The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-03-12
STATE ANNIHILATIoN HEREsy,

we nave steadily comDated tne neresyi
we fear unsuccessfully, put forth in 1862 by
Mr.. THADDEus STEVENS, that any Of the
States whose inhabitants were then rebelling
against the Government thereby destroyed
themselves or otherwise got out Of the Union.
We predicted then that when that heresy
should become fully understood (if it should
prevail in the legislation Of Congress) its
evil consequences would appal the American
people, produce reaction Of public senti-
ment and ultimately overthrow the Repub-
lican party. But all our notes Of warning
were unheeded, and although q majority Of
Senators have told US from time to time that
they did not agree TO Mr.. STEVENS theory
upon this subject they have allowed them
selves to drift along in his wake until-in the
military occupation bill passed, and the con-
iscation bill to be passed, If not passed
they have finally got, we greatly fear, fully
committed to it. This is really so apparent
now that it would be presumptuous, If not
absurd, to denyit. We therefore assume the
fact to be that both Houses Of Congress are
committing themselves, il they are not al
ready substantially committed, to the heresy,
as we must still style it, that the unrepre-
sented States SO far destroyed themselves by
tue teoelion as 10 nave got out Oh 'nc Paie
oil the American Union.
IL VIII De recoiiec'ea tna' mr. oh'A ~,
alleged in his place in Congress, since the
war that the oni'ed o'a'es were' " I'LL iesa'
intents and purposes, as much "a conquer
ing power OIL tne 0onieuera'e o'a'es US
they would have been IL they haa conquered
the repuohc Oh Mexico; anu 'ha' inc peopie
tnereoi Possesseu no rlgnts eAeep. suen as
the conqueror snouiu' III us sovereign PieaS-
ure, concede' In other WORDS mat tney lay
entlrely NJ the mercy oil the eonqueror' we
are not unmindiul that other leading radicals
nave employed more quahneu language 10
express their VIEWS Out IL went 10 tne same
purpose in substance and ehect Mr. B1NG-
HAM and others have comoated the idea, 1t is
true, but the leading arguments Tor the mill
tary occupation bill were predicated upon
the theory previously advanced Dy MI
srEvENs-the theory OF dissolved Union
and conquest OF the rebel States; and the
coniscation bill now proposed is founded in
the same idea.
Not0, u thts theory rs to prevail, zoe beg
Leave to ask grave Senators ho'0 they erpect
TO escape the Mt'mdte payment Or the reoe1
debt! Hon. III the rebels got out from
the egls oil the Federal Government, does II
not follow from well-settled principles OF In
ternational law that they were competent 10
establish de Jddo government oil thelr
own Most certainly II does, IL the oid III
terPretatons oil that law are 10 De accepted
linen DID they not estapllsh u de Jdcto gov
eminent oil their ownt MOST certainty they
did. Are not de Jdco governments author'
Did not the Richmond estaoiisnneh' CON
tract immense Haplilties NJ nome ana IN
EUROPE Everybody KNOWS IL uiu' ana is
not Us zen settieu Us tne autnentici'y oi
the Dioie 'n"' tne power WHICH con9uefS
suen government Is cnargeu WIN It's hscai
liabilities livery souhu ia"Ser must say
So unless something Gun pe louhu III Inc case
10 take II out oi 'he range u 'ne hheAoF"O'e
logic vi 'nose Prheipies' ,..
pu' ~ nus Desn euSse9.eu sDAS 'ai' pm
nus Dven su"iueu ~ nN'As VI. 'AI '.Del'
rePuaiase 'nose Goneueru'e ueu'S' "A very
n'',e iene's'On' no"''eI' "n' ono" 'n"' AZ,
puuiu'ion u0,' NV ie-nv'' Nv. ." W., :.
IIAoli's' ~ ''"o' iOi 'u1 ueD:o -
EUROPE we must eA'enu Jul 'i'"c "'tVo'
Inc Atlantic LOT 'he dota ior resolving 'ni'
point lake the case OF Admirai WALLACE
and his associates VINO hoid miiiions Oh con
iederate pohas' as an example ihey ar
SUBJECTS Oh "rea' nritall' anu py 'ne LAW
oil Nauohs are entitied 10 cal upon linen
Government 10 project ana enforce me''
legal rights as against the onited states
suppose the BRUSH Government snail enter
tam their appear ana demand tne payment
OF those pohus On 'ne GROUND tha' tney were
createu Dy aeJdceo government ana issued
10 pri'iSh SUBJECTS, anu 'na' tle Cni'e0
9'u'eS merely occupies 'he PoSi'ioh Vi con
queror OIL that government what answer car
we make 10 the uethahu Is not obvious
that we can make no substantial answer
whatever II the STEVENS theory Is SOUND!
"a