Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-03-14
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their hands, but compels them, as we'll as
the whites, to use it 10 particular way
If they do not form Constitution with
prescribed articles in it, aud afterwards
elect a Legislature which wiz act upon GER
tain measures in a prescribed way. neither
blacks nor whites, can be relieved from the
slavery which the bill imposes upon them
Without pausing mere to consider the poll
cy or impolicy ofAfricanizing the South
ern part of our territory, would simply
ask the attention of Congress to that mani
fest, we'll known, and universally acknow-
lodged rule Of constitutional law, which de-
clares that the Federal Government has no
jurisdiction, authority or power to regu-
late such subjects for any State. To force
the right of suffrage out of the hands Of the
white people and into the hands of the
negroes is an arbitrary violation of this
principle. fltt
This bill imposes martial law at once,
and its operations will begin SO soon as the
General and his troops can be put in place
The dread alternative between its harsh
rule and compliance with the terms ofthis
measure is not suspended, nor are the peo-
pie afforded any time for free deliberation.
The bill says to them, take martial law
first, then deliberate. And when they have
done all that this measure requires them
to do, other conditions and contingencies,
over which they have no control, yet re-
main to be fulfilled before they can be re-
lieved from martial law Another Con
gress must first approve the Constitutions
made in conformity with the will of this
Congress, and must declare these States
entitled to representation in both Houses,
The whole Question thus remains open and
unsettled, and must again occupy the at
tention of Congre IS, and in the meantime
the agitation which now prevails will con-
tinue to disturb all portions of the people
The bill also denies the legality Of the
Governments of ten of the States which
participated in the ratification of the amend
ment to the Federal Constitution abolish
ing slavery forever within the Jurisdiction
of the United States, and practically ex-
cludes them from the Union. Ii this as
sumption of the bill be correct, their con-
'currence cannot be considered as having
been legally given, and the important fact
is made to appear that the consent of three
fourths ofthe States-the requisite num-
ber-bas not been constitHtionally obtain
ed to the ratification Of that amendment,
thus leaving the question of slavery where
it stood before the amendment was officially
declared to have become a part Of the Con
stitution. = N'+ d, "a 5lt.+
That the measure proposed by this bill
does violate the Constitution in the partic-
ulars mentioned, and in many other ways
which | forbear to enumerate, is too clear
to admit of the least doubt It only re-
mains to consider whether the injunctions
of that instrument ought to be obeyed or
not. / think they ought to be obeyed for
reasons which will proceed to give as brief
~ IS possible. 49,, .'-'s
IN the first place, it is the only system
OF free government which We can hope to
have as nation. When it ceases to be
the rule of our conduct, we may perhaps
take our choice between complete anarchy,
a consolidated despotislu, aud total dis
solution Of the Union but national hber-
ty, regulated By law, will have passed be-
yond our reach.
1t sthe best frame Of government the
world ever saw No other is Or can be so
well adapted to the genius, habits, or wants
Of the American people. Combining the
strength of a great pire with unspeaka-
bic blessings of local self government
having central powerto defend the gen
eral interests, and recognizing the.author-
ity of the States as-the guardians Of indus
trial rights, it is ''the sheet-anchor ofo
safety abroad and our peace at. home" 1t
was ordained ''to form more perfect UNI
ion, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, promote the general welfare, pro-
vide for the5commoa defence, and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and to
our posterity. These great ends have been
attained heretofore, and will again, by
faithful obedience to it, but they are GER
tain to be lost if we treat with disregard
its sacred obligations
II was to punish the gross crime Of defy
ing the Constitution, and to vindicate its
supreme authority that we carried on
bloody war Of four years duration. Shall
we now acknowledge that we sacrificed a
million of lives and expended billions of
treasure to enforce a Constitution which is
not worthy of respect and preservation
Those who advocated the right of seces-
sion alleged in their own justification that
we had no regard for law, and that their
rights of property, life, and liberty would
not be safe under the Constitution, as adj
ministered by us. If we now verify the
assertion, We prove that they were in truth
and in fact fighting for their liberty, and
instead of branding their leaders with the
dishonoring name of traitors against
righteous and legal Government, We ele-
vate them in history to the rank of self
sacrificing patriots, consecrate them to the
admiration of the world, and place them
by the sidelof Washington, Hampden, and
Sidney. No, let as leave them to the in
FANNY thav deserva runich than 90 tbox,