New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-04


which does not belong to them unless those states arc
"a @ sontIe are component parts Of the Union
ne Constitution Is the supreme law for theA as u Us Io
Al the other states. They bound 70 0Dcy u, any 10
soar aud unquestiOnable, 10 enforce the COhsluu
hon upon them, implies the correlallNe ODls4lon r
lntees Without the Constitution We are nothing; i Gs
nS Ne may doubt the wisdom OF the law, may not
gpprOVo OF ITS provisions, but we cannot NlOttC ifs
because IL seems 10 cUufne our powers WlInt, M
individual, or class, or sectlonal mere I'D sacred
party predominaucej but Of dutyof heh @mo cannot
duty which all sworn to perform ~ Iocrity OF
support Constitution with the cheeIu c 70 Il M
thOse who love and believe IN ~ we n ndcr solemn
least the fidelity Of public servants t disregard
obligations and commands which they v one which re-
surs the states to be restored. IheIe ~ is ct ~
sheraton which, though bs q 22 a Of July 1901 Congress
declared. by an almost una shond be conducted
solely Tor lie purpose Of p,e,fSG'Fg era I SonStuoa
nantalung the supremacy VI t iao JIify eouatv and
hight of che States ~ individuals 5u la tIt NE
ssc,r,tio he personally binding on those VINO 0lheO ia
maLng H. any more than ud vidual mcmhers OF CONGRESS
personally bound TO pay puPJ vac, GCV s ac1 pnbe
official pledge OF the national honor ara cannot taI
upon what grounds thereludlaio OF 20 De I
hbe said that are not bound to Keep lalth WIN hees
Jet II DC remembered that Tins promise WIS h9 Uo ~
Rebels only. Thousands OF le men ~ ,i ~. ,, ,V a. iU
draw Ia our standard by It, and hundreds OF ulo9Sus ~
he North gave thtlr Ine VV The 6rst Great
Tied out. 10 was made on tho gay ava "0 Al, nSSjotic
battle OF the had been fought ana lost AZ paIIoC
snassurance and believed that without it the war would
end in disaster cause. Having given Una, asslI-
,uco i'm ho extremity of our peril the violation or now
~ the av Of onr power would be a rude rendering Of that
good faith which holds the moral world toge'nI Utf
eOuptry would cease 10 have any clam upon INC Vollh
aence 81 IL would make the war not OILY Aauie'
REM Sincerely convinced that these views correct
wonld he unfithfl 10 MY duty II ala not recommend
soHtbdr states under the domination OF military masters
II calm reflection shall satisfy majority ~ your honor
flon Of the national faith bn in direct conflict with the
Constitution dare not permit myself 10 DOUBT mat Gu
viii Immediately strike them from the statutebook.
To demonstrate unconstitutional character OF thoso
neIs need do than refer 70 their general prov
lOns 10 must he seen az once tat they aye o
dictate what alterations shall be made IN Tue c0nelt-
lons Of the several States 70 control the elections OF stts
legislators and State officers, members OF Congress ana
electors Of President and HicePresdent by arbitrarily
mat privileges dissolve state legislatures or prevent
them from assembling to dismiss Judges and ot3er civil
InneiiOnaries State and appoint others without re-
gard to state organize and operate all the pot
pipisfratio Of their domestic and local affairs according
10 the will Of strange ana irresponsible agents sent
Eranted 10 the Federal Government or TO any
Sne Of branches Not being granted We violate our
Ia the face OF positive interdict Tor the Constitution
Iorbids us 10 do whatever u does not ainrmHauvey
puthOuze either by express words OF ~ clear lup'
NON the authority desire 20 does not come TO
ne through the Constitution, can exercise 10 only by
psuIpanon ana uSnrpauOn is inc most dangerous ga ro'
hueal crimes. BY that crime the enemies OF free govern
meut IN al agCs have worked out their designs against
Immediately 10 tho establishments OF absolute RUE Ior M
s,e r tjcir ASSUMPTION 6f unsritcd pov en- but many
OF their provisions IN conflict with the direct prohibit
tous Of the Constitution The Constitution commands
thai rcpnbcan form O government shall be guaranteed
90 all the States; that person shall be deprived OF
~ law. arrested without a judicial warrant or pun
lshed without fair tal before an impartial Jury that
tho privilege Of habeas corpus shall not be denied ~ time
0fpeace and that no bin 81 atainder snail be passed even
against a single individual. Yet the system OF meas
established by these acts OF Congress dqe; t0Gaiy
subvert aud destroy thofOrn as well as me OF
republican government in the ten states 10 WINCH they
apply 10 binds them hand and foot IN absolute slavery
and subjects them To strange and n9sue power licv
unlimited and likely 20 be abused than any other
those rights m which the essence Of Liberty consists and
which free government Is always most CtIeIu
The trial by jury. Personal freedom property
Sna NE Hss,h ~ ~ ~, a,,, ,,r.t,vcr
1t has the effect Of bill Of aander or 9i OF pains and
penalties not upon few individuals, but upon whole
masses including the millions who inhaot the subject
States. aud even their unborn children These wrongs
being expressly forbidden cannot be C0nsututionaiy IN
nicted upon any portion OF our people 30 matter nov
they may have within our jurisdiction, and no
sTi StsI' "''''''' INV
beon against the Government, but, mode Of punish
eut the under consideration are inc most IN
reasonable that could De- invented. Many OF those people
perfectly innocent; many kept her nueIty 20 the
legal Ofense large proportion, even OF me persons
able 10 bear arms, were forced into Rebellion against
@ q. ~ sbsdes ~ ther character ana temper
But these acts Of Congress confonnd them altogether
n one comInon doom Iudiscrilnuate vengeance
apon classes sects, and parties, or upon whole cont
nunities FOR oaemses committed by . portion q
them against the Governments 10 (Which tDfY oWtu
obedience, was common IN the Daroarous ages OF INC
world. But Christianity and civilization have mad6
Eueh progress that recourse 70 punishment so Cfue anu
unjust would meet with the condemnation OF all unPt
Adieed and hight minded men. The punitive justice on
Shs age and especially o. this country does not consist
An shipping whole states o. their liberties ana Iteg
eli their people without distinction, TO the condition OF
snes Itself to the fofus Of law and yudicates It's own
parity, by impartial examination Of every case before
al desires With regard To the Southern Rebels let US
console ourselves by rejecting that free constitution,
to us aud our children than the qualification OF any
lam aware is assumed that this system Of government
FOR The Southern states not 70 be Reetas ~ rnf VIZ
sISS re- ,-r,, 81, tiof = 5Ieater eyil s 10 be
made perpetual If the guarantees OF the Constitution
be broken Professionally 70 serve temporary pnt
pOse. aud a part only Of the country We can destroy
them en. Sna b fS thew eeBeraY Change
for the worse II is the curse OF despq3lei9i
its power brings 10 Of security 20 rs subjects for
they can never know what more they %lu 20 caHeq 70
again nor possible to conjecture how or where power
Dnrestrained by law may seek its next Victims me
Cor the Constitution does not protect all II projects
laws 10 confer upOu negroes the privilege Of voting ana
10 sfranclse such number OF white ciuzens As VIII
Bonthern states THIS % the minds OF some persons IS
important that violation of the ~ u
aHa5 IIe a desirbie end We ere NOT permitted 70
70 accOlnpilSh ueSlle ~ t6is 800 fbc end H.
self h evil as well the means The suJugatiOn OF
tbe s,ocs 10 negro domination would be than the
military desp0ts under which they are now suffering IL
was believed beforehand that the people would endure
anv afuont II military oppression for any length OF time
~ 49, ~ fiset,,sei Ves Inv .ubecfOn 10 theuCgTO
Fnce Therefore they have been left without chOice
SseT %T s G1 were commaded 10 superntend
process Of clothing the negro race with political prv
fbe 'O backs in the South are entitled 70 DO