The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-12-05

sion, adopted Dy portion on iheir cltlZenS
were mere utilities If We admit now that
they were valid and etiectual for the pur.
pose intended by their authors, we sweep
from under our feet the whole ground up
on which We justified he war We're
these states afterward expelled from The
union hy the war! The direc. contrary
was ayerrcd. by this government TO lie Il
purpose, and II was SO understood BIZ ali
those who gave their blood and treasure e
aid It's prosecution. i cauGot be that 4
successful war, waged for the preservation
OF the union, had The legal effect o. dis
solving it. The victory of the nation :
arms was net the disgrace Of her policy
The defeat Of secession N Tie battlefield,
was not Re triumph Of the iswless priaei-
pie; nor could congress, with or without
he consent -. tie executive, 10 zaything
which would have the eject, directly or
in irect,y, Of separating tAe states from
each other.
He refers 70 the fac: thai on July 22,l,
1861, congress declared, by an amost unal-
mous vote OF both houses, that the var
should be conducted solely for the purpose
Of preserving the union aad maintaining
the supremacy OF the federal constitution
and laws, without in pairing The digaity
equality and rights Of the states or indl-
vlduals and that, when this was done, tho
war shoud cease. Having given that as
surance in he extremity OF our peril, ,he
violation Of il now, in the day Of our power
would be rude rendin- Of that good
faith W hich holds the moral world together
Our country would cease - have any
claim upon the confidence Of men. Il
would make the war not only a fixture, bu
fraud
The president being sati. fed 4 the cor
rectness Of his views, recommet ds the re
peal Of the acts II congress which. placed
sen Of the southern states under the dom
iuaiion OF military masters. La demon
stra,lng the uncon>tituii0ualiiy Of these
s.cts lie says il must lie easily seen that
they Congress are not authorized to die
tate what alterations shall be made in the
constitutions OF the several states; 10 cog
trol the elections OF state legislators and
state officers, members Of congress, and
electors Of president and vice president, by
arbitrarily declaring who shall vote, ant
W no shall be excluded from that privilege
to dissolve state legislatures, or proven;
them from assembling; To disAlss judge.
aud Otler civil iunctlOuarieS OF states ano
appoint others without regard to state law
to organize aud operate al political ma
chncry Of states; to regulate the whole
administration OF their domestic and ioc a
affairs according to the mere will o.
strange and Irresponsible ac>Ats, sem
among them for that purpose, these are
powers not granted 20 the federal govern
ment, or.to az one Of its branches.
| lie says further IN relation to this sub
ject that these acts are not only objection
able for their assumption OF un@rautee
power, but many Of their provisions ar,
in conflict with direct prohibitions of tn,
constitution.
| The president has no desire to save
from lie proper consequences ct thell
great crime. those who engaged in the re
Del,ion against the government, but think
they should be punished according to tn,
measure OF their guilt, and not, rs tn,
acts of congress do, coaionnd them alto
gether II one common doom indiscriinin
ateiY. Vengeance upon classes. sccts, anl
even whole communities, for offence
against their governments, was co,nmcn il
barbarous ages, bat such cruel punish
ments would, in this age, meet with til,
condemnation Of all right-minded mea
! am aware it is assumed that this sys
TEN of government tor lie southern state
i not to be perpetual; it is true this mlii
tary government is t. lie only provisional
bat il is through this temporary EVIL thA
a greater evil is 10 be made perpetual.
I, is manifes,ly and a7owedly the objec
of these laws to confer upon the uoaroe
the privilege Of voting, aud to dis!ran
chise such number OF white citizens a
will gre The former clear niajnrijy at al
elections in tn southern states. This I
the minds OF some persons. Is so impur,an
I .hat violation Of the constitution IS JUS
tife,i as means Ct brinciuei it about. HI
morality is always false which excuses
wrong because it proposes 10 accomplish
/ desirable end. Nc are not permitted t
| do evil that good L7ay come. But. In TN
ease. the end Is Itself esji, as we'll as I'll
means. The sutjugati6n OF states to ne
gro domination would be worse than ii
military oppression for any length OF time
rather than degrade themselves ny sui
| lection t. the negro race; therefore the
have been left without choice. Neer
suffrage was established by actof congress
and military officers were commanded t
superintend the process of clothing tn
negro race with the political privileges o
white men. The blacks in the south az
entitled to be lumanely governed, and t
have the protection of just laws for al
their rights of person and property. If
were practicable at this time 70 give then
government exclusively their own, undo
which they might manage their OWE
affairs in their own way, it would becom
u grave question whether we ought to d
SO, or whether common humanity woul,
not require us TO save them from them
selves; but. under the circumstances, thi
is only speculative point. 1t is not pro
posed merely that they shall govern them
selves, but that they shall rule the whit
race, make and administer state laws, elec
.pJ ,,,o,.Iarc 81 .,,.rrora