The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-03-15

would III truth seem to have been their
purpose rather to make the defence oftIe
Constitution aud the Union crime, and
to punish fidelity to an oath Of 'offirc, if
counter to party tlictation, by all the
means ut their command. l'bs 'i',I t-
I Happily for the peace Of the country,
tue war has determined, against the as-
sumed power # the States to Withdrawal at
pleasure from Ii, Uniou. The insti,u.
ton Of slavery also found its destruction
in u rebellion commenced in its interest.
It should be borne iu' mind, however,
| that the war neither impaired nor destroy
ed the Constitution, but. on the contrary,
preserved its existence, and made nppa-
4 srent'its real power md enduring strength.
fAll tue rights granted to the States, Of rc.
! served to lhe people thereof, remain there
fore intact. Among those rights is. that
Of the people Of each State to declare the
qualifications Of tlitir own STATE. clectoss.
tlt;is now assumed That Congress can con-
lHoltlls srital rightpJwhicll can hGvcr bo
taken away IRON the States WITHOUT i'm
pairing thc fundamental principles Of tho
Government itself 1t is necessary to tho
existence Of tho States, a. we'll as 10 the
protection OF the liberties Of the people;
Tor the right to select tic elcctor in whom
the, political power of State shall3hc
lodged involves the right, of, the State to
govern itself. When deprived ofthis
prerogativc, tile States will have 10 pow
er worth retaining oa!l will be goGc, aid
they will bcisubject to thearbitrary will
Of Congress, The Government will then
be centralized, if not BY the passagsof
laws; tlienby the adoption, through par
tisan influence, of IN amendment directly
in,eonlict withtbc originul design oftho
Constitution. This provcsllov necessary
it is that The people SHOULD require the iad.
ministfation Of the three great depart
mcntsiof the Government strictly within
the limitations oftlle Constitution. Their
boundaries have been accurately defined,
and neither should DO allowed to trespass
upon the other. nor, above all, to encsoach
upon tho reserved rights Of The. people
and the States. The troubles Of The past
four years will prove to the ration blcs-
sings il they produce 50 desirable are
suit. ,,.,t.s,,'e nasis4q .sie
Upon those who became young men
amid lie sound Of cannon and din Of
arms, and Quietly returned to the farms.
tile factories, aud the schools Of tho land.
will principally fdevolvc the solemn duty
Of perpetuutins the Union i,of the States,
in defence of which, hundredy Of thou
sands Of their comrades expired. and hun
dreds Of millions Of national Obligations
wcrc'incurred. "a manly people will cot
neglect the training necessary 10 resist
aggression, but they, should, be jealous
Test ,l'e civil l'be. made subordinate 10 tho
military element. We need to cucour-
ago, in every Legitimate way. d astady Of
the Conssitutionlfor which The war VAS
wagel, a knowledge of'andt,crerenoc for
whose wise CHECKS by those SO soon IL. oc-
eupy 'hc places il'cd by their sepiors, will
be the only hope Of preserving tho Re-
public. Tliey6ung A,ncn; Of TIC nation,
no: SGT under lic control of party, must
resist the tendency TO ceutraiisatiun4an
out growth Of tbs grca. rcbellion--and be
ia'niliar will, tho fact that tue country
consists Of united States. and tbat when
the States surrendered certain great rights
for the sake Of a, more perfect union, lhey
retained, rights US valuable and important
as those which they reliuquishcd for the
coiGnlon veal. n,
This sound old doctrine, far different
from The teachings That led to Tie ATTEMPT
10 sucede, and kindred theory thaiSiates
were taken out .: tho Union fby1tha rash
acts Of conspirators that happened 10
dwell within !hcir borders, mus. be re-
cciyed and advocated with the enthusiasm
Of carly manhood, or tho people viii bo
iulcd by corrupt combinations Of Tic COM
mercial centres, who 70 plc,horic from
wealth, annually migrate to The capitolof
lle hntion to purchase special Legislation.
Until the Representatives Of tic people in
Congress more fully exhibit lie diverse
views aud d'intcresls Of It'd whole nation,
ond laws cease TO be made without full
discussion a tho bclest Of some party
leader, there will never be aiproper res.
pcct shown by Tic law.mnkipg power
citllcrto1 The judicial or executive branch
Of the Government. ! degeneration Just
beginning to use The ballot box, tits be-
licycd, only need tint .heiy attention
should bo called 10 these considerations to
Indicate, BY ilieir votes, iliat they wish
their representatives 10 observe all tho
restraints which the people, iii adopting
tue Constitution. iu,euded to impose upon
party excess. a., nj i.s .amslria
Calmly. reviewing my administration
Of the Government, ITfeel tliat, with q
sense Of accountability to God, ,s having
cotlscientously cndeaYored TO do, my
Whole "duiy, I have nothing 10 regret.
Etchls have proved The correctness Of The
policy set forth in lily frst aud subse.
qucnt messages; the woes xliich l,avo
followed the REJECTION ofiforbeataicc,
n,agilaI,imiy mud constitutional tulo arc
known and dcplored BY The nation,
| II Is b matter of pride and grr,ifea.ion,
| III, mi y; n, tsn,,, yt,a "A, ,,k Ill, ll..A.