Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-03-06
CLARIFIED, Pa, WEDNESDAY, MARCH g. 1872.

tho havoc thus far wrought by the NO.
gro party shall stand us permanent
condition of tho country. They nrc
in tho habit of using such language ns
this : "The question Of States rights
was submitted to the arbitration OF
arms, and it was lost, and VIC must
now tako the consequence" Just ex-
nctly what the rcvolutioniSts say.
But tins not true. Tho question OF
State rights--we mean Of local self
government over all its domestic af.
fairs--was never lcgitimatcly involved
in the war Tho only question In.
volvcd was tho right Of q Sluto to
resume the exercise Of the powers
which it had delegated to tho Federal
Government. This was the only
question in issue, the right of rcsump
ton Of tho powers which had been
delegated. But tho question of tho
right ola State TO absolute sovereignty
over all its domestic concerns, was
not in dispute. Even Lincoln's proc.
lamalion declared "That hereafter, us
heretofore, the war will be prosecuted
for the object of practically restoring
tho constitutional relations Jeticeen the
United States and each Of the States"
Certainly the constitutional relations
between the United States and the
States by no means includes the do
nestle sovereignty Of the States.
The internal organization or organic
rights Of the States would be the
same, whatever their constitutional
relations were TO the Federal Govern
mcnt. Tho powers which they had
delegated to the Federal Government
did not involve the States supreme
control over all their domestic con.
Germs. Whether they succeeded in
rcsuming these delegated powers or
not, the organic character of the
States would not be changed by any
principle involved in tho question of
resumption. This fact Lincoln clear
" confessed in his proclamation. The
samo thing was confessed in his in.
augcral address, when he said, 81 de-
clare that | have no purpose, directly
or indirectly, TO interfere with slavery
IN tho States where IL exists. be
lievc that have no lawful right to do
SO Here is plain, straightforward
declaration that the relations between
tho Federal Government and the
several States did not involve the
question of the domestic sovereignty
of The States IN the least degree. The
Republican convention that nominated
Lincoln, expressly affirmed the same
doctrine IN this resolution "Resofred,
That the maintenance inviolatc of the
right of each State to order and con.
troll its own domestic institutions &c
cording to its own judgment cxclu-
sivcly is essential TO the balance OF
power on which our political fabric
depends"
This same principle of perfect local
sovereignty of the States was also ai
firmed by the Radical Congress, in
February, 1861, as follows "Resoiued,
That neithcr the Federal Government,
nor the people or government of non
slave holding States, have purpose
or u constitutional right to legislaie
mon or to interfere with slavery in
any of tho States of this Union"
Then, after the first battle of Bull
Run, on July I'd, 1861, Congress again
annoinccd the same thing in this
manrcr: "Resolued, That tho war is
wagcl by tho government of the
Unilctl States not in spirit OF con
quest Or subjugation, nor for the pur'
pose bf ovcrthrowing or interfering
with The rights or institutions OF the
STATED" 1t is just barely possible
that Congress may have been triilc
scared about this time, and was there
fore hot entirely responsible for its
rcsolSes yet it made this record, and
like many others it must stand,
whether they like il or not. Mr.
Seward affirmed the Same doctrine IN
his instructions to Minister Adams
when that gentleman represented
this country near the Court OF ST
james AT that time, in all their OF
fetal declarations, neither the Prcsi
dent nor his cabircl nor even Con
gress dared maintain that the rights
of tho States, SO far rs their perfect
domestic sovereignty is concerned,
wcrc in any degree involved in the
issues of the war.
Knowing all this, and knowing that
II is tho only rational theory, We look
with feelings ofpity, yea, even with
contempt, upon the cownrdiy sneak
who weakly or ignorantly comedies
that any State lost her rights in The
war There was no right lost in Tho
war. Right can never be lost b,
war. Wrong may win, but defeated
aud crushed, right is not lost III
eternal principle stands ever ih'
same, in defeat or victory. Tho do
mcstc sovereignty and perfect rlgh
Of local self government in tho south
crn States was never defeated, be
cause ~ was no part of tho lato war, a
they who wngcd that war repeated,
confessed. That foreign or cxtcrnn