Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-03-08
san be relieved from martial law. Another Con-

must declare eStatesehtfled Is representation
in both Houses The whole question titus remains
open and unsettled, and must again occupy the
attention of Congress- and in the meantime The
agitation which now prevails will continue to dis
turb all portions of the people.
! The bill also deries the legality of the govern
ments often of the States which participated in
| the ratification of the amendment of the Federal
Constitution abolishing slavery forever within the
Jurisdction of the United States, and practically
| excludes them from the Union If this assumption
OF the bill be correct their concurrence cannot be
considered as having been legally given, and the
important fact is nade"to appear that the consent
of thrce-f0urths of the States-the requisite num-
ber-Gas not been constithtonally obtained to the
ratification of that amendment thus leaving the
question slavery where it stood before the amend
ment was officially declared to have become a
| part of the Constitution.
That the measure proposed, by this bill does Vi
olate the Constitution in the particulars mention
ed, and in many other ways which | forbear to
enumerate is too clear to admit ofthe least doubt
It only remains to consider whether the injunc-
tons of that instrument oughtto be Obeyed not,
I think they ought to be obeyed for reasons which
/ | will proceed to give as briefly as possible.
In the first place, it is the only system of free
government Which we cdn hope to have ma
ton. When it ceases to bethe rule of our conduct,
we may perhaps take our choice between complete
anarchy, q consolidated despotism. and q total
y
ulated by law, will have passed beyond our reach
1t is the best frame of government the world
ever saw. No other is or can be so we'll adapted
to the genius, habits, or wants of the American
people. Combining the strength of a great en-
pire with unspeakable blessings of local self-gov-
demonstrating a central power TO defend the
general interest, and recognizing the authority
of the States the guardians ofindustrial rights,
it is ''the sheet-anchor of our safety abroad and
our peace at home" 1t was ordained ito form
more perfect union, established justice, insure do
nestle tranquility, promote the general welfare,
provide for the common defence, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our pos
terity" These great ends have been attained here
tofore, ard will be again, by faithful obedience to
it, but they certain to be lost if we treat with
disregard its sacred obligations.
/ 1t was to publish the gross crime of defyng the
Constitution, and to vindcate its supreme author
ity, that we carried on bloody war offour years
duration. Shall we now acknowledge that we
sacrificed a million of lives and expended billions
of treasure to enforce Constitution which is not
worthy of respect and preservation?
Those who advocate the right ofsecession aleg-
ed in their own justification that we had no re-
gard for law, and that their rights of property,
life and liberty would not be safe under the Con-
stitution, as administered by us. five 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 oftrators against igheous and legal Gov
ernment we elevate Them in history to the rank
of self-sacrclng patriots, consecrate them to the
admiration of the world, and place them by the
side of Washington, Hampden and Sydney. No,
let lis leave them to the ntamy they deserve, pun
ish them as they should be punished according
to law, and take upon ourselves no share of the
odium which they should bear alone.
1t is a part of our public history which can new
CT be forgotten that both Houses Of Congress in
July, 1861, declared in tie form Of Il solemn res
olution that the war was and should be carried
on for no purpose of suhjucation, but solely to
enforce the Constitution and laws aud that when
this way yielded by the parties in rebellion, the
contest should cease, with the constitutional
rights OF the States and OF individuals unimpar-
ed This resolution was adopted and sent forth
to the world unanimously by the Senate, and with
only two dissenting voices in the House 1t was
accepted by the friends of the Union in the South
as well as in the North expressing honestly
and truly the object of the war. On the faith of
it, many thousands of persons in both sections
gave their lives and their fortunes TO the cause.
10 repudiate it now by refusing to the States and
| to the individuals within them the rights which
the Constitution and laws Of the Union would Sc
cure to them, is breach of our plighted honor
for which | can imagine no excuse and to which
cannot voluntarily become party.
The evils which spring from the unsettled state
Of our Government will be acknowledged by all.
constant peril, public securities Huctuae in value,
peace itself is not secure and the sense Of moral
and political duty is impaired. TO avert these ca
lamities from our country, it is Imperative
ly required that we should immediately de-
eide upon some course of administration which
can be steadfasty adhered to. | am thor
oughly convinced that anysettlement, COM
promise, OF plan of action which isincon-
sistent with the principles of the Consitu-
tuition will not only be unayailing, but mischiev-
Gus; that it will but multiply the present evils,
instead Of removing them. Tie Constitution, in
its whole integrity and vigor, throughout the
length and breath of the land, is the lest of all
compromises. Besides, our duty does not, in my
Judgment, leave choice between that and
any other. believe thatit contains the remedy
that is so much needed, and that if the co-ordi-
nate branches of the Government would unite
upon its provisions, they would be found, bread
enough and strong enough to sustain in time of
peace the nation which they bore safely through
the ordeal OF q protracted and civil war. Among
the most sacred guarantees Of that instrument are
those which declare that leach State shall have
at least one Representative, :" and that ''no State,
without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal
suffrage in the Senate" Each House is made the
'.iudge of the elections: returns and qualifca-
tons of its own members" and may. 'with the
concurrence of two-thirds, eXpel q nemher''-
Thus, as heretofore urged Sin the admission Of
Senators and Representatives from any and all of
the States, there can be no just ground of appre-
henson that persons who disloyal will be
clothed with the powers Of legislation for this
could not happen when the Constitution and the
laws are enforced by vigilant and faithfue Con-
gress." ''When Senator or Represen tative pre-
sents his certificate of election he may at once be
admitted rejected or, should there be any
question as to his eligibility, his credentials may
be referred for investigation to the appropriate
committee. If admitted to a seat, itmust be upon
evidence satisfactory to the House of which he
thus becomes member, that he possesses the req
usite constitutional and legal qualifications. If
refused admission member for want of due
allegiance to the Government, and returned to
his constituents, they are admonshed that none
but persons loyal to the United States will be al
lowed voice in the Legislative Councils of the
Nation, and the political power and moral inhu-
ence of Congress are thus effectively eXerted in
the interests of loyalty to the Government and
fidelity to the Unon.' And is it not far better
that the work of restoration should be accomplish
ed by simple compliance with the plain require
ments of the Constitution than by recourse to
measures which in effect destroy the States, and
threaten the subversion of the General Govern
ment? All that is necessary to settle this simple
but importantquestion, Without further agitation
or delay is willingness the part ofall to sus-
i fo;,, Ia nd rioio