The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-12-13
EMPORIA. WHOLE No

Southern States are component parts o
the Union and the constition is the su
preme law for them ss it is for all othel
States. They are bound 10 obey and sc
are We. The right Of the Federal gov
eminent, which is clear and unquestions'
ble, to enforce the constitution upon
them. implies corIelaIiVe obligation on
our part to observe it's limitations aud ex
ecuES its guarantees. Without the con
stitutiou we are nothing, but through and
under the constitution we are. what il
makes US. We may doubt the wisdom
Of Law, We may not approve of its pro-
visions, but We caLnOt violate it merely
because It seems to coD6ne our powers
within limits narrower than We could
! wish. L is not 3 question Of iudividu-
! al, or clasA or. sectional interest, muuh
less of party predominance, but of duty
Of high and sacred duty-Which We are
sill bound to perform. II We cannot sup
port the constitution with the cheerful
alaority of those who love and believe in
it, we must give to it at least the fidelity
OF public servants who act under solemn
obligations aud commando which they
dare not disregard.
constitutional duty NOS only requires
these States to be restored, but there is
another consideration which, though Of
minor importance, is yet of great weight.
90 the e2d Of July, 1861. Congress de i:
clared by an almost unanimous vote Of
both houses, that the war should be con-
Quoted solely for the purpose of preser
iOg the Union and maintaining the su
e IL ~ i
lave without impariDg the dignity, equal
ity, and rights of the States or individu
ais. and that when this was done the war
should cease.
do not say that this declaration is
personally binding on those who Joined
in making it any more than individual
members of Congress are personally
bound to pay a public debt, created IN
der q law for which they voted; but it
was a solemn public official pledge os ma =
iional bonor, and | cannot imagine upon
what grounds liquidation Of it is to be
justified It is said that We are not bound
to keep faith with rebels, let it be remsm
bersd that this promise was not made to
rebels only. Thousands Of true men in
the South we're drawn to our standard by
it, and hundreds of thousands in the
North gave their liv in the belief that
it would be carried out. 1t Was made on
the day after tbs first great battle of the
war had been fought aud lost. All patri-
otto aud intelligent msu then saw the ne
cessity of giving an assurance and be.
lieVing that without it the war would end
in disaster to our cause. Having. given
that assurance in the extremity of our
peril the violation of it DOW in the day of
our power would be q rude rending Of
that good iaitI which holds the moral
world together. Our country would cease
to have any claim on the confidence Of
men. Il would make the war not only
failure but fraud.
Being sincerely convinced that these
views are correct, I would be unfsithful
TO my duty if did not reco mmend the
repeal of the acts of Congress which
place ten of the Southern States under
the dominion of military masters. II
calm reflection shall satisfy majority Of
your honorable bodies that the acts refer
red to are not only violations of the ma
tional fnith, but in direct conflict With th G
Constitution, dare not permit myself to
doubt that you will Immediately strike
them from the statute books.
Following the above are lengthy. stale
and unimporlant remarks about the IN
constitutiouality and despOtic tendencies
of the congressional reconstruction laws,
which We omit for want of room. They
are about the same as the President used
when he Swung round the Circle AT
ter reversing, at considerable length, the
fleet the Reconstruction laws would have
upon the South, and expressing nnmer-
Gus fears that the negros will rise superi.
or to the rebels, be further urges the re.
peal of those laws IS follows:
OF all dangers which our nation has
encountered, none are equal to those
which must result from the success oil
the effort 10 AGricanizs half our country.
I would not put the consideration Of
money in composition with justice and
right, but expenses incident 10 recon
struclioO under the system adopted by
Congress aggrsvats what l regard as in
trinsic wrong of the measure itself. Il
has cost uncouuted millions already, and
if persisted in will add largely to the
weight of taxation. already too oppressive
TO be borne without Just complaint. and
may GualIy reduce the treasury of the ma
ton TO 3 condition of bankruptcy.
We must not deluds ourselves i
will require = strong standing army and
probably more than two hundred millions
Of dofaEs per anuum to maintain the su
| premaeY Of negro governments alter tie
are established. The cum thus throw n
away would. if properly used. form Z
sinking fund large enough to pay the
whole nstional debt in less than fifteen
years. It is vain to hope that negroes
will. maintain their Escendancy them
selves. Without the military power ihey
are wholly incapable of holding in subju
CATION the white people Of the South.
! submit 10 the judgment of Congres:
whether public credit may not be ilju-
riously affected by system of measdres
like this, with our debt and vast pFivate
interests which are complicated With it
/ We cannot be too cautious Of . policy
| mich might possibly impair the conf
| dencs of The world in our government
! That confidence can oOly Be retained by
carefully inculOatiDg the principles Of
| Justice aEd bonOE on the popular mind
4 snd By meat scFupulous fielity to all oul
engagements OF every sort.
Any serious breach Of organic law per.
| slated In for anV cOasiderabie tims. eanno.