Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-12

feet union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, promote the general welfare, pro-
vide for the common defense and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our
posterity." These great ends have been at
tanned heretofore, and will be again by faith
full obedience to it, but they are certain to be
lost if we treat with disregard its sacred obli-
cations.
1t was to punish the gross crime of defy.
ing the Constitution, and to vindicate It's SUI
preme authority, that we carried on a bloody
war of four years duration. Shall VIC now
acknowledge that we sacrificed million of
lives and expended billions of treasure to en-
force a Constitution which is not worthy of
respect and preservation?
Those who advocated the right of secession
alleged in their own justification that we had
no regard Tor law, and that their rights of pro-
perty, life, and liberty, would not be safe uu-
der the Constitution, as administered by u.s.
If we now verify their assertion. we prove
that they were in truth and in TACT fighting
for their liberty, and instead of branding their
leaders with the. .dishonoring name Of traitors
against righteous and legal Government,
we elevate them in history to the rank Of
self:sacrifcing patriots, consecrate them to
the admiration of the world, and place then,
BY the side of Washington, Hampden, and
Sydney. No, let US leave them to the in
fanny they Deserve punish them US they should
be punished, according to law, and take upon
ourselves no share OF the odium which they
should bare alone
1t is part of our public history, which
can never be forgotten, that both Houses Of
Congress, in July. 1861, declared in the form
OF solemn resolution that the war was and
should be carried on for no purpose of sub
JuSation, but solely to enforce the Constitu.
ton and laws and that when this was Weld.
cd by the parties in rebellion the contest
should cease, with the constitutional rights of
the States unimpairod. This resolution was
adopted and sent forth to the world uuaui.
mOusly by the Senate and with only two dis.
senting voices in the House. 1t was accented
by the friends Of the Union in the South. as
well as in the North. as expressing honestly
and truly the object of the war On the
falti OF 1t many thousands Of persons in both
sections gave their lives and their fortunes to
the cause 10 rcpudiate it now by refusing
to the States and to the individuals within
them the rights which the Constitution and
the laws of the Union would secure to them.
IS breach OF our rIightcd honor for which |
can imagine no excuse, and to which call
not voluntarily become party.
The evils which spring from the unsettled
state OF our Government will be acknowledged
by all. Commercial intercourse is imueded
capital Is IN constant peril public securities
huctuated ia value. peace itself is not secure
and the sense of moral and political Cutv *
unimpaired. To avert these cllamities from
our country, it is imperativey required that
we should lmmc diately decide upon some
course OF administration which can be stead
tastly adhered to. am thoroughly convinced
tnat any settlement, or compromise, or plan
oil action which is inconsistent with the prin
ciDipS Of tho IruSti.r,;,,,
unavalin@, nat mischievous that it will but
multiply the present evils, instead of rcmov.
ing them. The Constitution in its whole in
tcSrIty anu vigoT, throughout the length and
breadth of the land, is the best of all COM
promises. Besides, our duty does not, in my
Judgment, leave us choice between that and
any other. believe that it contains the re-
mcdy that is so much needed. and that if the
coordinate branches Of the Government
would unite upon its provisions, they would
be found broad enough aud strong enough to
sustain in time OF peace the nation which they
bore safely through the ordeal Of protrac-
ted civil war;
Among the most sacred guarantees of flat
Instrument are those which declare that
leach State shall have at least one Reprcscn- |
tatlve, and that "nO State, without its cons
sent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in
the Senate" Each House is made tho |
Judge OF the elections, returns, and qualifi-
cations OF its own members" and NAV, with
the concurrence of wOthirds; cxpel mem
ber" Thus as heretofore urged. sin the
admission Of Senators and Representatives
from any and all Of the States, there can he
no just ground Of apprehension that persons
who arc dIsloyal will be clothed with the
powers OF Legislation ; for this could not hap
pen Wien the Constitution and the laws are
enforced by vigilant and faithful Congress"
wv hen Senator or Representative presents |
his certificate OF election, he may at once be
admitted or rejected ; or, should there be any
question as to his eligibility, his credentials
may be referred for investigation to the an !
proPr'ate committee. If admitted to Il seat.
it must he upon evidence satisfactory to the
House OF which he thus becomes a member. !
that he possesses the requisite constitutional
and legal qualifications. if refused admis-
sion as member for want of due al!eniance
to the Government. and returned to his CON
stltuents, they are admonished that none but
persons loyal to the United States viii! be al.
lowed Il voice i'll the Legislative Councils of
the nation. and the political power and moral
influence ot Congress aie thus effectively ex
ericd III the Interests of loyalty to the Gov
ernment and fidelity to the Union" And Is
1t not far better that the work OF restoration
should be accomplished by simple compliance
with the plain requirements of tho Constifu-
tion thnn by a recourse to measures which in
effect destroy the States. and threaten the
subversion Of the General Government All
that is necessary to settle this simple. but i'm.
portant, question. without further agitation
or delay, is a willingness on the part OF ali to
sustain the Constitution and carry its nro
visions into practical operation Ifto-morrow
either branch of Congress would declare
that, upon the presentation of their creden