Year: 1863

/ He contended that the Constitution /
still the supreme law in all the states, tha


acts of secession by any of them are legall


void. and whenever the rebellion is sup


pressed the Southern States will return


with their constitutional rights unimpairet
and the federal government will have acquir


ed no powers not conferred by the origina
compact. 1t becomes important TO conside


the practical effect of the proclamation il
its bearing upon the war and the rebellion
He regarded it as the great stumbling blocl
in the way of a restoration Of the Union
We have abundant evidence that it ha:
paralyzed Union men in the South and
strengthened the spirit of resistance. I'm
til it is abandoned, he firmly believed that
approach to genuine and lasting peace
will be 1ound impossible. Wesee many in,
dications that large numbers of people
from the South desired TO return to the
Union. But they naturally enquired upon
what terms and conditions they are to be
received? To what are they expected to
submit? Are the states to remain states
with their ancient rights under the old
Constitution, or must they come mutilated,
dwarfed, and divested of their essential at
tributes and powers? Are they to regulate
the relations between the black and white
population within their limit, or is this i'm
portans function to be usurped by the
federal government Are the white men OF
tie South to exercise again the rights OF
selEgovernment, or shall tLey be ruled as a
subiugated people and compelled 10 forced
equality with the negro? These are ques-
tions which must be met and answered by
both government and people, sooner or
later.


According to the best light before us, the
purpose of the administration Is TO continue
the war. until slavery is abolished, even
though the Southern States and people
should consent to lay down their arms and
return to their constitutional allegiance. In
the first place, this policy is announced by
many leading senator's and representatives
in the confidence of the administration. 1t
is distinctly proclaimed by the Solicitor O
the Var Department, who declares that the
Southern States are not to be received into
the Union on the constitutional basis, but
are to be held in subjection by military
force as conquered territories, and large por
tions of the country distributed among
the emancipatcd slaves. In harmony with
the same design, the Adjutant- General OF
the United States informs us to his eternal
infamy be it spoken) that he arrested and
imprisoned in the guard house consldera-
bio body of American soldiers because they
refused to respond in cheers for the NEGRO
policy" of the government. And these
were soldiers who bravely fought under the
glorious flag of the Union in defence Of the
And what is the intention
OF the President himself? 1TewaS recently
visited by delegation from Louisiana rep
resenting respectable portion of the peo.
pie of that state, proposing to return to the
Union and offering to hold constitutional
election Of representatives. Did he wei
come them back and hail with JOY this evl-
dence of returning patriotism and reason
among misguided people?


Far from it, His responses were ambigu-
Gus. lie answered "with jNtS IFS and dndS,"
but finally refused to consent to cleo
ton under the old constitution OF Loul-
sana. And in his letter already referred
to he assumes that his proc. amatlon IS an
law, which, being interpreted,
means that the war must 90 on until
slavery in all the states of the South shall
be abolished


Of late it has been rather fashionable to
assume that there are no Union men in the
seeded stateS whose feelings or opinions are
entitled to any regard. In nearly every
state of the South there was a large mInorl
ty opposed TO secession. The majority
were carried away at time of unparallel
ed excitement and delusion, and all popu.
lar delusons Subside sooner or later. The
minority were compelled for the time be-
ing to submit to the government DE .tdcto,
for our government was unable to afford
them any protection; and they were at the
mercy of the erebel authorities. When the
Union is restored and peace proclaimed
this large class Of original Union men IN
the South will be found worthy ofgenerOus
forbarance and sympathy. lie did not al
low himself to believe that the people oi the
North and the South are to be enemies
forever. They are enemies in war: IN peace
they will again befritnds. Then the angry
passions excited by the conflict will gradu-
ally subside. and more generous emotions
will resume their sway in every mani ly
breast.


He had few words to say in perfect can
dor and friendship to those who assume
that the only solution Of our troubles Is TO
be found in the abolition ofsl very. Their
argument is that slavery was the cause Of
the war therefore it should De extlrPated.
This statement Of the cassis far from being
strictly accurate. The free and slave states
united voluntarily a"d moved on harmonl-
ously for more than half century, not
withstanding this difference in their dOmes-
tic condition. 1t was the energy of party
passions and the animosities engendered by
sectional spirit which disturbed their union.
The true nature and design OF the federal
relations between the states has been wide
" misunderstood. The compact relates
only TO few national and well defined OBJ
iects, leaving all besides to the separate and
exclusive control OF the States themselves.
This fundamental condition must be OBJ
served and allowed to regulate the popular