North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-03-24
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, MAR. "a, 1869.

the war has determined against tn
assumed power of the states to Withdraw
ut pleasure from the union. The institu
ton of slavery also found its destruction
in the rebellion commenced in its interest
1t should be borne in mind, however, tha
the war neither impaired nor destroyed
the constitution, but on the contrary
preserved its existence, and made apparen
its real power and enduring strength. AL
rights granted to the states or reserved t
the people are, therefore, intact. Anon.
these rights is that of the people of eacf
state to declare the qualifications of theil
own state electors. 1t is now assumed
that congress can control this vital right
which can never be taken away from
states without impairing the Fundamental
principles of the government itself. 1t is
necessary to the existence of the states as
well as to the protection of the liberties oil
the people; for the right to select the
electors in whom the political power oil
the state shall be lodged involves tire rish,
of the state to govern itself. When de-
prived Of this perogative, the states will
have no power worth sustaining. All will
be gone, and they will subjected to the
arbitrary will of congress. The govern.
ment will then be centralized, if not by
the passage Of laws, then by the adoption,
through partisan influence, of an amend
ment directly in conflict with the original
design Of the constitution. This proves
how necessary it is that the people should
, require the administration of the three
great departments of the government to
be strictly within the limits Of the consti.
tuition. Their boundaries have been
accurately defined, and neither should be
allowed to trespass on the other, nor,
| above all, to encroach upon the reserved
rights of the people and the states. The
| troubles of the past tour years will prove
to the nation blessings if they produce so
desirable result.
Upon those who became young men
amid the sound of cannon and the din of
arms, and who guilty returned to the
farms, the factories, and schools of the
land, will principally devolve tile solemn
duty of perpetuating the union of the
thousands Of their comrades expired, and
hundreds of millions Of obligations were
incurred. A manly people will not neg
lect the training necessary to resist ag-
gression but they should be jealous that
the civil be nj made subordinate to the
military element. We need to encourage,
in every legitimate way, study of the
constitution for which the war was waged,
u knowledge of, and reverence for those
whose wise checks, ly those so soon to
occupy the places filed by their seniors,
will be the only hope of preserving the
republic. The young men of the nation,
not yet under the control Of party, must
resist the tendency to centralization,-an
outgrowth of the great rcbellion,-and be
familiar with the fact that the country
consists of the United States, and that
when Il e states surrendered certain great
rights for the sake of a more perfect un-
ION, they retained rights as valuable and
important as those they relinquished for
the common wCal This sound old doc
trine, far different from teachings that led
to the attempt to secede, and kindred
theory, that the states were taken out of
the union by the rash acts of the conspir-
ators that haI p,ned to dwell within their
borders, must be received and advocated
with the enthusiasm of early manhood, or
the people will be ruled by corrupt COM
binations Of the commercial centres, who,
plethoric from wealth, annually
emigratea to the capital of the
nation to purchase special legislation.
Until the representatives of the people
in congress more fully exhibit the diverse
views and interests of the whole nation,
laws will continue to be made without full
discussion at the behests of some party
leaders, and there will never be proper
hxr hn 1,,,v
either to the judicial or executive branch
of the government. The generation just
beginning to use the ballot, it is believed,
only need that their attention be called to
these considerations to indicate by their
votes that they wish their representatives
to observe all the restraints which the
people in adopting the constitution, in
tended to impose on party excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration of
the government, l feel that, with sense
of accountability to God, having conscien-
tiousiy endeavored to discharge my whole
duty, l have nothing to regret. Events
have proved the correctness of the policy
set forth in my first ard subsequent mes
sagcs. The woes which have followed the
rejection Of forbearance, maSnanimity and
the constitutional rule, are known and
deplored by the nation. 1t is matter of
pride and qualification, in retiring from
the most exalted position in the gift of the
people, to feel and to know that, in long,
arduous and eventful public life, my ac-
ton has never been influenced by a desire
fDr gain, and that can, in all sincerity,
inquire, whom have defrauded? Whom
have l oppressed? Or, at whose hand
have | received any bribe to blind mine
eyes herewith? No responsibility for
wars that have been waged, or blood that
has been shed rests on me. My thoughts
have been those of peace, and my effort
has ever been to allay contention among
my countrymen.
Forgetting the past let us return to the
first principles of the government and,
unfurling the banner of our country, in
cribe upon it in indelible characters, ''The
Constitution and the Union,--One and in
separable." ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, March 4, 1869.
| How RAMSAY PAID Ills RENT.-Wit is