Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-02-14
CLEARFIELD, Pa, THURSDAY, FEB. IA, I8

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first be obtained. Secession asserted
the right Of n State to resume the
powers granted TO the Federal Gov
ernment, and If it had succeeded, tho
Union would have been destroyed
These amendments assert the right O
the Union to usurp the reserved pow
ers Of the States if they succeed in
these and kindred measures the Gov
crnment Of the Constitution is broker
up. Practically, their advocates avow
that although State cannot with
draw, yet the Union can cxpcl n State
The principles involved open tho
doorfor completed and thorough change
under them States may be annihi
lated; the Constitution itself be abol
ishcd and Tho cniiro Union made
into one great State the lesser States
may be made the prey Of the greater
local and municipal governments con
troled by the Federal Government
and one vast consolidated power ere
ated in the room of our nicely adjust
ed and complex system Of State and
Federal Constitutions. This is The
vice, this the real purpose Of these
amendments.
But il is alleged, that the Southern
States are conquered and that we, th,
conqucrors, can dictate terms to them
To this, we answer, that these amend
ments are q rule for us, as well a'
them. They strike at vital principles
that protect us, and we may next be
made to feel their force. The state.
meat Of the proposition admits that
for them the government is destroyed
and that a government Of the people
no longer exists
To this we also reply, "That the
Congress Of the United States in al
its legislation; in its act levying in
ternal taxes upon all the States, inclu
ding the said States expressly by
name; in its act prescribing the mum
Der OF representatives in Congress foi
all the States; in its act submitting
the constitutional amendment abolish
ing slavery, 10 all the States in it.
act Of last session submitting another
constitutional amendment 10 all the
States; in It's joint resolution, passed
With almost entire unanimity, deolar
ing the object Of the war to be "tc
defend aud maintain the supremacy
Of the Constitution, and TO preserve
the Union in all the dignity, equality
and rights Of the several States unim
paired 3 aud in other acts, has uni
formily, from the commencement oi
the civil war to the present time, ID
the most deliberate manner, recogniz
cd said States as existing States, and
as States in the Union
"That the Executive Department oI
the United States, by its proclama
iions, It's administrative action, and it.
diplomatic intercourse with foreign
powers has uniformly recognized all
the said States as existing States, and
as States in the Union.
"That the Judicial Department ol
the United States. including the Su.
preme Court at Washington, the Cir
cult Court in the several circuits, and
the District Courts in the several dis.
tricts, has informally recognized the
said States as existing States and a,
States in the Union p
The confederate government never
had any lawful power or right over
the people of the Southern States
during the whole progress OF the wal
il was denounced as an usurping gov
ernmont; our laws always had THEN
binding force upon the people, and in
destroying the confederate govern
mcnt we did but remove the obstruc
ton to the execution of those laws
lfthey were usurpers and possessed
no legal power or right over the peo.
pie, surely in conquering the usurpel
we did not acquire that which henev
or possessed.
1t is absurd to assume that he was
an usurper; to proceed by reason
thereof TO put him down, and ther
Immediately discover that he was nc
usurper, and assert and claim that he
owned the land, and that it became
ours by right Of conquest
So, TOO, ii the condition be conced
ed, the gravest results TO ourselves
flow legitimatoly from it II they arc
the victims of conquest and we tht
conquoror, whilst we obtain all theii
rights, we also assume all their liabil
itics. If it be true that We can dea
with them thus upon this theory, ther
by the law Of nations the Federal Gov
ernment is bound TO pay all of the
debts Of ten States, and the funded
debt of their confederate government,
aud an amendment to our Constitn
ton will not relieve us from liability
therefore TO foreign creditors.
Are we ready for thisg Do an al
ready over taxed people wish to as
sumo and pay these debts, or incnr
the hazard OF foreign war for rofus
ing to do that which our own naughty
assumption of the victorious conquer
or has placed us under obligations to
perform As one Of the representa-
lives Of the people Of Pennsylvania, l
will not consent TO aid in the payment
Of any of the debts of the confederate
government, or Of the rebel States
In order to show that my position up
on this subject is correct, | refer 10
Lawrence's Wheaton's international
law, page Al:
Gas 70 public d,his-Nhc,hor due from or 10 Ga,
rcvolutoniacd siato-a morc change IN the form
Of government, or IN the person Of the ruler, doe
not affect their obligation. The essential form o
the State, that which constitutes Il an Independent
community, remains the same iis accidental form
"a ID.