Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-07-25
Spirit of ysfftrsnn.
oharlestOwu, West virg'a., July 25.
Son What Issue shall we go into the
Fight2"
[From the AtIanta fGeorri.l sun.l

VI Iue Sttu uIC' IN u there are many things
which We cordially approve, while there are
some Others which we do not know that we
rightly understand.
As to the issues upon which the Democracy
Of the Uuited States should go into the great
civic struggle in 1872, We entirely agree with
the Enquirer in saying that the whole ques-
ton is presented in n nutshell, by the st.
Louis Republican, in that one paragraph
quoted by the Enquirer, aud which is in these
words:
"The Constitutional question before the
people then is not whether State has a right
TO secede, or TO nullify any act of Congress.
That was decided, in fact, by the late war
but whether State has any rights which the
National Government may not, at its pleasure,
setaside. When Central Government begins
to appropriate the powers of surrounding
States or provinces, it never, of its own accord,
ceases from the process. 1t continues the en-
crOachment, if unresisted, until it has become
unparalleled, and the States reduced to out.
lying dependencies"
The real true living issue involved in the
next contest in this country, as we view il. Is
thus briefly but poin,edly stated. The only
change or modification We would make in it.
would be to strike out the words National
Government" and insert in their place Fed.
eral Government :" hut the context seems 10
show clear enough that the meaning of the
writer was the same. He only fell into the
very common error Of speaking of the "Ee3-
eTdl Government" as a ".N0ttoaak Govern,
mcbt."
Now, what We do not know that We rightly
understand in this article from the EHou;rcr.
Is, what is therein stated about the absurdity
OF the Southern States keeping up party
"orGan'Zed on the basis of the right Of Seces.
sion, To be formally maneuvered in every po>
htical couflict," &c., and about our ''reorganiz.
ing Pro-sIavery party in the country" &c.
We say, We do not know that we rightly
understand these and other like portions Of the
article in question, and therefore forbear aIl
comments upon them. except to say that we
know OF no proposition or wish. in any part of
the Southern States, Gutertaiued by even a
single individual, TO organize u party upon
any "f these Onjectural hypotheses
The right OF secession for all practical pur.
poses Was, as We understand, decided by the
war; not that war can ever settle or decide
any Pri"rIpie or 'rmh in matters of govern.
nent or justice between men or States. any
more than ia matters of Science, Art or Re-
ligion. War may decide, aud may determine
permanently, questions OF J,oIicy, but never
questions Of Htyh'.
y Legitimate result of the late war. no
believe, was tie settlement and settlement
ioreyer-iu this country, of the policy Of Sc.
ceSSion as practical mode of redress AGAINST
nny uSGrpai!ons on the part Of the Federal
Government.
THIS legitimate result of tho war has been
accepted in good faith by all those States
which rccently resOrtcd to this mode of re-
dress Tor what they regarded breaches of the
common compact, and threatened usurpations
10y their c0ntcddEates. Hereafter the mode
OF redress for all abuses Of power by the Fed
era Government, which they seek, will be TO
make common cause with all the friends cf
the Constitution in all the States.
;" OF tie old question o! negro slavery
The Southern seeding States, aII-evcrv one
OF then.-abnli>hed that institution bv their
own acts. This act on their parts respective
ly may or may not be considered as a Icgiti-
mate result OF the war. Whether the one
OF the other, however, it was done by these
States themselves, aud after the close of tho
war-aiter they had fully resumed all their
obligations to the Union under the Copsri,u-
tion, and were fully recognized by the Fed.
eTaI Government as constituent members OF
the Union, aud entitled to an caual voice on
all questions pertaining TO its welfare. even
those touching changes in the organic law.
1t Is by the acts OF these States that The Tbir.
teenth Amendment Of the Constitution is now
a valid part of the organic law Of the Union.
These questions, therefore, relating TO the
right Of Secession, for all practical purposes
are considerations, as well as those relating to
the nature and extent of negro servitude in
tie Southern States we consider en- Dhaf,caNy,
among the ''de0d issHcS." We have no dis
position to revive them, nor auy questions re.
latlng to them aDtecedent to the war. We
believe also. that in this matter. we but re-
at ha II
States. We are for dealing with the T.cia1
present and the lire issues now before us
These are the USlrp1honS of the majority
faction in the Congress of the States since the
close OF the war-siHcc the proclamation of
peace and since the restoration Of the Union
ny the resumption of their obligations 20 the
Constitution, by all the States which had at
tempted to Withdraw from it.
The arraignment of the abuses of mower
IN these uSurpations. "before the bar of pnb-
lie reason for popular cundemna;ion Is the
platform on which we stand. 1t is 10 dead
platform, Or platform erected on dead j.
sues, unless the principles Of the rights Of
the people, as we'll the rights of States be
dend. 1t this be so it is useless to say any-
thing about the usurpatiOns of Congress- in
the Ku-Klux Bill, or the Election Bill, or
any other act of despo;ism by a confessed
consolidated empire.
But believing that this fatal end has not
yet been reached, we believe that the High
Mission Of the Democratic party is far from
being ended. Its great work is to arrest the
progress OF usurPatiOn, and to save the coun.
try from so lamentable catastrophe.
This Mission is not to be performed by
cunning or tricks of any sort, and above all,
1T is not to be performed by accepting as
rIghtfu!ly accomplished facts, such as are not
to be questioned or assailed any of these