
affect permanently their political relations
and control or cOerce the legitimate action
of the several members of the common
Union. Such an exercise of power is simply
an usurpation, just as warIantable when eX
ercised by Southern States, and not to bt
fortified or palliated by anything in the past
history either of those by whom it is attemp
ted, or of those upon whose rights and lib
| critics il is to take effect. 1t finds no war
rant in the Constitution. 1t is at war will
the fundamental principles of our form o
government. If tolerated in one instance
it becomes the precedent for future invasiOn
ofliberty and constitutional right, Deepen
dent selely on the will ofthe party in power
| and thus leads, by direct and necessary Sc
quence, to the most intolerable and fatal o
all tyrannies-the tyranny of shifting, IRE
sponsible factions 1t is against this, TIN
most formidable of all dangers which men
ace the stability of free government, thai
the Constitution of the United States wa
intended most carefully to provide. w
demand strict adherence to its provisions
In this, and this alone, can be found bash
of permanent union and peace.
F0u'th-But it is alleged, in justification
t of the usurpation which we condemn, tina
the condition of the Southern States ant
people is not such as renders safe their Re
admission to a share in the Government o
the country; that they are still dislOyal II
sentiment and purpose, and that neither tn
honor, the credit, nor interest of the natiol
would he safe, were they admitted to tn
councils of the nation.
We reply to this, First, That we have III
right, for such reasons, to deny to any POI
ton of the States or people any right con
| 81,
United States Second, that so long as thel
acts are those of loyalty -sn lone. as tbFE son
quirements of the Constitution and laws W,
have no right to distrust Ike purposes or tn,
ability of the people of the Union to protec
and defend, under all contingencies, and by
whatever means may be required its homo
and its welfare.
These would, in our Judgment, he full anC
conclusive answers to the plea thus advanced
for the exclusion of these States from tn,
Union; but we say. further, that this pie;
rests on complete misrepresentation or NJ
unjust perversion of existing facts. We dc
not hesitate to affirm that there is no section
of the country where the Constitution anC
laws of the United States find more entire
or prompt obedience than among those PEG
pie who were lately in arms against them
or where there is less purpose or danger OF
any further attempt to overthrow their au
authority. 1t would seem to be more natu
raj and inevitable that in States so recently
| swept by the whirlwind of war where all
l-Ordinary modes of organized industry have
been broken up, and the bonds and indu
ences that guarantee social order have been
destroyed: where thousands and tens OF
| thousands of turbulent spirits have been sud
! denly released from the discipline of war and
| thrown without resources or restraint upon a
disorganiZed and chaotic society, and where
! the keen sense of defeat is united to the over
J L.
| lenee should defy for a time the imperfect dis
! cipline of law, and excite anew the fears and
fOrebOdings ofthe patriotic and well disposed.
| 1t is unquestionably true that local disturb
! ances of this kind, accompanied by more
or less violence do occur; but they are
confined to the large cities of the South,
where different races and interests are most
closely in contact, and where passions and
reSentmentS are most easily fed and famed
into outbreak and even there they are quite
as much the fruit of untimely and hurtful
political agitation as of any hostility on the
part of the people to the National Govern
ment, But the concurrent testimony of
those best acquainted with the condition of
society and state of public sentiment in the
South, including its representation in this
convention, establishes the fact that the great
mass of the Southern people accept, with as
tull and sincere submission do the other
States, the re-established supremacy of the
National authority, and are prepared, i'll the
most loyal spirit, aud with zeal quickened
alike by their interest and their pride, to CO.
operate with other States and sections in
whatever may be be necessary to maintain
the right, promote the welfare, and sustain
the honor OF our common country. History
presents no instance when people so pow
erful in numbers in resources, and in public
spirit, after war so long in its Duration so
destructive i'll its progress, and so adverse in
r. hn haN N41.l .l.,Aszr I
quences with so much of good faith as has
marked the conduct of the people lately in
lnsurrectIon against the u. States. Beyond
all question this has been mainly due to the |
wise generosity with which their inforced
surrender was accepted by the President of
the United States, and the Generals in i'm |
mediate command, and the liberal measures |
which were afterward taken to restore order |
and law to the States where be-
fore all had been overthrown No steps /
could have been better calculated to win the |
respect, revive the patriotism, and secure
the permanent support of the peOnle of tba