The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-05-23

WIZ - bOuHu W hetcIlhlh oHN pctuhO
those rights and all other rights under
the Constitution Did the people or
dam and establish their government
for any such purpose, and give them
power to make and execute all laws
necessary and proper for that end2 Is
there any duty upon the government
to administer and execute the consti-
tuition, 20 defendthe rights Of the PEG
pie, and secure tho blessings Of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity2' II
the Government owes any such duty
to the people, what relation does II
bear it TO their elective franchise, their
right of suffrage or their right to
vote for such officers as, under the
authority of the Constitution, r re
ferred to the choice ofthc people? Can
the Government protect it, Or must it
be left to be violated by anybody that
is strong enough to violate III"
There is n short answer to all these
questions. Let Ignotus remember
that tho national Government of this
country is not an absolute Government,
but only (n time ofpeace) u Govern
ment of very limited powers. The
people of the United States have not
committed TO that Government the task
Of asccrtaining and securing all the
rights of citizens in the several States.
They did not "ordain and establish
their [national1 Government for any
such purpose" nor did they give that
Government power to make and ex-
ccute all laws necessary and proper for
that end" Doubtless there is n duty
upon the national Governmental nd
minister and execute tho national
Co lstitution; but to defend the rights
Of the people" in the several States
is a duty which the people of the Uni
ted States have reserved chiefly to
their several State Governments, in
stead Of committing it absolutely to
the National Government. We have
indeed ordained and established the
Constitution of the United States, to
secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and to II postcrity,". but
they in which the Constitution under
takes to secure and perpetuato the
blessings Of liberty, is chcihy-not to
say cutirely-hy taking away from
tho several States all power Of en-
crouchment on each others rights, and
by guarding them against foreign pow
crs. Is Ignttus so i'll informed rs not
to know that in Massachusetts, or
whatever State OF the Union he re-
sides, there nro two governments, nci-
ther ofwhich can legitimateIy NEEDLE
with any Of the duties incumbent on
the other? Does he not know that in
Massachusetts, the National Govern
mcnt has no power to punish theft, or
burglary, or breaches Of the peace, or
murder-no power to punish any for
gerry other than the forgery of the
United States coin or securitics-no
power to punish any robbery other
than the robbery of the mailssor other
property belonging to the nation?
Can he not understand that the same
government which owes To the people
Of his State the duty Of protecting
their lives against the murderer, their
dwellings against the inccndiary and
the burglar, and their purses against
the highway robber, owes TO them also
the duty Of regulating and protecting
the elective franchise? Tho elective
franchise, in each State Of tho Union,
is not left to be violated by anybody
that is strongs enough to violate 1T
but Is lett to be protected by the same
power that protects lie, personal lib
crty, marriage und all human rights,
both individual and domestic.
Allow me to say that when such
views rs those implied inthn questions
Of Ignotus are published IN a journal 20
influential as the Congregdtiondlist.
they are evidence Of the progress
which q certain portion of the people
shall sNya certain portion OF the
Republican partyO are making to-
ward doctrines and measures which
threaten the entire loss of liberty.
Think oft, Here is a proposal that
Congress shall enact n law to define
and regulate the right Of voting, not in
Statcsthat have Just been reconquer-
cd from the enemy. and in which gov
crments loyal tho Union and adequate
TO the protection Of the people are to
be reconstructed, but IN all the States.
Suppose snch a law be enacted, bow
shall it be executed The National
Government has undertaken to deter
NINE who shall vote, and who not, in
the State Of Massachusetts. The Ma
tLnal Government must make n reg
istration Of voters Gas it is now doing
in the Southern States by officers of its
own. What next? The National Gov
eminent must take care that no man
whom il invests with the right Of vo-
ting is in any way restricted from the
right of voting; and therefore the bal
lot boxes must bo under the inspection
and in the custody of United States
officers, and United States policemen
or soldiers must keep order at the vo,
ting places. The National Govern.
mCnt. having taken this mnttcr I'm