Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-05

hands and within their own borders-ques-
tons which they alone can adjust bat which
are assuredly rendered more difficult to them
by their jealousy and distrust of the national
government; and in certain respects these
questions are being continually complicated
and rendered more embarrassing by the &C
ton OF these states themselves.
When, after the close OF the rebellion, the
states engaged in IL were readmittCd 20 par
t1cipation in the government or the UaIon,
hey all came in with constitutions distinct
iy recognizing and affirming the paramount
authority of the national government AID
the paramount allegau due to IL from
every citizen of the United States. Several
of the states thus reconstructed have since
changed their constitutions, and in every
II stance save one they have struck out the
paramount authority OF the Union aud the
paramount allegiance of the citizen 10 the
national government. The latest example
is that OF Georgia. that has just voted for a
convention TO revise her constitution on
which she was admitted TO representation in
Congress, ard her distinguished senator,
Mr.. Hill, l. credited by the public press with
declaring that among the prime motives for
changing the constitution OF Georgia is To
strike from its pages the assert on that the
late war was a r, bellion, and further TO
erase and annul that majestic utterauce con-
tanned in the thirty third section of the dec
laration of fundamental principles" which
expresses more true patriotism than was ever
before proclaimed on the soil OF Georgia. II
is in these memorable words:
The state OF Georgia shall forever re-
main n enbeT OF the American union; the
people thereof are part of the American
nation; every citizen thereof owes para
mount allegiance 10 The Constitution and
govern mcnt OF the United states. and no
law or ord nance OF this state in contra ven
tlon or subyersion thereof shall ever have
any binding force"
Mr.. Hill i reported as saying that this pa
trioJic provision should be struck from the
organic law of Georgia, and he concluded
his speech 10y assuring ms hearers that the
full power of the south is Just dawuing and
= Wi
control the government of the union.
In view of these significant facts. aud still
more significant tendencies in the solthern
part OF our country, ask men Of al parties
here assembled to day on the soil of Connec-
ticut, il they think II wise To provide now by
the acquisition of Mexican territory for the
creation of additional states holding these
views of the national government as inev-
itably they would hold them by reason of
proximity OF location, and by the character
and creed of the men who would naturally
inhabit and control them. In the states
north of a certain line a countless majority
of the people OF all parties believe their par
ment of the United States, so that "A conflict
between a northern state aud the United
States is practically imposs bic.
In majority of the states south of the
same line the great mass of those who term
themselves the governing class believe IN an
allegiance TO their respective local govern
ments superior to that which they owe TO the
government of the Union. II Is the same
heresy that hurried tens OF thousands of
brave and honorable men into a conflict
with the government In le6l. And now, six
teen years having elapsed, VITA their fright
full record of war and of blood, of cruelty
and OF carnage, the tragedy ends 10 one
important aspect just where IL began W..
the men who precipltated the conflict, in
solid power from Maryland to Mexico, reso-
Lutte In purpose, and holding with tenacity
the creed that underlay the rebellion-a creed
that is utterly irrecOncilable with a lasting
devotion TO The union of the states do moi
slightest tnlllf those V e w
honestly held by those vino avow them; they
are proclaimed 10y able men with the force
and skill, 10, indeed of logic, but of a soph-
istry which deceives the unwary AID some
times entTaps even the watcaful.
There can be no doubt, / think, that an
overwhelming majority Of the people OF the
country, and especially of the north, are
hostile TO further annexation of southern
territory.
| believe that southern control in tie gov
eminent of the Union is the worst possible
result even for the south itself. ! believe
that IL il menacng and dangerous TO every
interest III the land. / believe that the men
who in battle and In council saved the Union
should govern it. ! believe that the men who
for years sought the life Of the Union should
not be entrusted with its supreme conirol /
believe thai the heTesy of the cit zen's pri-
nary allegiance being due to his state-a
heresy which has already wrought so much
misery and shed so much innocent blood.
,hould be confined to the states that cherish
1t, and not permitted 10 install itself i'm the
q yernmeht of the nation; and finally, be-
lieve that any policy which cOntemplates, or
by sny possibility involves the anne xation
OF Mexican territory, or any other edition
20 The disturbed elements of the south, is at
war with the highest interests of every
American citizen, OF the generation that now
is, and of the countless generations that in
the providence of God shall succeed to our
proud title and TO its continually widening
responsibilities.
After Mr.. Blaine's speech was concluded
he was loudly applauded.