Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-01-30

for the States Instead OF being con
ferred by the Constitution, Il is palpa.
bly, inconsistent with il. The duty.and
the whole duty of the United States
withrespect to the State governments
IS clearly defined in the Constitution
That duty is TO gaaranics to every
State a republican form Of govern
ment to guarantee it, not 10 create il,
TO preserve, not destroy aud then re-
construct it. Can you guarantee what
does not exist? The very idea OF
guaranteeing government implies
necessarily, the pre.exiftence of the
government. And thiais precisely
the duty which the Unitod States owe
to each State started in the Union,
whether that start was made Mt the
beginning or at the latter period Of
our history. Whenever the start was
made, each State startedin the I'm
with republican form of govern
ment. This is certainly true OF Georgia
and all the original thirteen; and the
admission Of other States, at subse-
quent periods, was a confession by the
Government, which it is estopped from
denying, that they, too, were republi-
can. The government, therefore, with
which a State started in the Union is
the government which the United
States is obliged to uphold. 1t may be
modified in the legitimate way-that
is, by the people of the State, but al
ways under the limitation that il must
remain republican, in form. And since
the failure of secession and tho decis
ion by the sword, that secession was
a nullity, as question Of practice, it
would seem that each State is bound
TO preserve its original relation TO the
Union, as well as to have a republican
form ofgOvernment. When there is
a breach Of either of these limitations,
the thread oflegality or constitution
ality is dropped. An that may come
aiterward is on an Illegal basis and
void. Such is the inevitable conclusion,
the subject from the North
ern standpoint. What, then, is the
remedy. Is it for Congress to step in
and construct anew government We
have already shown that they have
no such power. But the remedy is TO
90 back and pick up the thread of |
legality right where il was dropped !
Or, in other words, restore the govern |
nent which was wrongfully displaced. |
Ii was not destroyed by secession TO
be void its functions were suspended /
only; its Offices were vacated, but not
Hence, it follows. that
IS soon as the disturbing cause which
was secession and its results) was re-
moved, the legitimate Constitution OF
he States, which were in force at the
ime Of secession, stood in their origi-
lal vigor, and the Offices oftheir gov.
'rnments should have been immedi.
tie filed by the proper constituency.
'his aootr,ne nf Inairs~ining the snc.
essiOn Of legality,in the State govern
ncnis is precisely what was decided
y the Supreme Court Of the United
'tates, in the case of DORIS rebellion,
n Rhode Island. The duty belongs
lot to Congress alone, nor to the
resident alone, nor to the Federal
judiciary alone, but to all of them.
aeh acting in its appropriate sphere
at belongs 10 The United States All
f these powers of the United States
tand pledged.t to its periormance-the
nty Of ofmaintaining the State Govern
nent with which each State entered
be Union, with such notifications as
may have received By the free and /
action OF its people, consis-
entity with the Constitution OF the
jnited States. Whenever there is
breach Of the limitation imposed bv
be Constitution OF the United States. ,
thereafter too becomes il.
gal and void. The remedy there
,re is remission back TO the inter. ,
lpted legal status. Now the late war
as decided, as question of fact, that 4,
scession broke the thread Of constitu-
onal relation between the seeding ,
iates and United States. and the ,
tate governments founded on seces- !
on were illegal and void, and fell ,
18th the Confederate cause. These !
.brics having thus fallen, the people I
the States, as logical necessity, y
-eremi,ted back 10 their Constitutions +
I'd Governments which existed at the
me of secession. All that was neccs- :
.ry-all that the United States, un- 4
ar the Federal Constitution, had the 5
ght TO do-(and that they were \
'und to d0)-was 10 restore those h
'vernments and constitution back =
the people. This was their solemn y
obligation. If il had n
,en promptly recognized and per-
rmed, the Union would have been a
harmonized anu all polit- 4
al disturbance settled. The remedy. y
eretore, for present ills and the only t.
eventive of utter future ruin is, for !
ch department, in its appropriate n
here, and all the departments CON- "
demonstrating the Government a
the United States-to return in
cd faith, to the Constitution. That a.
strnment guarantees the equality Of 4
States in rights and dignity, and n
cognizes the fundamental prin-
DE that each, for itself, shall confer a
d define State citizenship, and pre-. II
-ibe the qualification for exercising
9 elective franchise and holding r,
ice. ~
In making this earnest protest
ainst being placed, by force, under
lr0 dominion, we disavow all feeling
toward that unfortunate 4
%. As we are destined TO live to- &c
ther, we desire harmony and friend n
H. 81 i