The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-05
and declared themselves invested with power
to iSni 70 fnr ne In a CT sas WhafsneYer.o y

to legislate for MS In all cases whatsoever"
This catalogue of crimes, long rs 1t is. is not
vet complete. the Constitution vests the
judicial power OF the United States In one
supreme court" whose Jurisdiction "shali
extend to all cases arising under this Constitu-
tion y and "ths laws Of the United States"
Encouraged by this promise Of refuge from
tyranny, a citizen Of the United States, VINO,
by the order OF n military comm ander, given
uuder the sanction Of cruel and deliberate
edict Of Congress. had been denied the consti-
tutionaI rights Of liberty of conscience. free
dom of the press and Of speech, personal free
dom from military arrest, OF being held 10
answer for crime only upon prescn tment and
Indictment, OF trial by jury, OF tae WITT OF
habens CORPUS, and the protection OF civil and
Institutional governments citizen thus
deeply wronged appeals to the Supreme
Court for the protection guaranteed to him by
the organic law OF the land. At once n fierce
and excited majority, by the ruthless hand OF
the indges, transferred the sword OF justice to
the General, and remanded the oppressed citi.
zen 10 degradation and bondage worse than
death.
It will also be recorded as one OF the mar
yels of the times that a party claiming for it.
self monopoly of consistency and patriotism,
and boasting, too, of It's unlimited sway, en-.
deayored, by costly and deliberate trial, to
impeach one who defended the Constitution
and the Union not only throughout the war OF
the rebellion. but during his whole term OF Of
fee as Chief Magistrate, but at the same
time could find no warrant or means at their
command to bring to trial even the chlef OF
the rebellion. Indeed, the remarkable failures
in his case were so often repeated that TOT pro-
prietys sake, If for no other reason, it became
at last necessary to extend to him an un-
conditional pardon. What more plainly
than this illustrates the extremity Of party
management and Inconsistency on the one
hand, and of faction, vindictireness, and In.
tolerance, ON the other Patriotism Will
hardly be encouraged when in such record
itsees that its instant reward may DE the most
virnlent party abuse and o6loquy, II not at
tempted disgrace Instead Of seeking to
"make treason odious !" it would, in truth,
seem to have been their purpose rather TO
make the defence of the Constitution and the
Union a crime. and to punish fidelity to m
oath Of office, if counter to party dictation, by
ell the means at their command.
Happily for the peacs Of the country, the
war has determined against the assumed
power Of the States to withdraw at pleasure
also found its destruction in rebellion COM
menced in it's interest. It should be borne In
mind, however, that the war neither i'm
paired nor destroyed the Constitution; but,
on the contrary, preserved its existence ana
made apparent: ito real power and enduring
strength. All the rights granted to the States
or reserved to the people thereof remain,
therefore, intact. Among those rights is
that of the people of each State TO de-
clare the qualifications Of their own state
electors It Is now assumed that Con-
gress can control this vital right, which can
never be taken away from the States with
ont imparng the fundamental principles OF
the Government itself. 1t Is necessary to the
existence Of the States, rs well rs to the pro-
lection Of the Liberties Of the people for the
right to select the elector in whom the politi-
cal mower of State shall be lodged involves
the right of the State to govern itself. When
deprived Of this prerogative the states VIII
have no power worth retaining all Will Dc
gone, and they will be subjected TO the arbl-
frary will of Congress. The Government will
then be centralized, II not by the passage OF
laws. then by the adoption, through partisan
influence, cf an amendment directly in con-
flict with the original design OF the Constitu-
ton. This proves how necessary !: Is tnat the
people should require the administration OF
the three great departments OF the Govern
ment strictly within the limitations OF Inc
Constitution. Their boundaries nave been
accurately defined, and neither should be al
lowed to trespass upon the otneE, nor, aooSe Eve
all, to encroach upon the reserved rights OF the
r;eoc!e and the States. The troubles OF the
mast four wears vii! prove to the nation bless
ings if they produce so desirable 4 result.
Upon those who became young men amid the
sound of cannon and din Of arms, and quietly
raturned TO the farms, the factories, and the
schools OF rs land; will principally deTo!Ve
the solemn duty of perpetuat.ng the union OF
the States, in defence OF which hundred o.
thousands of their comrades expired, ana
hundreds of millions of national ooliSauohs
we're incurred. 4 manly people Will not neg
lect the training necessary 10 resist aggres.
sion, but they should be jealous lest the ciVli
be made subordinate TO the military element
VIC need 20 encourage, in every legitimate
vav. q study Of the Constitution, for which the
war was waced, 4 knowledge Of and reverence
for whose wise checks by those so soon
10 occupy the places filled by their seniors
will he the Cnly hope of preserving the repuD-
lic The Young men OF :he nation, not YET
under the control of party, must TeSiet the
tendency TO cen traliZation-an outSroWtn OF
thn prenL rebelIion-and be familiar with the
fact that the country consists of united States,
and that when the States surrendered cert'lii
great rights for the sake OF more perfect
union they retained rights rs valuable aud
impOr tant as those Wnlcl tlley leilHuuiShtu
for the common veal.
This sCCn,, CID doctrine, far different from
the teachings that led to tbs attempt 10 Sc
cede, and kindred theory that Statec we're
taken out of the Union by the rish acts OF
rouspirators that happened TO dwell within
their borders, must be received and advocated
with the enthusiasm Of early manhood, or the
ueople will be ruled by corrupt C::..ihhtions
Of the commercial centres, VINO, pielhCti Z
from wealth, annually migrate 10 tue caPitai
of the nation to purchase special legislation.
Until the represe natives OF the people In
Congress more fully exhibit the diverse views
and Interests Of the whole nation, ana laws
cease TO be made without fun discussion, NJ Inc
bchest Of some party leader, there VIII never
be n proper respect shown by the la"-1nakihS
mower either to the judicial Or executive
branch of the Government. Ihe generation
lust beginning to use the ballot-box, 1t is be.
iieyed, only need that their attention should
be called to these considerations TO Indicate oy
their votes that they wish their representa-
tiyes TO observe all the restraints when the
people in adopting the Constitution lh'eAu
ed TO impose upon party excess.
Calmly reviewing my administration OF the
Government, feel that, with sense OF ac-
countability to God, having conscient!ousiy
endeayored to discharge my whole duty, l
have nothing TO regret. Events nave proved
the correctness of the policy set forth III my
first and subsequent messages; the woes
which have followed the rejection OF foroear-
ance, magnanimity, and constitutional RUE,
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 n free people, to feel and know tnat In
4 long, arduous, and eventful public life my
action has never been influenced by desire for
gain, and that I can in all sincerity inquire,
" Whom have defrauded? whom have OPP
pressed or off whose hand have l received
any bribe to blind my eyes herewith - NO
responsibility for wars that nave peen "aata
or blood that has been shed rests upon me. MY
thoughts have been those of peace, and my
effort has ever been TO allay contentious among
my countrymen.
Forgetting the. past, let us return to the first
principles of the Government, and, unfurling
the banner of our country, inscrlDe upon II IN
ineffuceable characters, 80 The Cons tltutlon
and the Union one and inseparable."
ANDREW JoESs0G.
Washington, D. c., March 4, 1862
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