Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-16
A MistaLa Of ar RIaine,s-

ton on the held OF GettySDu1gs TOOK &C
cssion. among other things. to declare
that the tremendous battle fought there
demolished the theory of States rights.
Mr.. Blaine, though less Influential now
ths1 a. an earlier period in his career,
nevertheless commands admiration from
large portion of the Northern people,
and his utterances on matters not direct
IL connected with the administration
command credence and respect His
declaration above quoted. however. may
be accepted, even at the North, as simply
absurd. Two questions were at stake at
Gettysburg-the right of the Confederate
States 20 live apart from their sister COM
monwealths, and to regulate their domes-
tic institutions without the interference
of the Federal Government Gettysburg
fastened the answer to both questions.
and it was returned at AppOnattox. Yet
when returned it was but a partial reply.
The first question was decided by the
logic Of might, and left the South or
the North free to put it again and sus-
tain it BY the sword. That either sec
tor or that any number of States will do
so is highly improbable Certainly after
the sacrifices ard failure Of her former
attempt the South does not. and proba-
bly, never will, desire to do so. How
the North might act, did she feel it ne
cesssry, we cannot tell. She has never
been tried. Secession is a right that
may be conceded or disputed The
North chose to dispute it, and did so
successfully. So much for the first
question at issue at Gettysburg.
The second questionable regulation
of the peculiar institution of the South
was not settled. though the way was
opened to its solution by the results Of
the war. Slavery was abolished by the
action of the requisite number of States
acting in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution. Though the thirteenth
amendment secured the requisite MAORI
ty by adding the votes Of certain States
in its favor that we're not represented by
the men who spoke for them, neverthe
less the mandate of the Constitution was
obeyed in form at least, if not in spirit.
That amendment and the two that sup
plemented it-and which likewise owed
their adoption to the anomaly Of re-
cognition of the Southern States as
States before they would be allowed to
return to the Union as States-the South
accepts, and accepts fully, alike from the
dictates of common sense as from the
promptings of self interest.
True, in the reconstruction epoch, the
blinded Radical majority in Congress
and the malignant soldier who sat in the
White House attempted to blot out the
| individuality Of the Southern common
wealths, but despite their ingenuity and
disregard of all the requirements Of the
Constitution, they failed in their purpose.
and every State in the Federal Union is
to day sovereign, free and autonomous
within the limits of the powers reserved
to itself and the people. Despite the
usurpations and attempted encroach-
ments of the Federal Government under
the guidance of Radicslism, the States
to-day owe it no more allegiance, no
more duties, no more support than was
prescribed by the Constitution when first
ratified. In fact, they owe it less than
when our organic law was first adopted,
for since then the tenth amendment was
engrafted therein, and it expressly de.
clares that ''the powers not delegated to
the United States are reserved to the
States or to the people"
Here is the barrier that foiled Stevens,
Morton, Sumner, and the other arch
apostles Of Radicalism. They recog.
| nized il even when they forced the
passage of the negro suffrage amend
ments, and the State of Georgia has the
right to-day, as the petty little common
wealth of Rhode Island has always done.
to regulate suffIage within her borders.
The Federal Government cannot to-day
abridge the autonomy Of a single State
IN this Union. Independent local gov
eminent can only be destroyed by the
consent of the States themselves, and
until that is obtained the theory Of
States rights, as Mr. Blaine is pleased
10 term a cold, stubborn fact, is as
sound as the title of the Federal Union.
1t is even more permanent, for the re-
quisite number of States, if so disposed,
can change or abolish the Union.
As we have said, that this will ever be
again attempted is not within the range
Of probability. But, on the other hand,
that a sovereign commonwealth would
commit tsl9 de sc is just as improbable.
Mr. Blaine is fertile in political pyro-
technics, but his last rocket il far more
harmless than many he has sent up before.
The theory of States rights has never
been demolished, and receives to-day the
cordial support of the millions Of free
men who march under the banner Of
Democracy, as well as Of every true Am
erican who understands the spirit and
genius of this government
| "
The Galveston Neies remarks that the
protective duty of wooden goods is GER
tainly a tempting bait to Texas wool
growers, but they overlook the fact that