Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-18
Living Issues and Settled Questions.

sequent to the war, were not and could
not be so settled.
1. The question of the right of
State under the Constitution to secede
from the Union was settled by the arbi-
trament of arms. 1t never will be at
tempted again under our political system.
But this does not affect the ultima ratio
or right of revolution asserted in the
Declaration of Independence, and in the
fundamental laws of the land. That is
a different question, but one which is,
however. dependent greatly upon the
p0aoer of maintaining it.
9. The question of negro slavery was
settled BIZ the aoGr and its results. The
difference of opinion upon this subject,
which in the course of its agitation be
came an irrepressible conflict, produced
the war The Constitution had guaran-
teed to the people of each State complete
control over their domestic institutions.
In the Union the Southern States could
have maintained their rights in this re-
gard, although greatly annoyed and dis
turbed in their domestic tranquility and
safety by the sectional nti-slavery move
ments of the Republican party, which
had succeeded in getting the control Of
the General Government But mas
much as that party had refused
a compliance with the constitutional
provision for the return of fugi-
tive slaves, had given encourage
meut to the escape of slaves, and was
giving countenance and protection to its
fanatical partisans who were trying to
instigate instructions among the slaves,
the people of the Southern States deter
mined to secede from the Union, aud in
so doing took upon themselves a war to
maintain the institution of slavery. The
President proclaimed as a war measure
the emancipation of the slaves, and or
ganized them in part into military forces
to aid in putting down the rebellion.
And about the time of the close of the
war the Constitution of the United States
was so amended as 10 prohibit slavery
forever in all the States. In this the peO-
| pie of the Southern States have acqui.
esced, so that that question is .foreUer set
tied and at rest
g. The Constitution of the United
States was further amended by the pro
vision that neither the United States nor
any State shall assume to pay any debt
or obligation incurred in aid of insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss of eman-
cipation of any slave. This, with all the
other provisions in the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the Constitution
have settled and put at rest all questions
upon the subjects to which they relate.
1t is true that these amendments of
the Constitution were adopted soon
after the war, and under the excite
ment and passions engendered by it,
and while the Southern States were
held and treated as conquered provinces,
and before they were allowed a repre-
sentation in Congress. And it would
have been far more just, fair and mag
unanimous to have admitted the represent
atives from the Southern States into
Congress, and given them hearing on
the matters of those amendments which
were of vital interests to the Southern
people, before the adoption of any such
changes in the fundamental law of the
land But justice, fairness and magma
nimity toward the Southern people have
not been characteristic of this Republican
party Usually the victor, whether
savage or civilized, is generous and
magnanimous to fallen foe And espe-
cially was such a course enjoined here.
The war had arisen out of the difference
Of opinion on the slavery question, and
the people on each side had fought
bravely in defense of their own
convictions of what were tn ir
rights Rights of properly, and
the very structure of the social fabric
in the South, were interviewer with the
institution of slavery, which had existed
in all the States when the Constitution
and the Union were formed. But the
conflict of opinion on the subject had
become so irrepressible, that, in 1860,
had the slave States been the strongest
and had they elected pro-slavery Presi-
dent and pro'slavery majority in Con-
gress, and proceeded to enact laws to
protect slavery in the Territories of the
| United States, and also to protect the
transit of slaves through the free States,
the Northern States in the control of the
Republican party, especially the New
England States, would most certainly
have withdrawn or attempted to with
| draw from the Union, This is made
manifest from the proceedings of the
| New England States in the Hartford
Convention, held at Hartford, Conn, in
December, 1914.
There is yet another reason why the
people of the Southern States should
have been treated generously and mag
unanimously. The great bone of conten-
ton and disturbing element, negro
slavery, had been abolished at their e.
penSe, the very structure of their social
system disorganized, their country de-
vastated and laid waste TO great extent
and the people of those States utterly
Frustrated in their business affairs, for
attempting to defend themselves in rights
believed by them to have been sacredly
secured to them in the Constitution as
conscentiously, most certainly, as did
the New England people in asserting
| their rights in the Hartford Convention
in 1914
But, however great the hardships, suf-
ferings and losses to the people of the
! Southern States, Slavery a0GS abolished for
eg6r, and these constitutional amend
ments were adopted, and have been ac-
| quiesced in, and are now accomplished
facts and settled forever. So much for
questions passed and at rest.
But the acts and proceedings of this
Republican party still in power, and
claiming credit and public confidence,
| furnish living issues of vital interest to
| the country. Has this party shown it.
self to have been patriotic and faithful to
the Constitution and to the rights and
| interests of the people, or has it been
corrupt, regardless of the great inter.
ests of the country, and governed by a
depraved lust for power for partisan
| purposes? Former numbers of the
Register have shown the nefarious means
whereby this party had acquired power
by pandering to the sectional prejudices
and passions of the people, and arraying
one part of the people in hostility to an
other part, and involving the country in a
direful civil war. After the war was
over, and when every patriotic and
statesmanlike consideration dictated a
course of Cancellation and the restoration
OF harmony and fraternity among the
people, this Republican party denied a
representation in Congress to the South
ern States, held them as subiugated
provinces, aud imposed upon them mill
tary despotism. The manifest and only
rational object of this wanton oppression
was to enable the Republican party to
perpetuate its partisan power.
In a series of articles hereafter the
Register will present full review Of the
reconstruction measures of Congress, and
the partisan military governments
organized to suppress the political power
of the Southern States.
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A New SUBMARINE VESSEL. "A young
Roumanian engineer, M. Trajan Theodo-