Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-01-17

ana purposes OF the people of ludi-
ana.
But what if the Southern people
reject the Amendment But what if
they continue this reign of terror,
this fragrant disregard of liberty and
life? Do they maggie that the North
will recede, or that affairs will be
allowed to remain as they are? These
things are impossible. A quarter of
million of lives have been lost, bill
lions ofmOney have been wasted, the
tears of the widow and orphan are
flowing, the shrieks of the murdered
freedmen are heard, Union men are
flying for their lives, and now the
blood of the nation is up and the cry
for vengeance is abroad in the land.
Let the people of the South flee from
the wrath to come Let them put
away the periured traitors who hur-
ried them into rebellion, and now
darken their counsels, ard make
| haste to abandon their sins and accept
the profiered terms.
The Constitutional provision de
claring that the United States shall
guarantee to each State a republican
form of government was not intend
ed merely to furnish paper guarna-
| ty, but authorized the Government
of the United States to Interfere in
certain contingency, with the gov
eminent OF a State. The guarantee
is to be made by the United States,
that is by the Government Of the
United States, which is not the Prcsi
dent or Congress, but both together,
and must therefore be legislative
act
The President could not establish
a State Government and accept it
finally as loyal and republican in its
form, and legal and complete in its
structure without assuming he is the
Government of the United States.
which wound manifestly he absurd
What the extent of this power is
has never been settled by any prece-
dent: and has not been defined by
Kent, Story, or any of our writers on
Constitutional law 1t is vast I'M
definable power, given to the United
States to guard the States against
revolution, anarchy, or change to
monarchial or aristocratic govern
mcnt. If Il State Government has
been destroyed by rebellion, the
nited, States must set up or re es-
tablish y ropui lean form CT govern
mcnt. fla State Government should
be converted into IN ariStocracv. the
United States must restore it to
republican form. How, or III what
manner. it shall be done. is not
marked ont bv tn, Constitution. ana
must, therefore Is far rs we can
Judge, depend upon tho circumstan-
ccs of each ease.
The Government i armed with super
visory power 10 keep the States in their
orbits by maintaining within them republi
can governments, and the measure OF pow
crmust therefore be the extent of the me ans
neceSSary'tO accomplish the purpose.
1t is well-rccogEiZcd principle Of Const:-
tutional law, thai, where aduty is enjoincd
all the powers necessary To the perform
ance of that duty are included.
Where a certain demand is made b. the
Constitution. the means necessary Ia pro
ducc the result must be inferred else the
demand would be nuratOrr.
the only measure. therefore. we can
give To this power is that il embraces VIVA
ever may be trnly necessary To guarantee
mcnt. If State Government fails into
anarchy the United States must re-establiSh
ii upon republican basis. and must he
held to have the right to employ whatever
Observation-Disclosures are necessary for that
purpose.
Ordinarily. and when the country is in
normal condition. the subject OF suffrage
is in the control absolutely of the several
States. and has been So treated from tn.
first formation OF the Government. AMI
may he regarded clearly as one of the re
served rights of the States But. ii State
government shall fall into anarchy, or ID"
destroyed by rebellion, and it is found
clearly and Enthusiastically. that loval
new one cannot he erected and success
fully maintained without comforting upon
a race or body of men The right of suffrage
to whom il has been denied 10y the laws of
tie State. il would clearly be within the
power of Congress 10 confer il for that puf-
pose. upon the principle that it can employ
the means necessary To the performance q
4 required duty.
Not that Congress could make Const;-
tuition for Il State. in which the right IF
suffrage should be liked, bat that it could
call a convention To form new Constitu-
ton and establish new government, and
prescribe the qualifications OF those who
should vote for the members of that CON
vention and participate in the organization
of the new government
The power which claim for Congress is
vast and dangerous. and should only be cx-
crcised with delibcraion and only in case
of clear necessity. AZ il trenches directly
upon the general thcnry'and structure of
the government. yet il unqucStionably cx-
lists.
If, when other remedies have fiilc,l. it be
the clear and deliberate judgment of Con
gress that loyal republican State Govern
mcnts cannot be maintained except by con-
fcrring the elective franchise upon the ne
gro race in those States Congress may con-
fer it on the ground that it is necessary TO
the performance OF Il prescribed duty. In
this view il is not necessary 10 regard the
Territories, as the Constitutional provision
applies in express terms to States.
~ Il practical question il can not be SUP
posed that four millions of free colored
people can for a great time be Kept in a
state of political vassalage and denied their
voice in the government 10y which they are |
controlled and which they help to support |
AS political question, our republican the |
ory, which asserts that governments exist |
only by the consent of the governed" |
and that taxation and representation"
should go together. does not admit that |
suffrage shall be limited by race. caste, or |
co.or. As aquesiion of natural right. il |
is hard to say that suffrage is not natural
right when upon its exercise may depend |
the possession and enjoyment of all other
natural rights. 1t is hard to
say that a man has a right to life. liberty,
and the pursuit ofhappiness. and yet h IS no
Ia