Year: 1863


voice of Kentucky. 1t is commenting
upon Newbern telegraphic dispatches
10 the effect that the Administration
would insist on emancipation as the
terms Of return TO the Union OF the
rebellious States:-


"What power has the General Gov
crnment to offer terms to the revolving
StatesP What right has it to do thisg
None whatever The thing is utterly
lawless as well as utterly senseless.


The constitution is the supreme law
alike of the General Government and
of the States, and the former can law
fully require the people of the latter
to submit to nothing but the conshtu-
ton. The General Government is
simply empowered by the constitution
to wage this contest for the establish
ment of the supremacy OF the Consti-
tuition itself Nothing more and moth
ing less. When those who have re-
volted against this supremacy, and
who are struggling permanently to
overthrow it, shall make known their
Willingness to submit to the constitu-
ton, the General Government cannot
lawfully demand of them anything
further. The Constitution forms the
only lawful terms possible in the case;
The General Government has no right
to demand anything else; and, when
the people in revolt are willing to ac-
cept this, the General Government is
bound to grant it to them, and IL
bound not to exact from them anything
more. The terms of the constitution
are not only the cheapest the Govern
ment can offer and the best the South
can accept but the only lawful terms
possible.


We should like to know who it is
that busies himself in sending from
Newborn dispatches like the one under
notice. The whole business looks to
us very much as if it were an attempt
on the part Of abolition outsiders to
convert into their opportunity the
necessity of the revolving people
We indeed have no doubt that such is
the true character of the thing. In
this point of view, the thing acquires
particular enormity, and deserves
the especial rebuke of all the friends
of the country 1t is not only arbi-
trary and destructive in principle, but
fatal in policy, and infamous in motive.
Those who are moving in the. thing
are the enemies Of their country
They are public enemies, both mean
and deadly. If the party in possess
ion of the Government SO far newly
sacrifices public duty and sound pol
icy as to sanction this thing, the voice
of the people in the coming Presiden-
tial election, which in any event must
blast that most faithless and imbecile
of parties, will blow the party from
the nights of power as the tempest
sweeps dead leaf from the bough.
If the tempest of the public indigna-
ton is not already high enough for the
men at the head of the Government,
let them but venture to meet the offer
or even the spirit of submission on the
part of the revolving people with terms
outside of the Constitution, and tho
tempest will presently mount to its
loftiest and fercest pitch. The loyal
people of the Union will brook the
exaction Of no terms but the terms Of
the Constitution. This is the fixed
fact.


And we call upon the revolving peo-
pie to mark this fact. 1t is as certain
us the fact of the rebellion itself. The
manifestation of disposition on the
part of the people i'll rebellion TO re-
turn to their Allegiance would SO
strengthen the conservatives Of the
country and so paralyze the radicals,
that, in spite of the whole brood of
unconstitutional and impolitic meas
ures Illuminated by the party in power,
the doors of the Constitution would
suddenly be flung wide open, smash
ing, as they swing back every obsta-
Gle set up 10y radical insanity Let
tho people in rebellion only show u
disposition to submit to the constitu-
ton, and way will very soon be
found to assure them that they will
be required TO submit to nothing else.
On this point they really have moth
ing to fear.


Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly the
solemn duty of the national authorities
to give the people in rebellion this as
surance in advance and at once. The
extraordinary and unwarrantable
measures to which we have alluded
render this step a matter both of OBJ
legation and of expodiency. The 10y
al people as one man should demand
the step. They at least should de-
mand that no other step inconsistent
herewith shall be taken. We hope
that every patriot in the land will
promptly lift his voice against this step.
The thing is now little cloud no big
ger than mans hand but if it is not
quickly dispersed by the sunboams of
enlightened patriotism, it ere long will
be struggling to overcast the whole
political heavens"