The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-11

subsequent events and further reflection
The transccndent Importance OF the snb-
icct will be Il sufficient excuse for calling
your attention to some OF the reasons
which have so strongly Influenced my own
Judgment The hope that we may ali IL
nallv concur in Il mode OF settlement,
consistent at once with our true interests
and with our sworn duties to the Constl-
tuition, is too natural aud too just to be
easily mlinquiShcd.
IT. is clear to my apprehension that the
States lately inrrhellion are still members
of the national Union. When did they
cease to be so? The ''orinances OF SO
cessioll." adopted by a portion (n most
of thcma very small portionl OF their
citizens, were mere utilities. Ii we ad-
nit now that they were valid and ctfcctu-
al for the purpose intended by their an
thors, we sweep from under our teet the
whole ground upon which we justified the
war. We're those States afterwards eX-
relled from the Union by the war The
direct contrary was averred by this Gov
crnment to be its purpose. and was SO
understood by all those who gave their
blood and treasure to aid in It's prosecn-
ton. 1t cannot be that a successful war,
warcd for the preservation of the Onion,
had the legal effect of disSolving it. The
victory OF the nations arms WAS not the
disgrace of hel policy; the defeat OF Sc
ceSsion ON the battle field was not the
triumph of its lawless principle. Nor
could Congress, with or without the con-
sent of the Executive, do anything which
would have the effect, directly or indi-
rcctly, 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 plat; that it has been ac-
=knowle,lgcd by all branches of tile Fcdc-
raj Government The Executive (my
predecessor as well -as myself) and the
heads of all the Departments nave uni
fDrmly acted upon the principle that the
Union is not-only undissolvcd. bu' indis-
soluble Congress submitted an amend
ment of the Constitution to be ratified BY
the Southern States, and accepted their
acts Of ratification as 4 necessary and
lawful exercise Of their highest function.
If they were not States, or were States
out of the Union, their consent to Il
change in the Fundamental law of the
IJnipn wo.i!!;!! have been nugatory; aud
Congress, in asking it, committed q pollt-
ical ahsurdity. The JuiiciarNahas also
riven the solemn sanction of itsauthority
to TO the same view OF the case. The Judges
OF the Supreme Court have included the
Southern States in their circnits. ana they
arc constantly. IN bdnc and clsew here, cX-
crcisins iuris !iction which does not belong
to them, unless those States arc States Of
the Union.
If the Southern States are component
parts OF the Union, the Constitution Is
the supre ne law for them, as it is for all
the othcrStates. They are bound to obey
Lie. and so are we The right of the Fed
.erul Government, which s.ccar anu un-
questionable TO enforce the Constitution
upon them. implies the corrclaiivc obilGa-
ton on our part To observe its limitations
and execute its guarantees. Without the
Constitution We are nothing; by. through
and under the Constitution We are what
it makes us. We may doubt the wisdom
of the law; We may not approve OF It's
provisions. but ne cannot violate it merely
because it seems to confine our powers
inlimitsnarrnwer than we could wish.
II is not a question ot Individual, orclnss,
or sectional interest, much less OF party
prcdoninancc, but OF duty-of high and
sacred duiy-which VIC are all sworn TO
perform. If We cannot support the Con-
stilu,ion with the cheerful alarrity OF
those who love and hclirve in il. we must
rive Ia ii a least tie fidelity of public
servants who ;,r; under solemn obligations
and commands MI.ich ll,cy dare not disrc-
gard.
The constitutional duty is not the only
one whicll requires the States to be re-
stored. There is another consideration
which, though Of minor Importance, is yet
of great weight. On the I'D day of July.
1861, Congress declared, by an almost
unanimous vote OF both Houses, that the
war should bc conducted solely for the
purpose of preserving the Union, and
ma:ntaining the supremacy of the Fcdc
raj Constitution and laws, withontimpair'
ing the dignity, equality. and right OF the
States or individuals; and that when this
was done, the war should cease. | do not
say that this declaration is personally
binding on those who joined in makingit,
any more than individual members OF
Congress are personally bound to pay Il
public debt created under Il law for which
they voted. But it WAS a solemn, public
official pledge of the national honor, and
/ cannot imagine upon what grounds the
Reputation of it is to be justified. If il
bc said that we are not bound TO Keel
faith wilhsvbcls, let it be remembered
that this promise was not made to rebels
Only. Thousands oitrue men III the South
were drawn to our standard BY it, and
hundreds of thousands in the North gave
their lives in the belief that it would be