Year: 1862

SetuSf ib>S Spaiaois py Tue NuDSlltuAou VI iNe
| United States that none of them can cease
to exist as such so long SIS the Constitution
survives. and that it is the exclusive sphere oi
duty of the States to order and direct their
| domestic affairs


| While the rebellion, therefore, has not al
nulled or destroyed the constitutional relations
of the so called ' seeded States - to the Fed
eral Government, neither has it divested these
| States of any right or powers, municipal or
otherwise, properly belonging to them as men,
bers of the Federal Union. The actual exer-
else of these rights or powers may for time
be interrupted or obstructed by the rebellion,
and some illegitmate authority may be substi-
tuted in its place but as soon as that rebel
lion is suppressed these States will be entitled,
as of right, to resume the exercise of all the
rights and powers. dgnities and immunities
which properly belong to them as States Of
this Union.


Resolred, That the present war, as avowed
by the President and Congress, and understood
by the people, was commenced and prosecuted
for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion and
vindicating the Constitution, the Union and
the laws, and for that purpose only. 1t was a
great and noble purpose, above any mere sec
tional or party objects, and at once it inspired
and united in its support all loyal men, of ev-
cry creed, party and section. At the call OF
the Government, mighty army, the noblest
and most patriotic, sprung at once into the
field, and is bleeding and conquering in the
defense of the Government. Under these cir
cumstances it would be most unjust and un-
generous to give any new character to the war,
to the accomplishment of any other than its
first great purpose, and especially for the ac-
complishment of any mere party or sectional
scheme.


Resolred, That the many and great victories
lately achieved by our armies and navies, whilst
they ought to convince the world of the vast
military power of our Government, give Us
the pleasing assurance that our deplorable civ
| il war will soon be brought to close, should
the proper objects of the war, as hereinbefore
defined, be kept steadily in view. When that
is done, and when such punishment is inflicted
on such of the guilty leaders as will satisfy
public opinion, and upon such Others as have
made themselves conspicuous for crimes COM
mitted in the prosecution of the war; it is our
opinion that the Government should adopt
such wise measures of clemency as will tend to
| bring back cordial reconciliation and peace
| to the whole country.


| Resolued That the doctrines of the Seces-
sionists and of the A bolitiouists as the latter
are now represented in Congress, are alike false
TO the Constitution and irrecoucable with the
unity and peace of the country. The first have
already involved us in a cruel civil war, and
country but little hope of the speedy restora-
ton, of the Union or of peace, if the schemes
OF conhscation, emancipation aud other uncon
stitutional measures which they have lately
carried, and attempted to carry through the
House of Representatives, shall be enacted into
the form of laws, and remain unrebuked by th(
people.


Resolued, That Congress has no power tt
deprive any person of his property for any
criminal offense, unless that person has beer
first duly convicted of the offense by verdic
of jury, and that Acts of Congress like thos(
lately passed by the House of Representatives
which assumes to forfeit or con6scate the es
tates of men for offenses of which they have
not been convicted upon due trial by jury are
unconstitutional, and lead TO oppression anC
! tyranny. 1t is no justification for such Act
that the crimes committed in the prosecution
of the rebellion are of uDexampled atrocity
nor is there any such justification as State
necessity known to our Government or law.


Resolued, The foregoing resolutions are il
explanation and reafirmance of the resolution
passed at extra session of the present Congress
known as the Crittenden resolution, and which
declared, " That this war is not waged, on oul
part, in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor for tht
purpose of overthrowing or interfering with tht
rights or established institutions Of those States
but to defend and maintain the supremacy o
the Constitution, and to preserve the Unior
with all its dignity, equality, and the rights o
the several States unimpared, and that as soor
as these objects are accomplished this wal
ought to cease"


A Committee was appointed to superintend
the publication of and the procuring Of sigma
lures to the above resolutions.


There were about thirty-fve members pres
ent, and various reasons were given for the ab
sence of other gentlemen.


A Mosr BLESSED 0RDER.-What blessed
order of nature it is, that the footsteps of Timt
are inaudible and noiseless, and that the season
of life, like those of the year, are SO indistin
guishably brought on in gentle progression
and Is so blended the one with the other, tha