Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-12-11

csts, and with our sworn duties to the Con
stitution, is too natural and too just to bt
easily relinquished.
1t is clear to my apprehension that tho
States lately in rebellion are still members
Of the National Union. When did they
cease to be so? The Ordinances Of Seces
sion" adopted by por'ion--in most Of them
avery SINAI! poriion--of their citizens were
mere nullities. If we admit now that they
were valid ard etfectual for the purpose in
tended by their authors, we sweep from
under our feet the whole ground upon
which We justified the war. Were those
State uf erwards expelled from the Union
BY the war? The direct contrary was aver,
red by this government to be its purpose,
and was so understood by all those who gave
their blood and treasure to aid in its prose-
cuton.
It cannot be that a successful war, wage1
for the preservation Of the Union, had the
legal effect of dissolving it. The victory OF
the nation arms was not the disgrace OF
her policy the defeat of Secession on the
battlefield was not the triumph otits lawless
principles nor could Congress, with or
without the consent of the Executive, do
anything whicl, would have the effect, d.
rectly or indirectly, of separating the States
from each other. To dissolve the Union is
to repeal the Constitution which holds it
together, and that is power which does
not belong to any department Of this gov
ernment, or to all Of them united. :,
This is so plain that it has been acknowl-
edged iy all branches OF the Federal Gov
ernment. The Executive, my predecessor,
as well as myself and the heads of all the
departments have uniformerly acted upon
the rrinciple that the Union is not only un-
dissolved, but irdissoluble. Congress sub
United an amendment to the Constitution
II be ratified by the Southern States, and
accepted their acts of ratification asa neecs-
sary and lawful exercise of their highest
function. Ii they were not States, or were
States out of the Union, their consent to a
change in the fundamental law Of the
Union would have been nugatory. and Con
gress in asking it committed a political alb
sur'lity.
The judiciary has also given the solemn
sanction Of its authority to the same view
OF the case. The Judges of the Supreme
Court have included the Southern States in
their circuits, and they are constantly, an
bgnc and elsewhere, exercise jurisdiction
which does not belong to them, unless those
States are States of the Union. If the
Southern States are component parts of the
Union, the Constitution is the supreme law
for them, as it is for all the other States.
They are bound to obey ii, and so are we
The right of the Federal Government,
which is clear and unquestionabe, to en-.
force the Constitution upon them. implies
the co,e'ative obligation on our part TO OBJ
serve its limitations and execute guarantees
Without the Constitution We are nothing:
by, through and under the Constitution we
are what it makes us
We may doubt the wisdom of the law;
We may not approve of its provisions, but
we cannot violate it merely because il seems
to contiGe our powers within limits narrower
than We could wish. 1t is not question of
or class or sectional interests,
much less o. party predominance, but Of
duty = Of high and sacred duty which We
are all sworn to perform. If we cannot
support the Constitution with the cheerful
alacrity Of those who lore and believe in it,
We must give to it, ut least, the fidelity of
public servants who act under solemn obi
cations and commands which they dare not
disregard. The constitutional duty is not
the only one which requires the States to be
restored; there is another consideration,
which, though Of minor importance, is yet
Df great weight.
OBJECT OF THE LATE WAR.
On the 22I day of July, 1861, Congress
declared by an almost unanimous vote of
both Houses, that the war should be con-
1ucted solely for he purpose of preserving
the Union and maintaining the supremacy
,t the Federal Constitution and laws, with
,ut impairing the dignity, equality and
tights Of the States or of. individuals. ard
hat when this was done the war should
cease. | do not say that this declaration is
personally binding on those who joined
n making it, any more than individual
members of Congress are personally bound
% o.pay a public debt created under u law for
which they voted. But it was solemn
public official pledge Of the national honor,
md cannot imagine upon what grounds |
he reputation Of it is to be justified.
Hit be said that we are not bound to keep |
ait with rebels, let it be remembered, this |
promise was not made to rebels only Thou
ands of true men in the South were drawn
" bNi sluiuotu Ny IL, uuu IIuUuItuS VI tluu- |
ands in the North gave their lives in the
,eliet that it would be carried out. 1t was
made on the day after the first great battle
# the war had been fought and lost All |
patriotic and intelligent men then saw the
lecessty of giving such an assurance, and
,elicved that without it the war would end |
II disaster to our cause. Having given that
ssurahcc in the extremity Of oul peril, the
'iolation OF it now, in the day OF our power,
would be rude rendiug Of that good faith
which holds the moral world together. Our
ountry would cease to have any Claim up
N the confidence Of men. 1t would make
he war not only failure but a fraud.
Being sincerely convinced that these
Jews are correct, would be unfaithful to
~ duty il did not recommend the repeal
# the acts ofConsress which place ten of
he Southern States under the domination
# military masters II calm reflection shall
atisty majority of your honorable bodies
hat the acts referred to are not only a vio-
alton Of the national faith, but in direct
onfict with the Constitution, dare not
,ermit myself to doubt that you will imme-
liately strike them from the statute book.
10 demonstrate the unconstitutional charac-
er of those acts, need do no more than
efer TO their general provisions.
ltmust be seen ut once that they are au.
horized. TO dictate what alterations shall
70 made in the constitutions Of the several
states; to control the elections of the State
legislators and State officers, members Of