The New York herald., 1879-09-18

shtns e faith sy each and all Of the original
that the Union shall se psrpsual \ most conclusive
S in
of state rights asserting a claim of power
the but Se sosa
NOT in the national nor as believed any
the 'Ss isi be- to
~ his o sadsp a
as" X. Tss the ss
edged the eon.noa ~ Of the United States and The
pursuance of the constitution to be for her
s ss land The STATE, have
other other legal they from this they can only
separately. procured their Independence and
their hsry S Of Or tho Hnon gave
The Union is older than any Of the States and In fact
eniss made the Union and sarn the Gsion threw Of
their old for and made them states saeh
independent of the Union OF course forgotten
they entered the Unon nevertheless dependent upon aud
preparatory to coming into the Union.
RIGHTS OF THE STATES
Unquestionaby the States have the powers and
rights reserved to them. IN aud by the national
stitution. and upon this point in another part of
this great message, Mr.. Lincoln says:
This relative national power and State rights
principle y no other than the nrincipe of generality
hded the whols-to the general government; while
whatever concerns only tho State should be left excu
pie about IL.
Mr. Lincoln held that the United States is ma.
tion and that its government possesses ample DO
under the constitution to MAINTAIN it's authority
and enforce its laws i'll every part of its territory
The denial OF this principle by those who asserted
the doctrine of state rights and who rightly claimed
that it wus with State sovereignty made
up an issue which arose of the leading con-
troversies which led TO the civil The result Of
the war decided that controversy favor of nation
atty and in favor of the supremacy of the
national government. This decision is in accordance
with the principles of the fathers. On this day
ninety-twO years ago the delegates convention at
Philsdelphia agreed to the constitution the United
States, which was atterward ratified and adopted.
On the same day, September II, 1887 General Wash
ington letter transmitting the constitution to
the Congress In session in New York In that letter
he sxid:--
The friends of country have long since that
the power of making war peace and teates levy
dent and should be fully and
seessa vested In the Of the Union
ernment all rights Independents
y :nf % s s & .Sa
sct kept steadily n our view that which appears
tion OF Union-n which Is involved prosperity,
felicity. safety. perhaps our national existence.
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION
On the subject Of suffrage MIR. Lincon's guiding
principle WAS that mo good enough to govern
another man without that other mans consent
Thus have from the lips and pen OF Mr.. Lincoln
the great leader and representative Of the Union
cause-in the most solemn and authentic form,
complete statement Of the issues OF the war. He
held the Union is perpetual that its government
national aud supreme aud that all Of its inhabitants
and political rights. These the great
fundamental principles, affirmed on the one side
and denied on the other upon which the appeal was
made to the God of battles. do not undertake to
review the debate to the nature and powers
government Of the Union and to the doctrine of
State rights which began with the foundation OF our
institutions and which was continued until it was
hushed by the clash OF arms. 1t is enough for my
present purpose to say that a matter of history
all OF the political parties Of the past when charged
with. the responsibility OF directing the affairs of
the government, have maintained in their prac-
ciples which were held by President Lincoln The
principles to the powers of the national govern
inent which were acted upon by Washington and
jackson, and which are sustained by the decisions
OF Chief Justice Marshall and by which Lincoln and
the Union armies crushed the REBEL and resc ed
the Republic. among the legitimate and ire
versible results OF the war which ought not to be
questioned
Touching the remaining important controversy
settled Dy the war. the public avowals Of opinion
almost AL in favor OF the faithful acceptance OF
the new constitutional amendments. On this SUBJ
ject the speeches OF public men aud the creeds aud
platforms OF the leading political parties have for
years past been explicit. In 1872 all parties,
in their respective national conventions. adopted
resolutions recognizing the equality OF all men be-
fore the law and pledging themselves, in the words
of the Democratic National Convention. "to MAN.
tain emancipation and acknowledgment and to op-
pose the reopening OF the questions settled by the
recent amendments to the Constitution" In 1876.
the great political parties again. in the language of
the st. LOUIS National Convention, affirmed their
devotion to the constitution o. the United States.
with its amendments univ sscuDpted . final
civil war" Notwithstanding these declarations.
are compelled to take notice that. while very few
citizens anywhere would wish to re-estab-
lish slavery II they could, and no one would
again attempt to break up the Union by
sion, there still remsins in some communities dam
practical denial to the colored citizens of the
political ghts which guaranteed to them by tho
constitution it now is. In the crisis of the
Mr.. Lincoln appealed to the colored people to take
up arms. About two hundred Thousand responded
the CALL enlisted in the Union armies and fought
tor the Union cause under the Union hag. Equal
thus became one OF the essential issues OF the
war. General Sherman said, .when the fight Is
over the hand that drops the musket cannot be de-
MED the ballot" Jefferson said long before, 1.-The
man who fights for the country entitled to vote.
When, with the help of the colored men, the VIC
tory was gained, the fifteenth amendment followed
naturally one OK its legitimate results. No man
can truthfully claim that he faithfully accepts the
true settlements Of the war who sees with indier-
ence the fifteenth amendment practically nullhed.
LAwLEssSEss
No one can overstate the evils which the country
must suffer il hwess and vioient opposition to the
enjoyment of constitutional rights is allowed to DO
permanently successful. Tho lawlessness which
To-day assails the rights Of the coored people will
find other victims Tomorrow. This question be-
longs to no race. to no party and to no section.
1t Is question in which the whole country Is
deeply interested. Patriotism, justice humanity and
material interests all plead the right side of
this question. The colorod people the laborers
who produce the cotton which, going abroad to the
markets of the world. gives that favorable bal.
apcc OF trade which is now doing much for the
vval of all business. The whole fabric of society
preston and injustice they will either become dis
contented aud turbulent destroycrs of prop
crty and not producers of property, they
will abandon the communities which deprive them
OF their inalienable rights. In either social
order and the peaceful industries upon which pros
perity depends are imperilied ana perhaps sacri-
need. 1t will not do to say that this is affair
which belongs solely to the distant States OF the
South. The whole country must suffer if this ques-
tion is not speedily settled. and settled rightly.
Where the two races are numerous prosperity
only exist by the united and harmonious efforts of
both the white peop.e and the coored people. The
only solid foundations TOR peace and progress in
such communities equal and exact justice to
both races. Consider the present situation? What
complaints may have been heard during the
progress of reconstruction. candid men must admit
that all sections and all States equally
garded, aud share alike the rights the privileges
and the benefits of the common government All
that is needed tor the permanent pachcation Of the
country s tho cordial cooperation OF all well dir
posed citizens to secure the faithful observance Of
the equal rights amendments of the constitution.
Happily in the very communities where lawless-
ness has been most general ana most successful,
there eutors OF newspapers and other influential
s.ili li<aps ho mt and