The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-07-26

to be formally man9uvered in every
political conflict" &c and about our
recognizing a pro slavery 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 forhear all comments upon
them, except to say that We know of
no proposition or with, in any part of
the Southern States, entertained by
even a single individual, to organize a
party upon any of these conjectural
hypothesis.
The right of secession for all prac-
teal purposes was, as we understand,
decided 10y the war, not that war can
ever settle or decide any principle or
truth in matters of government or
Justice between men or States, any
more than in matters of Science, Art
or Religion. War may decide, and
may determine permanently questions
of policy, but never questions of Right.
A Legitimate result Of the late war,
we believe, was the settlemcnt-and
settlement forever-in this country,
OF the policy of Secession asa practi
cal mode of redress against any usur-
pations on the part of the Federal
Government.
The legitimate result of the war has
been accepted in good faith by all
these States which recently resor.ed to
this mode of redress for what they re-
garded breaches of the common COM
pact, and threatened usurpations by
their confederates. Hereafter the
mode of redress for all abuses of pow
err by the Federal Government. which
they seek, will be to make common
cause with all the friends of the Con
stitution in all the States.
So of rhe old question of negro
slavery, The Southern seeding States
a1l-every one of them-abolished
that institution by their w acts.
This act, on their part, respectively,
may or may not be considered as a le-
gitimate result of the war. Whether
the one or the other, however, it was
done by these States themselves, and
after the close of the war-after they
had fully resumed all their obligations
to the Union under the Constitution,
and were fully recognized by the Fed
eral Government a constituent mem
bers of the Union, and entitled to an
equal 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 Thir-
teenth Amendment of the Constitu-
ton is now a valid part of the organic
law of the Union.
These questions, therefore, relating
to the right of Secession, for all prac-
teal purposes are considerations, rs
we'll as those relating to the nature
and extent of negro servitude in the
Southern States, we consider empbati-
cally, among the ''dead issues" We
have no disposition to receive them,
nor any questions relating 10 them an
tecedent 10 the a We believe, also,
that in this matter, we but repeat the
universal sentiment of the Southern
States. We are for dealing with the
present and live issues now be-
fore us. These are the usurpations Of
the majority faction in the Congress of
the States since the close OF the war
since the proclamation of peace, and
since the restoration of the Union by
the resumption of their obligations to
the Constitution, by all the States
which had attempted to withdraw
from it.
The arraignment of the abuses of
power in these usurpations, "before
the bar of public reason" for popular
condemnation, is the platform OF which
we stand. 1t is no 'sdead PLATFORM"
or platform erected on 'tdead issues"
unless the principles of the rights Of
the people, as well as the rights of the
States be dead. If this be so, it is
useless TO say anything about the
usurpations of Congress in the Ku-
Klux bill, or the Election bill, or any
other act of despotism 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
lsurpation, and to save the country
rom so lamentable a catastrophe.
This Mission is not to be performed
oy "cunning" or tricks of any sort,
md above all, it is not to be perform
I'd by accepting as rightfully accom-
facts, such as ere not 10 be
questioned or assailed; any of these
usurpations of power by which
he Ku-Kiux bill and the Election bill
Ire claimed to be rightful exercises of
authority.
These fatal blows at Public Liberty
Ire but the results of the preceding
more glaring u%surpations. They are
put the fruits of the others, and ''by
heir fruits we shall know them" In
he language of the St. Louis RepubH-
"When a central government be-
,ins to appropriate the Powers of sur
'ounding States or Provinces, it never,
If its own accord, ceases from the
PROCESS" -
This Process was begun by the ma
GRITTY faction in Congress in their Re-
construction policy so called, by which,
It one blow, ten of the States of the
Union were stricken from the roll of
and put in a condition
worse than that of Provinces
They were reduced, with all their seven
Millions of population, TO q condition
worse than that of serfdom. They
we're subjected entirely to military
'ule, without the recognition of q
civil right!
What are the usurpations of the
bill, compared to this fellest
If all blows at the very citadel of
Public Liberty 3?
Now, we advise and counsel no for
:ible resistance to any of these usur-
We advise obedience to them