The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-03-13

very which the bill impohes upop ,tbeWst
without .pansing here to copSideF ,the
policy Or timpolicy Of Africspiisaiuas TIA
Southern part of our terTiIoiy, 4 would
simply ask the attention of Congress 70
that manifest, well;kpoyn and ppFerrssI-
y acknowledged rule Of Constitutional
law, which declares that the Federal Gov
eEument has.np Jurisdiction, authority ar
power to regulate such subjects for any
State, or to force the right of suffrage 9at
Of The hands Of white people and Ji1Rtp
hands OF negroes. 4, ~ n; [ sf,4..
In an arbitrary violation Of this princi.
pie, this bill imposes martial law at once,
and its operation will be begun as soon Is
the General and his troops can be placed.
The dread alternative between its harsh
rule and compliance with the terms oof
this measure is not suspended nor are the
people afforded any time for free deliber.
alton. The bill says to them, take mar.
tial law first, and then deliberate; and
when they have done all that this meas.
ure requires them to DO, other conditions
and contingencies over which they have
no control, yet remain to be fulfilled be-
fore they can be relieved from nttial
law. 's ''No
Another Congress must approye the
Constitution made in conformity with the
will Of this Congress, and must declare
those States entitled to representation ID
both Houses. The whole question, re.
mains open and unsettled, and m stagain
occupy the attention Of Congress, and ID
the meantime the agitation which nov
prevails will continue to disturb all POT
tions Of the people. ~ F''
The bill denies the legality Of the Gov
ernmsnts Of the ten States which partial
pated in the ratification Of the amendment
to the Federal Constitution abolishing
slavery forever within the Jurisdiction II
the United States, and practically az
cludes them from the Union. a.'',2 70
If this assumption Of the bill be cor.
rect, their concurrence cannot be con,
sidered as having been legally given, and
the important fact is made to appear that
the consent Of three. .feurths Of The States,
the requisite number, has not been COZ,
stitutionally obtained to the ratification
Of that amendment, thus leaving the qusa.
tion Of slavery, where 1t stood before the
amendment was officially declared to hsvs
become a part Of the Constitution. NON
That the measure proposed by this bill
violates the Constitution 10 the particular
mentioned, and in many ways, 10 too clear
to admit Of the least doubt. II only, 70,
mains to consider whether the injnnoiions
Of the instrument ought to be obeyed or
not. I think they ought to be- obesed
for reasons which I will proceed to give
as briefly as possible. -
In the first place, II is the only system
Of free Government which we can hope
to have, as nation. When il ceases 10
be the rule of our conduct, We may per.
haps take our choice between complate
anarchy and . consolidation monarchy,
aud total dissolution Of the Union
But, national liberty, regulated BY law,
will have passed beyond our reach. y7lss
1t is the best form Of Government the
world ever saw. No other is or can bs
so we'll adapted TO the genius, habits or
wants Of the American people, eombin.
ing the strength Of the great empire with
the unspeakable blessings Of local self.
government; having q central power to
defend the general interests, and recog.
mixing the authority Of the State as the
guardian Of individual rights. ii baa
| II is the sheet anchor Of our safety
abroad, and our peace at home, and, vas
ordained to form more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tran.
guilty, and promote the general welfare,
provide for the common defense, and %.
euro the blessings Of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity. These great ends have
been attained heretofore, and villo DO
again, by faithful obedience to it; bu.
they are certain to be lost il we treat with
disregard its sacred obligations. II waa
TO puoish the gross crime Of defying.
Constitution aud vindicate its supreme
authority that We carried on bloody war
Of four years duration. Shall we now
acknowledge that we sacrificed million
Of lives, aud expended billions Of treas
ure to enforce Constitution which 10 not
worthy Of respect and preservation .i..-
Those who advocate the right. Of seces.
sion, alleged in their own justification
that we had no regard for law, and thas
their rights Of property, life and liberty
would not be safe under the Constitution
as administered by us. If We nov vsrily
their assertion, We prove that they were
in truth aud fact lighting for their libers
ty; and instead of branding their leadefs
With the dishonoring names Of traitors
against arig ghteOus aud legal Government,
We elevate them in history as self.sacrik-
cling patriots, and consecrato them 10. the
admiration Of the world, and place them
BY the side Of Washington, Hanpdeul
and Sidney. No; let us leave them %
the infamy they deserve Punish them
as they should be punished according 70
law, and take upon ourselves no share Of
the odium which they should bear Alels.
1t is part Of our public history which
can never bo forgotten, that both Housed
Of Congress in July, 1861, declared in
the form Of a solemn resolution, that aths
war was ard should be carried on for 10
purpose Of subjugation, but solely 70 en-.
force the Constitution and laws, and that
when this'was yielded BY the parties IN
rebellion the contest would cease, Wifk
the constitutional rights II the Htates ana
individuals unimpaired.r This ifsaolu.
ion yas,adopted and seht forth 70 ne
| / nnrli ~ ninnnalu h H. nnnAl. .aA