The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-12-10

tual for the purpose intended by their au-
thors, we sweep from under our feet the
whole ground upon which We justified the
war. Were those Estates afterwards ex-
PEELED from the Union by the war? The
direct contrary was averred by this Gov
ernment to be its purpose, and was SO un-
derstood by all those who gave their
blood and treasure to aid in its prosecu-
ton. 1t cannet be that successful war,
waged for the preservation of the Union,
had the legal effect of dissolying it. The
victory of the nations arms was not the
disgrace of her policy; the defeat of Sc
cession on the battle field was not the tri-
umph of its lawless principle. Nor could
Congress, with or without the consent of
the Executive, do anothing which would
have the effect, directly or indirectly, of
separating the States from each other
To dissolve the Union is to repeal the
Constitution which holds it together, and
that is power which does not belong to
any department Of this Government, or
to all of them united.
This is SO plain that it has been &C.
knowledged BY all branches of the Fede-
raj Government, The Executive (my
predecessor as we'll as myselD and the
heads of all the departments have uni
formly acted upon this principle that the
Union is not only undissolved, but indis-
soluble. Congress submitted an amend
ment to the Constitution to be ratified by
the Southern States, and accepted their
acts of ratification as necessary and
lawful exercise of their highest functions
If they were not States, or were States out
of the Union, their consent to change in
the fundamental law of the Union, would
have been nugatory, and Congress, in
asking it, committed political absul di.
ty. The Judiciary has also given the
solemn sanction Of its authority to the
same view of the Case. The Judges ot
the Supreme Court have included the
Southern States in their circuits, and they
are constantly, an banc and elsewhere, ,ex
ercising jurisdiction which does not be
long to them, unless those States arr
States of the Union. S
THE CONSTITUTION UNIVERSALLY sU-
1890 PREME. e as oai
IF the Southern States are componen
parts Of the Union, the Constitution j,
the supreme law for them, as it is for al
the other States. They are bound Il
obey it, and SO are we. The right Of thu
Federal Government. which is clear ant
unquestionable, to enforce the Constitu
tion upon them, implies the correlativ,
obligation on our part to observe its lin
itations and execute its guarantees. With
out the Constitution we are nothing; by
through, and under the Constitution VI
are what it makes US. We may doub
the wisdom of the law, we may not ap
prove Of its provisions, ,butwe cannot VIC
late it merely because it seems to confn
our powers within limits narrower thai
we could wish. IL is nota question 0
individual, or class, or sectional interest
much less Of party predomiEance, but o
duty-of high and sacred duty-which "
are ell sworn to perform. If we canno
support the Constitution with the5cheer
| full alacrity of those who love and believ
IN II, We must give 20 II At least the noel
emn obligations and commands whicl
they dare not disregard. M aiao
| THE CONGRESSIONAL PLEDGE.
The constitutional duty is not the onl
one which requires the States 70 be re
stored. There IS another consideration
which, though Of minor % lmportance,ls ye
Of grea. welgnt, oI the zzd Gay Of > ulJ
1901. congress aeelaIeo, Dy an aimos o.
unanimous vote oi notn d nouses, tnat N
war snould os conouctea soiely 1or IN
purpose OF preserving the Union, an
maintainlng sne supremacy OF the I 'e1 eder
a. oons'l.u.lon :! ana lass, Wilnou1 impair u
| ipg tne ulgnity, equaii'y ana rignIs 9
Ine oIa!es or q .lndivio'uals' ana Una q
Wnen TINS was done the war sneuid cease ease
DO not say that TINS declaration is per
sonaily binding on those who joined II
making lt,any more tnan Individual mem
bers OF Congress are personally bound :
pay public debt created under law TO
which they voted, But it was solemn
puD,lic, omclai piedge OF tne sla natlona leil
| nohor, ana cannot imagine upon VIVA
ins.;soS Vis Hv Iet iePauap. f. aa;S - = = - :
49, 49, :, : ea;.h - 'a M;.h 's ssaIs :. - I
Oounu - ~ s.'a a,: ~. $3.50 80 = :
iemelnpereu sns' .n,' nj o.se "aI ~
lnaue 70 Ieeeis only nousauus :, =. :. ) !,
lnen ~ 'ne ooash "sle law y - ~. s.sn. :
ara 1y ~ anu nunuieos u .nousalus !
the North gave thelr iiyes IN the peile
tnas II would Dc carried out, I. wa
mace on lne gay aver me mrs. grea' pa'
tle 81 tne war asG oeen .ougn1 anu 'vs'