The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-01-04

Congress and for the Government of
the United States In all its depart.
ments to trace and pursue the plain
dine of demarkation or distinction be-
tween the powers and jurisdiction of
the Federal Government and that re-
tanned by tee States. An infallible
clue to just and true Interpretation of
the Constitution of the United States
in regard to the powers thereby grant
ed by the States, is to understand the
objects and purposes to be promoted
creates. These objects were to make
war and peace as a unit, to control and
conduct our foreign affairs and rela-
tons, to regulate our commerce with
foreign powers, between the States
and the Indian tribes, to keep perpet-
ual free trade AMI peace between the
States. Let the Government of the
Union, in the exercise of its powers,
then confine itself to the accomplish
ment of these purposes, carefully
avoiding any invasion of the retained
powers Of the States, and the Union
may be indefinitely extended and for
ever maintained
hold, therefore, that we ought to
look not only to the present but to the
future. Yet you are here adopting a
system of policy to- deprive these
States of their representation in Con-
gress, for no higher or nobler purpose
than that of preserving your party
performance. Nothing else can be
at the bottom of it. Humanity can
not prompt it; patriotism cannot in
spire it; love of the Union and hope
of it's preservation cannot possibly
justify it: because all these forbid it.
Sound patriotism would say ssadmit
the representatives from those States -
common humanity and justice would
say, "admit them = the best policy
and interest of the whole country
would say 'sadmit them; ;" the Consti-
tuition and laws imperatively de-
mand that we should admit them
They are in the Union and you can
not lawfully put their representa-
ton out of the House; it is their por-
ton of the instrumentality and ma
chinery by which they and other per-
tons of the Union are to be governed.
~ x
But you deny that they are States
/ Well, sir, if a man will deny solemn
truth staring him right in the face; if
a man will deny what the records of
your own Congress prove; if man
will deny what is plainly stated in the
Constitution of the United States; if
a man will deny the fact that Virgins,
Georgia and the Carolinas were in
part the trainers of the Constitution,
and that they are members of the
Union created by that Constitution if
a man will deny these things, how can
you, demonstrate anything to him ?
These states, through their delegates
to the Federal Convention, assisted in
framing the Constitution, and they, by
their several State conventions, adopt
ed and ratified it. The other States
now denied their due representation in
Congress were each, by solemn COM
pacts in the form of reciprocal an ir-
repealable legislation, passed and
adopted by the legislative authorities
of. both the governments of the Union
and of the said States, severally admit
ted into the Union, where they stand
severed by successful revolution.
g.
But nv recollection is that the President
of the Southern Confederacy, jefferson Da-
Wis, while he remained in the Senate of the
| United States and until his State passed her
| ordinance of secession, made as patriotic
| nd off 70 To how flo Il
the country adjusted and prevent disunion
as any man in the American States at the
| time.
Now, sir, suppose that the Southern peo-
| pie were wrong in the action which they
| took, and that it was both inexpedient and
unauthorized, yet this does not Justify you
| in the past and the intended treatment of
the excluded States If they erred in the
attempt to carry their States out of the
| Union, is that sufficient reason why now
the hostile spirit engendered by the war
should be continued ? Now, when peace is
restored, WY should we not endeavor by
| every possible means to restore peace to the
country9 "Ah," say you, if we do not
keep these people muzzled-if we do not de-
ny them any share or influence in the Gov
eminent, refuse them their share of repre-
sentation in the Halls of Congress, our party
predominance will pass away" That is the
| fear. Now, is that a motive by which
|
should be peace-a peaceable reunion of the
States-Or rather a union of them, because
deny that the Union has ever been divi-
ded; / deny that any of the States have
ever been destroyed. There can be no such
| thing as reconstruction" unless there has
been structure demolished The name of
the committee who seems to have charge of
this whole subject is therefore not appropri-
ate. There is no reason or necessity for any
committee on reconstruction, because there
is nothing to reconstruct The Union has
/ been preserved. Certain States that at
| tempted to get out of the Union by force
failed in that attempt and are still in the
| Union. All the acts by which they attempt
ed to get out are null and void, being in
conflict with the Constitution of the United
States "the supreme law of the land"
Now, sir, how does Congress propose to
treat those States? 1t has treated them as
States in the various particulars and modes
pointed out in the Presidents message
Gentlemen clamor here because those States
have not adopted the proposed Constitution
al amendment, by which their whole social
system and fabric of society would be de-