The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-12-12

Gle that can exist to perfect the union
of all the States.
On this momentous question, and /
somo of the measures growing out of
il, have had the misfortune to differ
from Congress, and have expressed my
convictions without reserve, though |
with becoming difference to the opinion |
of. The legislative department. Those
convictions were not ouly unchanged |
but strengthened by subsequent events |
aud fUrther reflections The tran |
scondant importance Of the subjectwill |
be sufficient excuse for calling your
attention to some Of the reasons which !
have strongly Infuen led my Judgment
The hopo that we may all finally con-
cur in mode Of settlement consistent
ut Cnce with our true interests and with
our sworn duties to the Constitution,
is too natural and too just TO be easily
rclinquishcd.
1t is clear to my appi chcnsion that
the States lately IN rebellion are still
members Of the National Union. When
did they cease to be so? The ordi-
nances Of secession, adopted by por
ton Of their citizOns, were nero nulli-
ties. II we admit now that they were
valid and effectual 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 States afterwards expelled
from the Union by the WARP Directly
the contrary was averred by this Gov.
erment to be IT'S purpose, and was so
. understood by all those who gave their
blood and treasure to aid in it's prose
lcuton
1t cannot be that a successful war,
wHgcd for tho preservation Of the
Union. had the legal effect of dissolving
it, Victory Of the Nations arms was
not = disgrace OF her policy. Defeat OF
secession on the battle field was not
triumph OF It's lawlcss principle; nor
could Congress, with or without the
consent OF lhe Executive, do anything
which would have the effect directly
or indirectly OF separating tho States
from each other. To dissolve the Union
, IL to repeal the Constitution which
holds it together, and that is a power
winch does not belong 20 any depart
p mcnt Of this Government Or tu all Of
them united. This is so plain that it
has been acknowledged by all branches
= Of the Federal Government. The EX-
ecutivc, my predecessor 10 well as
Q myself, and the heads Of all the de.
l pnrIments, have uniformly acted upon
o the principle that the Union is rot only
. undissolved but ndissoluuie,
q Congress submitted AN amendment
Il of tho Constitution to the Southern
! States, aud accepted thciracts Of ratiti
y cation as II nccessi ry and lawful cXer'
= else Of their highest function. II they
t we're not States, or were States out OF
a the Umon, their consent to a change in
= tile Fundamental law of the Union
e would havo been nugatory, and Con,
5 grcss III asking it committed II poiti-
d cal absurdity. The judiciary has also
: given the solemn sanction Of its au-
d thority t. the same view Of the case
b The Judges OF the Supreme Court have
d included the Southern States in then
circuits, and they are constantly on tho
o bench and elsewhere, exercising jurs
70 diction which does not belong 10 them
T. unless those States are States IN the
n Union. 1t tho Southern States ar,
10 component pal Is Of the~U UnloE, the Con
II stitutiOn "a the supreme law for them
u, as it IS tor all other States; they are
= bound to obey it, and so are We. ThC
20 right of the Federal Govcrnn cntwhcl
u is cluar and unquestionable, TO enforce
10 the Constitution upon them, implies
'e corrClative obligation on our part Il
re observe IT'S limitations and execute It
ne guarantees Without the Constitution
al we are nothing: by, through and I'M
OF der the Constitution, we are what !
=, makes u.s. We may doubt the wisdoi
Us Of the iaw--we may not approve OF II
y, provisions, but we cannot violate
h merely because it seems to confnc Ou
r powers within limits narrower than W
On could wish II is net Il question Of in
OF diVidual, of class, of seCtiona! lnteres
So, much lees Of party predominance, br
ur Of duty Of high and sacred dot.
Is which we are all sworn to perform.
ar five cannotsupp0rt the Constitute
I'm with tho cheerful alacrty Of those WI
I'D love ard believe in it, we must give
il q t least the fidelity of public scrvan
on who act under solemn obligations M
1t commands which Chcy dare not disr
on gard.
Constitutional duty is not the on
ow one which requires the States tn be =
cal stored. There is another considerable
,e- which, though Of minor iiDporranC
mn is yet Of great weight,
on, On the 22d Of July, 1861, Congre
hts declared, by an almost unanimous vo
Les, Of both Houses, that the war should
ted conducted soIoIy for the purpose
on preserving the Union ana maintainll
tho the supremacy of the Federal Cons
nd. tn1inn and lnwA Without imnnirl