Weekly New Oregon plain dealer. (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1866-1867, 1867-03-08


January. 20, 1857
n.s~papcrS circulating in Iowa please
copy
Extract from the veto message Of
President Johnson en- bill entitled
An act to provide tor the more Eff
Gciont government Of the rebel
states.
The bill also denies the legality
of the governments Of ten states
which participated in the ratification
Of The amendment to the federal
constitution a5olishirg slavery for
ever within the jurisdiction Of the
United States and practically cx-
s.audes them from the Union. Ii
,tlds assumption of the bill he Ger
rect- their concurrence cannot tr
considered rs having been legally
-. siven, and the fact is made to ap-
pear shat the consent Of thlee-toUrths
Of the states, the requisite number,
has not been constitutional " obtain
ed to that amendment. thus leaving
the question f slavery as it stood
before the amendment was officially
declared to have become part ct the
constitution that the measure pyo-
posed By this bin violates the com
stitutionin. the particular mentioned,
and in many ways which tufulmiHatc
is too clear to admit Of the least
doubt. It remains to consider
whether the injunction Of the irSrru-
ancnt ought to be oheyed or not. |
think they ought to be obeyed as
reasons why. | will proceed to give,
especially : In the first place, it is
the only system Of free government
which We can nope to have as ma
ton. When il ceases to be the rule
# our conduct, as it may perhaps,
we cannot take our choice between
complete anarchy. Z consolidated
anarchy and total dissolution Of
the Union. but national liberty, reg
ulatel by law, will have passed be-
,ond orr reach. 1t is the best gov
rrnmcnt the world ever saw no
other is or can be so well adapted to
the general habits or wants Of the
American people. combining the
strength and growth Of empire with
nnspeakablc blessings Of local self
governments, having no central
power to defend general interests,
and recognizing authority Of the
state as the guardian OF individual
rights. 1t is the sheet anchor Of
our safety abroad and our peace at
home. 1t was ordained to form 4
more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, promote
the general welfare, provide for the
common defence, and secure the
blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity. These great end,
have been attained heretofore, and
will be again by faithful obedience
to it ; but they arc certain to BIZ
lost if we treat with disregard it.
sacred obligations. 1t was to pun
jsh the gross crime Of dcfvjng The
constitution and to vinaicate it.
supreme authority that We carried
un bloody war Of four years dura
ton. Shall we now acknowledge
that we sacrificed million Of live.
and expended billions Of treasure t,
enforce a constitution which Is no
worthy Of respect and preservation
Those who advocated the right c
secession alleged in their own j"sti
iication that we had 10 regard 70
law, and that their rights # proper
ty and life would not be safe undo
the constitution as administered b,
the United States. If we now veri
fy their assertion. we prove the.
were in truth and fact fighting 10
liberty, and instead Of branding thcl
leaders with the dishonoring nam
of traitor against righteous an
legal government ; We elevate then
in history as sclfsacriticing patriot
and consecratc them to the admira
ton of the world and place them b.
,he side of Washington, Hampde
and Sidney. No, let us leave then
i, the infamy they deserve the
should be punished, according t
iaw, and take upon ourselves II
snare of the odium which they shout
bear alone.
It's part of our public histor
which can never be forgotten, tina
both houses of congress in July
1861, declared il the form Of
solemn resolution that the war wa san
should be carried on for no purpos