The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1867-12-13


'nis Government. or 10 ell Of them united.
This is so plain that Il hss been scknow.
Iedged BY all branches OF the Federal @ ov.
e'nmen'. legislative and executive. NJ
predeesssor. ss well o. myself and tbs
heads Of the Departments. have uniformly
acted upon the principle that the Union i,
not on'y undissoIvsd but indissoluble.-
Congress submitted On amendmsnt Of the
Constitution % BE- ratified BY she Sou,hsru
states, and accepted their seu Of rssi6cs.
'ion ss = necessary and lswlul exercise Of
their highest function. n they were no,
states. OF were States out Of the Usiop.
me" consent TO : chsoes in ihs fuada.
mental law Of the Union would Be nursto.
~; end Congress. In asking il. committed
. political sbsusdisy. The Judiciary bss sIso
given The solemn sanction Of lie su,horisy
10 the same views Of the case. \
Constitutional duty 10 not the only one
which requires States to be restored. Thete
y another consideration. which, though Of
minor importance. is yet OF great weight.
On the 22i Of July. 1861. Congress de-.
clsred. BY sn almost unanimous vote Of
both Houses. that the war should "be con.
Quoted solely for the purpose Of preserving
the Union and msintsinlng tho supsemscy
Of the Federal Cons slilu,ion aud laws with.
out impairing the dignity, equality and ii ghts
Of States or i0dividusle," and that when
This "as done the war should cease. / do
not say that this declaration 10 personally
binding on those who joined In making I,
any more than individual members OF C,n.
gress are personally bound 10 pay . public
debt created under law for which they yo.
ted; but IL was solemn, public, oficIs!
pledge OF national honor. and Z cannot i'm.
ugine upon what ground reputation OF Il n
% Be justified. II il be said ,I.,t we are no,I
bound 20 keep faith with rebels lei Il be Re.
membered that this promise was mol msde 70
rebels only. Thousands Of true men in The
South were drawn 10 our s,sndl ard By n,
md hundreds OF lhousaods 10 the, North
gave their iivss'is shebeIief mat Il twouIdl
Je carried out
Being siacerrIy convinced that these
views are correct, would be unisi. hful 10
~ duty did ] not recommend the repent Of
he acis u Congress which place ten States
inder The domination d military masters.
! calm ssilseuon sasII ssusiy ;. a.sjori,y
y your honorable bodies that the acls re
FIRED TO are net only a violation OF the No.
ionsI faith but in direct conflict with the
Constitution. | dare no. permit myself ,o
'oubt that you will immediately strike the IN
rom The statute books. ID
have no desire 10 save from the pro per
nd Just consequences OF their great criue|
hose who were il rebellion sgsiust the
ou: as q mode Of pun shmentl
he measures under consideration arc the
lost unreasonable that could be invented.
iany Of those people are perfectly inno.l n
ens. Many kept their Gdelity 70 The
mon un,sinted ,s the last. Many were in.
spable Of any legal offs nee. A large por. =
on even Of the persons able 10 besr arms
ere forced into the rebellion sgainst Ii heis =
~, end Of those who are guilty with their =
~n consent the degrees Of guilt are as va. =
oos % the shsdes sf their character and Y
nd temper. But these acts Of Coneree y
'nfound them slI together ia one common = =.
pom. ~
lod'scrininste vepgesnce upon classes, y
css. snd parties, or upoa whole commvni- !
e. for offences committed By I portion OIL
EN- against goveromenis 10 which they "
we'd obedience. were common Ia the bsrpar Y
y saes Of the world, but chsistisni,y and !. 4
vilisstion have made such progress hat y
course 10 punishment 90 cruel and un. =
q would meet with she condemnation off,
! snprejudiced and rieht-minded men,
he punitive justice o. she sge, especially = !
this country, does not consist cf s,rippine| 4
hole Ssstes Of their liberties, and reducing !"
their people. without distinction. 10 s'''
pdision Of sIsssry. Il deals sepsss.sly 4
lib each individual. confines Itself 10 the -
rms Of law. and vindicstes Ne own purity "
an impartial examins ton or every case J. :
lore cvmpetent jocieisi tribunal. IL
II this does not safety sIi our desires win !,