Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-03-12
NUMBER XXXVII.

1
authority of the States as the guardians of in
dustrial rights, it is "the sheet anchor of oul
safety abroad and our peace at home" 1t was
ordained Ito form more perfect union, estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility pro
mote the general welfare, provide for the com
mon defense and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and to our posterity." These great
ends have been attained heretofore, and will be
again, by faithful obedience to it, but they are
certain to be lost if we treat with disregard its
sacred obligations.
the Constitution, and to vindicate It's supreme
authority, that we carried on bloody war OF
four years duration. Shall we now acknowl-
edge that we sacrificed million of lives and
expended billions of treasure to enforce Con-
stltution which is not worthy of respect and
preservation?
Those who advocated the right of secession
alleged In their own justification that we had no
regard for law, and that their rights of property,
life, and liberty, would not be safe under the
Constitution, as administered by US IF we now
verify their 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 oftraitors against righteous
and legal Government, we elevate them in his
tory to the rank OF selfsacrifcing patriots, con-
secrate them to the admiration of the world. and
place them by the side of Washington, Hamp-
den, and Sydney. No, let US leave them to the
lnfamy they deserve, punish 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 part of our public history, which can
never be forgotten, that both Houses of Con-
gress, In July, 1861, declared in the form of a
solemn resolution that the war was and should
be carried on for no purpose of ofsubjugation, but
solely to enforce the Constitution and law; and
that when this was yielded by the parties in re-
bellion the contest should cease, with the con-
stitutional rights of the States and of individuals
unimpaired. 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,
as expressing honestly and truly the object of
the war. On the faith Off many thousands
OF persons In both sections gave their lives and
their fortunes to the cause To orepudiate it now,
by refusing to the States and to the individuals
within them the rights which the Constitution
and laws of the Union would secure to them, is
breach of our plighted honor for which l can
imagine no excuse, and to which cannot vol
unfairly become party.
The evils which spring from the unsettled
state OF our Government will be acknowledged
by all. Commercial intercourse is impeded,
capital is in constant peril public securities fuc-
tuate In value, peace itself is not secure, and
the sense ofmoral and political duty is impaired
10 avert these calamities from our country, it
is mperatively required that we should i'm
medlately decide upon some course of admins
tratlon which can be steadfastly adhered to. l
am thoroughly convinced that any settlement,
or compromise, or plan of action which is in
consistent with the principles of the Constitu-
ton will not only be unavailing, but mischievous;
that it will but multiply the present evils, in
stead of removing them. The Constitution, in
6ts whole integrity and vigor, throughout the
length and breadth of the land, is the best of
all compromises. Besides. our duty does not,
in my judgment, leave us choice between that
and any other. L believe that it contains the
remedy that is so much needed, and that
if the coordinate branches of the Government
would unite upon its provisions, they would be
found broad enough and strong enough to sus-
tain IN time OF peace the nation which they bore
safely through the ordeal of protracted civil
war.
Among the most sacred guarantees of that
instrument are those which declare that each
State shall have at least one Representative,
and that mo State, without it's consent shall
be deprived OF its equal suffrage in the Senate"
Each House is made the Judge of the elections,
return, and qualifications of its own members"
and may, with the concurrence of two-thirds,
expel member. Thus, as heretofore urged,
in the admission of Senators and Representa-
tives from any and all OF the States, there can
be no just ground OF apprehension that persons
who are disloyal will be clothed with the powers
of legislation; for this could not happen when
the Constitution and the laws are enforced by
vlgllant and faithful Congress" ''When Sem
ator or Representative presents his certificate
OF election, he may at once be admitted or re-
jected; or should there be any question as to
his eligibility, his credentials may be referred
for investigation to the appropriate committee.
Ii admitted to a seat it must be upon evidence
satisfactory to the House of which he thus be-
comes member, that he possesses the requisite
constitutional and legal qualifications If refus-
ed admission as a member for want of due al
!egiance to the Government, and returned to
his constituents, they are admonished that none
but persons loyal to the United States will be
| allowed voice in the Legislative Councils of
the nation, and the political power and moral
influence OF Congress are thus effectively exert
ed In the interests of loyalty to the Government
and hdellty to the Union" And is it not far
better that the work of restoration should be ac-
complished by simple compliance with the plain
requirements of the Constitution than by re-
course to measures which in effect DESTROY the
States, aud threaten the subversion of the Gen
eral Government? All that is necessary to set
tie this simple, but important, question, without
further agitation or delay, is willingness on
the part OF all to sustain the Constitution and
carry It's provisions into practical operation. II
tomorrow either branch of Congress would
declare that, upon the presentation of their
credentials members constitutionally elected
and loyal to the General Government would be
admitted to seats in Congress, while all Others
would be excluded, and their places remain va
cant until the selection by the people of Iowa
and qualified persons and if, at the same time
assurance was given that this policy would be
continued until all the States were Represented
in Congress. it would send a thrill ofioy tbroupb
out the entire land, as indicating the inaugura
tlon of system which must speedily bring
tranquility to the public mind.
While we are legislating upon subjects which
are OF great Importance to the whole people. and
which must affect all parts of the country mot
only during the life Of the present generation.
but tor ages to come, We should remember that
all men are entitled at least to a hearing in the
councils which decide upon the destiny Of them
selves and their children. At present ten States
are edenledfepresentatlon and when the Fortieth
Congress assemblies on the fourth day of the
present month, sixteen States will be without a
voice In the House of Representative. This
grave fact, with the important questions before
us, should induce Us to pause In course of
legislation which, hooking solely to the attain
ment OF political ends, fails to consider the rights
lis trangresSes, the law which it violates or the
Institution which it imperlls.