, 1872-01-15
Explanatory.

The editor was imperatively called
sway to Olympia and Steilacoom last
week and consequently contributed no.
thing to the editorial columns of the pa
per. Tfs psinters, in order to Keep up
appearances, plAeed under our editorial
Mad, a. leader, a very able and elab-
srate article from distinguished wri-
Ter whose standpoint we cam never
occupy and whose plumes we are by far
too selfconscious to .fisfunt as our own.
We. daem this explanation due to our
own character for consistency, because
while we in the main agree with the
conclusions of the writer, there are
shades of difference between us as to
Premises vbioh,, taeughs. apparently
slight, are the tissue from which greatly
diverse theories of government are woy-
en-. For example: The writer admits
that the heresy of State Sovereignty was
exploded by bullets, but State indivldu-
ality was not destroyed by the same
means. Mr.. Morton logically argues
ffom the same premises, that State
Sovereignty having been destroyed By
the war, sovereignty reverted to. the
General Government, the war making
power. We reject the premises as un-
safe and Inconsistent with the maintain
ance Of our former system of govern
ment-the only purpose for which the
war was justified or justifable. The
war changed certain conditions-the
abolition of slavery, for instance but it
settled no principle, but the well estab-
lished physical prinpcile of the superio
rity of strength over weakness. A very
large majority of those who enlisted to
fight the battles Of the Union did SO
with the sole and single purpose of
maintaining the integrity of the Union
and the supremacy Of the Constitution.
with the reserved rights of the States
snimpaired, and but few of the more
ambitious and designing then dreamed
Of using the war for the purpose Of sub
verting or changing the constitution of
tae Government. ALI innovations or
changes of the Constitution since have
been made upon the pretence of politi-
cal necessity, which knows no law.
Ir. Douglas, who gave the full tribute
e his mighty genius to the prosecution
If the war to maintain the integrity of
the Union, protested with his dying
Breath that the Constitution must be
preserved as the vital principle of the
Onion, and the reserved rights of the
States be maintained inviolate. Mr..
Lincoln, with his incissiye common
sense, declared in advance that war
could settle no controversy of principle;
that when the war was over all of the
Questions at issue would remain pre-
,;isely as they were, subject to the action
Of the civil government. There are but
two primary principles of government
force and consent; to admit one is to re-
Yct the other. Every measure recog-
nized or advocated as logical sequence
of war. is essentiallya a measureFof force,
aud hence hostile to the principle apoE
'ehicn our government is founded. Mr..
AIorton's idea is Imperialism, pure and
simple-rule by Divine right-the CEN
tral head representing Deity, in.its un-
limited power. His reviewer recognizes
the same primary principle in a state of
modified developement; the rights of
the States and-the liberty Of the citizen
is asserted not as inherent, but as vested
rights, subject to the conditions of the
war power. ....e- ..... ..-,.....
But we do not propose to discuss
these questions now, any further than
to state positions. We will elaborate it
baroaftar