Bradford reporter. (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, December 12, 1867, Image 1

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T'IIESIIMNT'S MESSAGE.
FELLOW-CIT/ZENS OF THE SENATE AND'
of REPRESENTATIVES : The con
tinned disorganization of the Union, to
which the President has so often call
ed the attention of Congress, is yet a
subject of profound and patriotic con
cern. We may however find some re
lief from that anxiety in the reflection
that this painful political situation, al
though before untried by ourselves, is
wit now in the experience of nations.
Political science, perhaps as highly
perfected as our own time and coun
try as in any other, has not yet dis
closed day means by which civil war
can be absolutely prevented. An en
lightened nation, however, with a wise
and benelcant Constitution of free
government, may diminish their fre
quency and mitigate their severity by
directing all its proceedings in accor
dance witlt its fundamental law. When
civil war has been brought to a close,
it is manifestly the first interest and
duty of the State to repair injuries
which the war has inflicted, and se-
(•ure the benefit of the lessons it
teaches; as fully and speedily as pose
sible. Thisdety was. upon the for
staatiou of the rebellion, promptly ac.
, cepted not only by the Executive De
partitent; but by the insurrectionary
::3tates themselves, and restoration in
the first moment ofi peace was believed
to be as easy and certain ea it Was in
.lispensable." ••Expectations, however,
then so reasonably and confidently en
tertained, were disappointed by legis
latiou, from which I felt constrained
liiy my obligations to the"CeastitutiOn
to withold my assent. Lt is, 'there
fore, a source of profound regret that
in complying with the obligation im
..pok,ed upon the President by the C0n
,..,,-ti tution to give to Congress from time:
to time inforpatiou of the state - of the
Union, I am , unable 'to communicate
any definite austment satisfactory
to the America npeople of questions
- .which, since t* close of the rebellion,
,4.ive agitated\ the public mind. On
tie contrary, Vtusdor cabipels me to
..Liare that athis time- there is ho
Union luii our g athers -understood the
term, and„sishey meant it to be tin.
:lurstood by us, The Union which
they established can exist only where
all the States are represented in both
Houses of Congress, where , one &tato
is as free as another ;to regulate its
internal concerns according to its own
. will, and where laws of central goy
., , tlrionent; strictly confined to matters
,if national jurisdiction, apply with
,e q ual force to all people of every see i
tion. That sash is the .present" state .
of the -Union" is a melancholy fact,
and we all must aeltuowledge that the
restoration of the States to their prop.
, or legal relation with. the Fedeval
'Government and with one another ac
:cording to the terms' of the original
.-ompact, would be the greatest tem
poial blessing , which God is his kind
est'pro.videace, could hestow upon this
"lation: it becomes- our inoperative
:14 to consider whether or „pot it is
impossible to effect this most desitra
hie consummation. ' -
Union and the Constitution are in ,
separable. A.s long , as otie is obeyed
by all partied - the other will be pre 1
:,erved, and if one is destroyed both'
must perish together. The destruct
tion of the Constitution will be fel- -
lowed by other and still greater cal
.:unities. It was ordained not only to
i (win- a more' perfect union between
:L. States, and to "establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide
for common defence, promote the gen
. rill welfare and secure theblessingi
of liberty to ourselves awl our poster l
ity,'' Nothing but implicit obedience
to its requirements in all parts of the
country will accomplish these great
- ends. Arithout thatobedience we can
look fifrward only to ,outrages upon
individual rights, incessant breaches
of public peace, nationealimests, fi
nancial dishonor, the total loss of our
prosperity, a _general Corruption of
morals and the final ektinction of pop
ular freedom, To' save our country
from evils so appalling to those, we
should_ renew our efforts again - and
s
again. To me the process of restora--
. lion seems perfectly plain and simple,
It consists merely in a faithful appli
cation of the Constitution and laws.—
The execution of the laws is not now ' ,
1 . obstructed 'or opposed by physical
force. There is e - no military.or other
:leeettsity, real or pretended, which
eatt prevent obedience to the Constitu
- ' 'Lion either-North or South. All rights
i.., :Ind all obligations of States and indi
viduals can..be protected , and enforced
by means perfectly consistent with
the fundamental law. 'Courts may be
everywhere openrand if <open their
. process would be _unimpeded .. Crimes
, ' against the United States can be pre
vented or punished by, the proper ju
dicial authorities in a manner entirely
practicable and legal. There is, there
fore, no reason why the. Coustitutilin ,
,s . should not -be obeyed, unless those i
who exercise its powers have deter
mined that it should be disregarded
and violated. The mere naked will of
this Government or of some one or
'more of its branches, is the only ob
stacle that can exist to a perfect-un
lan of all the States on this Women
- was queition, and 'in some of the
t
•'- - , ,
‘ l .
MIE
E. ckc.
VOLUME
measures growim
4
had the misforttira Adi rft
gress, and-have eipreds m 3
tion without reserve, tt :gh
corning deferente to t ei op
the legislative IDepartreent.
convictions are .not only un
but I strengthened br lan
rl
events, and further ffirtio
transcendent iMportans.e pf t
ject will be -4.. suffiment ex
calling your attentionto .fsomj
reasons which have . o .1 sti
fluenced my own ju en
hope that we may all fi a ly c
1 a mode of settlement cm
ns
i once with Our true kite i s a
our sworn duties to the , ons
is too natural and too jas to '
relinquished.. 1
i v
THE STATUS OF THE 114 lifT ITES.
- It is clear to my apOehens on that
the States lately in rebellion re still
members of the Natidn4l nion.—
When did they cease . tolbo so "Or
dinaucee of secession " ladop d - by a
portion, in most of theta at ve small
portion, of their citizehs i we e mere
nullities. If we admit toiv t at they
were valid and effectua fir t e pur
pose intended by their girth rs, we
sweep from under our feet th whole
ground.upon which we , jOsti ed the
war. Were - those States of erward
expelled from the Union fly t e war?
The direct contrary .wfril a red by
this Government to be its rpose,
and was so understood by al those
l it
who gave their blood and itre 'awe to
aid in its prosecution. t.: pa not be
that a successful War caged for the
preservation of the Union had the le
gal effectlissolving liti T e vic
toryli of the nation's arma W . not a
disgrace of her policy s Ithi3 4 feat of
secession on the battle-A(od as no
triumph of its lawless ririricip e ' • nor
could Congress, with rot With cu t the
consent of the Executive', do anything
which would have the eff4ct, , irectly
or indirectly, of separat4gl the States
1
from each other. To td z i ) ii
Union is to repeal thel us itution
which holds it together, and t at is a
oi a the''
power which does not belling to any
Department of this Governinen , or to
all of them nnited. Thiel is a plain
ce l l
that it has been aoknowledg by all
branches of the Federal f Gbve ,gent.
The Executive ( my prle4. 'or as'
d 4
well as myself) and the I hea of all
the Departments ( have u4iferm acted
upon the principd that Ihlt ion is
not only umliaolved, butt iediaa table.
a.
ct
Congress submitted an 4mend ent to
the Constitution to be rite ell y the
Southern, States, and ec p their
It i
acts of rati fi cation as a ea gis4y add
lawful exercise of their iihest func-1
i
tion. If they were no States, or
were States out of the tUition their
consent to a change in the ',fun amen
-1:
tal law oc.the Union wo ld(hav been
negatmy, and Congress iii as ing it
committed a political ab udity The
-Judiciary has also even tie' elemn
sanction of its authority 01 the 'same
view Of the case. The iirdges f the
a t
,Supreme Court have nand the
Southern states in their cheui , and
1 they are constantly b 4an else
, where exerciaing JuriadHion hieb
,
' does hot belong to the n utles those
State ,llye States of the' 4 nion. If the
Southern State are co dpen parts
of the Union, the Gonstitietron s the
supreme law for them, ari l it i is r all
other States. They are I
bon d to
,
clay it,. and so are we.ll'Fie al ht of
the Federal Government, hick i4.clear
•
and unquei3tlonable, V? e . pfethe
Constitution upon them i itwiiga the
correlative obligation on imir part to
1 obserte its limitations and execute its
1
guarantees. Without the; Cotatitu-1
tion we, are eothieg. By,ltlirou h and
ender the Constitoien we are at it
make us. We may doubt the w adom
of the law, we may notrarieve f its
proFiaiods, but we cann qviol te- it
merely because it seems tpeonfi e our
powers within limits parrevier th n.we
could wish. It is not a 00:jog f, in
dividual, or class, or sectional Inter-I
eat, mach less of party pied:omi ance,
but of duty, of the hig , 4nd a cred
1 duty which we are ail 0 ern t per
form. 1 It we cannot supprt th pore
stitutibn with the cheerfu alacr ty of
those who love and believe pin t,,,we
must give to it atleast thr ifidel ty of I
public, servants who act under a lemn
obligations and commands whic they
dare not disregard.. Cintititu 'onal
b l i.
duty is not the Duly one lwhi h re
quire& States to be res red._, here
is another considers on ihh, t ugh
of minor importance, is ( al, of eat ,
weight. .0n the 224 of d 4uly, 861,
Congress declared by an almost nan
.S
imous vote ' of bo th housekithat I war
should be conducted solid foil the
purpose of preserving ti : uteit and
maintaining the suprernaey oft the
e t th
Federal Constitution an ~ e' laws,
ty,- elual
i
ity and right of States or individ als,
without imparing the di i
and that when this was 4e th war
should caw: Ido not say tha this
declaration is persenallyi bindin gon
those eho joined iu mating it any
individual more than members of on
il
grese are personally bon 'd; to Oily a
public debt llreated and r.. 1 a la+ for
which they, voted. But it vii;ac a riot
enrn public official pledg 14 th ue
tional honor, and I cantiOt i itpagin rt;
on what grounds repediaitien of it 1
to be justified. If it be iliald tha sc
are not bound to keep faithl with rel
els, let it be remegibered ,that the
promise vrae not made to ;r4bels 1113
Thousands darnenxen in; the -di
were drawn to our standard'4 i by i anti
hundreds of thousandir et iw a., , rth
01
gave theiAivearin the berief that it
would be curried out. . It- ir as sp ade
on the daY after the, first great h the
of the war had been fought i and • oat. '.
All patriotic and intelligent inen them
saw the necessity of gerin h t wit t sig. an
assurance, and believing t out
it war would end in die4ttr , to' ow
cause. Ilaving given that 4 8 cur ne
in the extremity of our pef ill viole k
of it now, in the day of lour pe E
would be a rude rendering. of : hi
good faith which holds!, the -er r
world together. Our count' e ry 4 I
cease to have any claim !wen the
3-iit l trs)
EIT
C\
I
RIM
rhabilishei;
ion
ME
fidence of men. It would make the
war net only a failure but a fraud.
PM ERQSIIIII7CTION LAWS. ;
.•, •
Being suicerelyi - convinced that
these , views are correct, I would be
unfaithful to my duty if. I did not reo
onlYne74l.. the ‘. =peal tor ,those- acts-of
Cong. roes '4,hteli - - pliiee 'tin of the
Southern Statetaunder the domination"
of military. masters. If calm reflect.
tion shall satisfy a , majority of yok.-
hanoriblebadies that the acts refer
red to', are ii i ) only a', violation of nit"
tionalifaith, hut it.direct conflict with
the Constitution, - I dare not permit
myself to doubt yon _will immedi
atelylstrike them from the statute
book.l To demonstrate the =coned
tuticinntcharactsr of those acts "need
do no More than refer to their general .
provisions. ,It must.be seen at once,
that they are not authorized. To die
tate What alterations shall be made in
the COBstitutions of the severarStates,
to control the electioni cf, State legis
lators7l State °Beers, members of
Congr s, and the electors of Presi
dent and Vice'-President, by arbitarily
declaring Who shall vote and who
shall be excluded,; to dissolve State
Legislatures, or Prevent them from as
sembling •' to dismiss Judges and
otheriyilinuctionaries s of Skate, and
appoi t Others without regard to state
i t
law ; o organize and operate all po
litical 'machinery of States ; to regu
late the whole administration of their
domestic and local affairs, according
to the mere will of strange and irreg.,
ponsible agents sent' ; among themfor
that purpose • these are powers' not
granted to the Federal Government or
to anion° of its branches. Not be
ing granted, We violate our trust by
Wsnming them , as palpabl,y as we
ould !by acting , 'in faee of positive
interdictjor the Constitution forbids
us to do whatever it does not affirma...
tively I authatize,, either by express
words or by clea implication . lithe,
authority we,desire to use does' not
'Coniete us through the „Constitution,
we can exercise it only by usnrpatien,
and userpation is the most Alangerons
of all political crimes. Bithat crime
enemiek of free governmeill in all
ages have worked outs` their designs
against public liberty —end- private
right. ilt leads directly and immedi
ately to the establishment of absolute
rule, for undelegated newer is- always
unlimited and unrestrained. The ants
of Congress in question are not only
objeetiptiable for their assumption of
ungrfinted . piower, but many of- their
provisiens are in conflict with the di
rect prehibition of the - Constitotion.—
'pi Constitution commands , that a re
publiedii form, of g_overniusut shall be
guaranteed ta all §,tates at no per;
son shall be deprived of life, liberty
or property without the due process
'of laivi, arrested- without a judicial
warrant, or punished. without a fair
trial before an impartial jury ; that
the Pritilege of the habeas corpus shall
not be denied in 0104 peace, and
that no bill of attainder shall be passed
even against a single , indiVidual.l Yet
the system of mammon cetabliabed by
these arts of Congress does totally
subvert and destroy the form as well
as the PlOgebingn 0 republican.gov
ernment in the ten Stfaila 'tg W4iPh
they apply. It binds them hand and
foot in absolute slavery, and subjects
them tq a strange , and hostile power
more unlimited and more likely to be
abused th'anally (Alter now"known
among I civilized '; me*, /t tramples
down all those rights in which the es
sence of liberty consists and which a
free goyernment is always most care
ful to protect, It denies the 'writ of
habeas corpus and trial by jniy: Per ,
squat freedom,property,and life, is as.
sailed 14 passion, prejudice or rapac•
ity of the ruler,tave no security what
ever. 4 hag the effect of a bill:of at
taiiiderji or a bill of pahis and penal.
ties, not upon a few individuals, but
upon whole masses, including; , mil..
lions who inhabit the subjected States,
and efen their unborn children.
These wrongs being ORfiresOir 1 91?"
bidden Cannot be constiiutional7 in.
flicted Opon any portion of our people,-
ao matter how they may have come
within inir jurisdiction, and no matter
whether they live in the Stetes,r ter
ritories 'cr . distriets. I have no desire
to save from pri:iper and pet cense
quencee of their great crime those
who engaged in rebellion against the
Government, but as a mode of punish;
ment, the measures . under, considera-
Oen, am: p r e, giost, unreason' Able that
,could , Eini-invented, 'liany of those
people 'ciie perfectly innuctent, many
kept th it fi delity to the Union ) 0 un
tainted ' tint -last, many were inca
pable o any legal offences, a• -large
pardon even of persons able to bear
arms e forppd into rebellion
against'; eir Will, and' Qt iliMe whir
are gull Y with their own onsent;de
.
greCa 0 I guilt . are as va . ions 'at the
shades f their character and temper.
But the e acts of Congressoftnfound
them allltogettier inane on doom.'
Indiseriminate - vengeanclt pion class
es, Beata and parties, or upon'whole
' communities, for offences committed
by a portion of them against govern
,- meats to
,which they owed pbedience,,
* _was corduton ill the barharons ages of
tro• -the•werill ; 'but Christianityk and piyi.
is lizlition have made such progress that
1 ,
ce recourse to a punisement se t cruel and
:b• unjust Weald meet 'With' the condem--
is nation of all unprejudiced and-right
y. winded men, Punitive justice of this
b age and especially - of this PillSrj
1 does net consist in , stripping whole
States, el their - liberties ; and reducing
all their people, without distinetion,
to a condition of shivery.- It dash;
separately with each individual, con
cues itself Worm Of -law, ")"ttid villa ,
cater its! own. purity by tin impartial
i examination of every case before .'a
t -competent judicial tribunal t If- tbis
ii , does not satisfy all .our, desires With
e' regard te Southern rebels,;let us con
ai sole ow elves. by reflecting 'that a free
:r,. , - Constitution, triumphant in war and
,
at unbracep inpeace, is worth far more
al to us and ont . children than 'the'gratii
ad fication 9f any present feeling. 'I am
m- ' aware it is it:seemed that the system
nn Con.
conic=
with be:.
i.
'nion of
Thosti
hanged
equent
The
e sub;
, use for
. 3 of the
)gly in-
. .The
!incarin
:tent at
d with
itutioa,
• easily
ME
Mil
T6pf*.NoA, BRADFORI) COUNTY, PA.;.DECEM B ER 12, 1867.
NM
Bglt . 4.llBblarlB OT DINUNCIATION ?BOX‘ ANT QUARTILB:
ofgovernment for
the Southern States
is' tie be perpetual: It lori true this
mill government is be 'riiirl Pro
.visi but itis through this tempo-1
ra evil that a greater evil, is to be ' ,
mad perpetnal.
c ; the guarantees of
the onstituticin be broken Oro
.
: * „ Ily to Serve a temporary Pur
pose, and iliaa part' , only of the coun
try, we can' destroy, them everywhere
and for all time. , Arbitrary measures
'often change, but they generally
changafor the worst.. his the course
of despotism that it has no halting
place. Intermitted exercise of, its
power, rings nii sense of security to
its sjects, fo they can never know
whatmore th ey will be called ripen
to endure when its red right ' hand is
armed to plague them again. - Ndr is
it possible to conjecture how or.where
power, unrestrained by law i may - leek
its next victims` States that are still
free may be enslaved at any moment,
for, if the Constitution does not 'ore
tect fp, it protects none. r.
!
sumo surrnsas.
It is manifestly and avowedlY, the
object of these • lowa to confer Upon
the negnies the privilege' of voting,
and *disfranchise, such numbei of
white citizens as will give the former
a clear Majority at all elections.i4 the
Southern States. This to the mind of
some persons is so important that a .
violotion of the Constitution is jasti
fiedas a meant; of bringing it' about.
That morality is always; false which
excuses a wrong, becaose it proposes,
to accomplish a desirable end., IWe
are not permitted to de evil that good
may come, but in this case the end it.
self inevili as well as the means.
The subjugation of States to negro
domination would be worse than the
military despotism_uuder which they
are now suffering. It was belihved
-beforehand that the peop le :would en-r.
dare any amonot of in' itery opines.
sion for any lengtti o£ time.rather than
degrade, themselves by subjection to
the negro race. Therefore they have
been left without a choice. Negro
su'rage wag estabOed by act of
Congress,- and ailita4 officers w ere
commanded to superintend the I pro.
cress Of clothing the negro racejth
i 2
the • p litioal privileges torn -- IMak
white en:, Thablaoks in the ; South
are en itled to be well `and huiioMeil
gover ecl i alidto have the - protection
t s)
nf,jqs, laws fot all their rights of !poi
son an property. If vit *ere o,4cti
cable tibia time to give them a ov
ernme t ex c lusively their owntunder
i
whir& they might manage the r Own
affairs in their own way; . it wo Id be
come grave question wheth ri we
ought 'do So ,or whether' cenrinon
humanlty wen,l4 ilot feqttife 1 1 us to
save front thennielves. 'flat un
der the oircumstanws, this is only a
speculative point It is not proposed
merely that they shall. govern them.
selves, but that they shall rule' the
white race,make and' adminihter State
laws, elect Presidents and members'
of Congress, and shape to a greaMr, er
les4 'e4teut the filtuce destiny •of
the whole country, Would' seph a
trust and power be safe intim* hands?
t l e
The peculiar qualitie s- which should
characterize any peo e who are fit. to
ilgoio non the Mans meat of public
aihiirs hr a groat k to have geld=
been combined. ''' \ lt is the glory &the
white men to know that they have• had
these qualities,in sufficient measure to
build upon this coati ent ' a great po.
laical fabric, and to \ reserve its sta
bility for rnorg the ninety Years,
while in every other pat of the world ,
all similar experiments have 'failed.—
But if anything can be proved by the
known Nets, if all reasoning upon ev- .
idence is not abandoned, it Inuit be
acknowledged that in the progress of
nations negroes have shown less capac
ity for Geverament than any other
race of people. No ledepeedenti. ;or ;
eminent elany form has ever been
successful in their hands. Oil the
contrary, wherever they have •been
left to their own' devices they have
shown a - coostant, tendency to relapse
into 'barbarism. fa flip 4ontbern
States, however, Congress has under
taken to confer upon them the.privil
ege of the ballot. Just releasedfrom ' 1
from slavery, it may be- doubted
whether, as a olass , they kno'w snore
than their ancestocs how tg organize
and regulate civil soolety. Indeed, it
is admitted that' the blacks, of the
South are not only regardless of the
rights of pperty, but so utterl i y ig
norant of p ublic affairs that their vot
ing can consist in nothing moreithail
carrying a hallet, to theplace Where
they are direoted` to deposit it,
need not rethind you that the exercise
of the 'elective franchirs) is the' ,higheit
`attribute of an American citizen; and
that when guided by virtue, intelli
gence,"patribtism, and a proper ap
preciation of oar free iostitntions, it
constitutes the tree basis of 'iii Debid•
.:
cratie form lof goverment; in whi r
the sovereign power is lodged in th
i t
body; f the people.. A treat rti •
cially created, not for its , oyn ak ~
but solely as' a means of prom tin
the general iwelfare, itat.intluenee f , r
good must necessarily l depend !up n'
the elevated character and the U." e
allegiation of the . elector. , It oug t„
therefore to, be reposed kit none e -,
e.ept those Who are fitted m orally
mentally to I administer it well,' for *f
conferred .apon peraoru3 who do n t,
justly estimste its value, and who ar
indifferenkae to its result, it will onl ,
,
serve as th • means of , placing powe
in the hand aof nriprineipled and a -
bitio - ris men( and mat eventuate ,i
the complete destruction of the libei4s ,
of which it should 'be the most Power
f,nl 'conservator., I • have,' 4heeforce,
heretfore ti aged upon your atttention
the,gteat danger ,to he apprehended
from "tin untimely "extension df the
eleetivelranchiseAo any, new class in
ilex country, espectAlly when 'a large
majority of that Claie, An wilding,
the power thua . plared in their hands,
cannot-be °VOW , cerreetly td corn.
prohend the; dqties and respmaibili
. ties *bich pertain to - the right et suf
frage. ~ Yesterday', as it were 'fear
1 • thillicms of persons Were held' in a con-
ME
~
dition of slaNery that had 'existed foe
generations ;, may they are' free
men, are assailed by law to be cid
zees. it cannot be presumed,: from
their previous condition of servitude,
that as a class,. they are as well in
formed as to the nature of our govern
mantas the• intelligent foreigner who
Makes our land his-home from choke.
In the case of the.lattor neither a res
idenixt of five years and a kn owledge
institutions which it. gives, nor
attachmentio the principles Of our
Constitution are the only conditions
upon which' he can be admitted to:
citizenship. He must' prove, in addi;
lion a good oral character, and this
give reason ble ground for belief that
he will be f ithfut to the obligations
which he nines as a citizen of the
aluvi
"Republic, en a people, the source
of all politic I power, speak by' their
suffrage through the instrumentality
of the .ballot-box, it Must be carefully
guarded against she.control of those
who are corrupt in , principle and are
enemies of free institutions, for it can
only become to our political and se
cial system of safe conductor of heal;
thq popular sentiment, when kept
free from demoralizing influences.-
Controlled thrOugh fraud and usur
pation by designing anarchy, des
potism must inevitably follovi , , In
the hands of the patriotic and worthy i
our Government will be preserved qp-.
en the principles of. the Constitution
inherited from oar fathers. It follows
therefore, that in admitting to the
ballotobox a new class of voters net
qualified for the exercise of the elec
tive franchise, we weaken our system
of government, instead of adding - to
its strength and durability. I yield ,
to no one in att4hment to that rukt
of general:suffrage which distinguish
es oar poliCy as. a nation, but theie
is, - limit wisely observed hitherto
wil a
ch requires of some claises a time
sail ble for probation and prepare-
Lion. To give it indiscriminately i to a
,new class, wholly unprepared by pre
vious
habits and opportunities to per-1
form'the *it which it demands, le to
degiade it, and finally to destroy its
power ; for it may be safely assumed
that no political truth is better estab
lished than that such indiscriminate,
'and all-embracing extension of popu
lar suffrage must end at last- in its
overthrow - and 'destruction. I repeat
the expression of my willingness to
join in` : any phut Witilij} the'scope:of
our constitutional authority, which
promisee to better the condition of the
,negroes in the South by' encouraging
them in industry, enlightening their
minds, improving their - morals and
giving protection „to falljitheiri,just
0014 as freedinen ; bqt n lranplor 4
our; political to them we'd,
in myepinion, be an abandonment of
a duty which we owe 'alike to the
memory of our fathers and the rights
of our children. The plan of -Vatting'
the southem.-States wholly, and . the-
General Government paTtially t :100,
the hands of riegroeent proposed at a
time peculiarly nnpropitione The
fecindatione of society have been', bra ,
ken up , by eivil I,war, Industry mast
be reorganiiied, justice reestablished,
public credit, maintained, and, order,
brought out of donfusion. To ageora
pliah these ends would require all the
Wisdom Mid virtue of the• greattinen
who ferrned our institutions ori;;irially.
I confidently believe that their deicen•
(hints will be equal to the arduous
task befere them; but it is worse
than madness to expect that negroes
will perform it ihr 13s. Certainly we
ought not to nail their assistance 'until
we despair of our own competeuey.—
The great difference between the'two
races in physical, mental . and moral
characteristics will prevent an amal
gamation or fusion of them together
in one homogeneous mass.' If the in
leder olltaif t ethe rlocendericy dyur the
superior, it will is9vorn Aviiti reference
only to its own interest,. for it will re
cognize on common intrest and create
such a tyranny a 4 - this continent has
never yet witnessed. Already' the ne
grope are - influenc,ed by promises of
confiscation and plunder. They are
taught to reg ard , as an enemy every
white man 'who has any respect
for the rights of his awn race. If this
continues it must become worse and
worse, until all order will be subvert
ed, all indnetry pease and ithp fertile
.fields of the Sclith will grow up into
a wilderness. •Of all dangers which
our nation has yet encountered, none
are
,equal to those which must result
from the success oT the effort now
making. to- Africanize half of our
country,
tns 008 T OF CONGRESSIONAL SHOONSTROC
mot. • ,
I would `not 'put .considerations of
money in competition with justice.and
right, but 'the expenses incident to
"reconstruction" under - the system
adopted by Clongnsa agarawatif what
I regard as theintrinsic wrong of the ,
measure itself. It has coat uncount
ed millions already, and, if -pereisted
in, will add largiiV to the weight of
taxation; already to oppressive to be ,
borne without just omplaint, - and
many finally reduce th - Treastiry of
the nation to a condition f bankrupt,
cy. We must not delude otmelyea,—;'
It *ill require a stro ng staMing tir
-my-end prob ably more than tsvp hun
dred millions of dollars Or annum to
maintain the supremacy of negro go-7f-
eruments after they are establiehed.-4-
I,The sums this throWn away Would, if
properly esad i form Iv oinking , furid
large enough to pay the whole nation
al debt in less than fifteen yeais. It
in ' vain to. hope. that . negroes will
maintain their ascendency themselves:
Without military Rower they are
wholly incapable - of hailing iti nubjeo
lion the white people of the South. I
splimit l to the judgment of Congress,
whetbetßublic credit may , not b.! in
nricinsly affected by aspitern of meas.:
#ires like this. , With our debt and.
4yast private interests which are com
plicated with it, we cannot be ton
cautious of a - policy which might by'
possibility impair the confidence of
the world in our government - That
confidence can only be retained by
i
S~ ~(~~?~
.
carefullyiecidcating the principles of'":tfiefr own institutions. It gives "me
justice and honor on the popular mind
_pleasure to add that the
."appeal toper
and by the mostiscrdpulons fidelity to cowmen constituents was not taken in
all our engageMents .of every sort =- vain, end that my confidenCe in their
Any serious breach' of organic' law wisdom and'virtue seems not to hive
persisted in for 2it considerable time been misplaced. , '
caning but create fears for the stabili ; ss.atins _oat. THE TRSABl3*f. ' .
tji of ' our institutions. • Habitual vie- .It is well and publicly - Ist:town that
lation of prescribed , rules which, We enormous frauds have been pepetrated
bind ourselves ,to observe :must :" de- 'on' the Treisnry, and that colossal fore
moralize the people. Our only sten- tapes have been made at the puhlie
dard of civil duty being set at naught expense.. This, species of corruption
the sheet-anchor-of our political moral 7 has-increased, is increasing; and-if not;
its , is lost, .public confidence swings ditzdaisted will soon .bring us into to
from its moorings anityields to every tat ruin and disgrace. Public credi
impulse of passion and interest. If tors and' tax=payers ;are alike ifiteres
we • repudiate the Constitution, we ted in an honest administration of i fi
will not be expected to care mieh for manees, and neither , class will long
mere pecuniary obligations. The Via- endure the large-handed robberies of
lesion of-such a pledge as we trade on the recent past. For this discredi :a,- -
the 22d of Juily, ;1861, will assuredly ble state of things' there are several
diminish the 'market vane of our. oth- causes. Some of the taxes are so laid
er promises.' Beside, if, we now. se- as to present an irresistible temptation
knowledge that the national debt was; to evade payment. The great sums
created not to hold States in the Up- which officers may Win bY connivance
ion aetax-payers were led to suppoee, at fraud create a pressure which l is
but to.expel them from it, and hand more than the 'virtue of many can
them oyes to be governed by negroes, withstand r and there, can be no doubt
moral 'duty to pay it nir seem' Moeh that the open. disregard of the-consti
leis cleat...! '- • I say i n
t y seem so, for tutienal obligations avowed by somel
Ido not admit that this or any other - of the highest and most influential
argument in favor, of repudiation „con men in the conntry has greatly weak: ,
be entertained as sound, but its influ- ened the moist' sense of those ,who
Mice on -Some classes of 'minds may serve in Subordinate places. • I
well be apprehended.' The.financial raarnessr's POWER 'IV arTourr oansiove
honor of a great commercial nation, / 817BORDINATES. • - I
largely indebted, and with 's rePubli- The expensee of the United Statee, ,
can fella of gpvernment, administered including the interest on..ithe public.
b y the agents of 'popular choice is, debt; are more than six .times es
71,2‘ ,
thing, of such delicate texture, d much as'they Were seven yeirs a 6 .-
destruction of it wouldbe follow , by, To collect and disburse this; yak
,such unspeakable calamity, that very , "amount 'requires careful superVisiOn
true patriot must desire to avoiil 'what- aewell as systematic vigilance. Oar
ever might expose it to the sl ightest system never perfected , ; was meth
danger. The great inter, of the disorganized by - the "Tenure of Of
require immediate ~ r elief from lice Bill," which has almost destroy
these enactments. Business in the ed official accountability, , The,Prea-
South is paralyzad.,4 esense of gen- ident may be _thoroughly, convinced!
oral insecurity, by terror of confisca- that an officer itrincapable, - dishonesl
tion, and dread of neg.ro supremacy.— or unfaithful to the Gitustitution, but t ,
Southern trade., freest - which the North under the law which 1 have stained,
would 'have derived so great, a• profit the utmost he can do' ,is tooomplaii2
under agoverament of kiw i atill len- to the Senate and, ask the I privilege
guialies and can never , be revived un- of supplying his place with a better
tilit ceases tObe letteredlby " arbitrie Man. If the Senate be regarded aii
7 power whith - makes all its opera- personally or. politically : hostile to
tiona-unsafp. ' _. the President, it is natural and not
That' rich country, the riehe . st in altogether unreasonable for that nig,-
natural resources the world , ever saw, cer to expect' that 'it will :'
take hie
is worse thee lost :if it lie not soon part as far as possible, restore hint
placed under the protection of a free to his place,etid give thin, a triumph
Conetittitieu, Insteed of being, as it over his exec:alive - superior: An of r
ought to heoe soiir4e of wea lth and floer has bther chances of I t impunity
power, it will become an intolerable arising from,ac,cidental def ects , of evr
burden upon the rest of the notion. ' idence, mOde of investigating it, acid
THE LATE . ELECTIONe. ' { secrecy of. hearing. It is not won;
Another' reason ler retracing our, derful that official malfeaStince.shonld
steps will doubtless be ••seen by Con- become bold
..in proportion as delis} "
gross in the late manifestations of quents leerwto think themselves Betel,
pslilie gyratorupon this subject. We lam entirely persuaded that under
live il4 it country where popular will. such , s rule-the-President cannotperi
alwaya enforces obedience to itself; form the great duty assigned to hini
800110 r or later. It is vain to think of of seeing-the lavis faithfullT execut
opposing it with anything short of le- ed,, and that dies Wee hiro most esi
gal authority, backed b overwhelm - pegially from eeforcing that rigid ac.
ing' force. It qantigit lave - esceped conntability which is necessary to
golf attention that, from the day on the-due execution of the ilteveane
which Congress fairly and formally Laws. The Constitution' inyeetethe
presented the proposition to 'govern rresident with authority to ,decide,
the-Southern stetee hy military force whether a removal. should be in ado!
with a view . to the ultimate establish- in any given ease. The , act of Con
went' of negro - supremacy,. every ex- greis declares, in substance, that he
pression of general sentiment has shall 'only accuse such -.se he soppos
been .more or less adverse to
,it. The es to be unworthy of Weir: trust. 'The
affections of this , generation cannot Constitution makes ;him sole ledge
be detached kem , the
..institutiona of in the premises, but the statute takes
their ewes tore. Their, determination away, his jurisdiction, transfers it tot
to preservb the inheritance of ,a free the Senate, and leaves
,him nothing;
government in their own hands, and but the odious and sometimes im-1j
transmit it undivided and unimpaired practicable duty of 'becoming a pros-. 11
to their own posterity, is too strong ecutor. Prosecution is tube conduct-II
to be successfully opposed. gvery ed before a tribunal whose'members, i
weaker passion will dieappeiir before are not like him, reeponsib etc: thel
the love of liberty and law for which whole people, but to separate con-i
the American people are distinguished atitneot batalies, nd who may hear',
above all others in the ( world.' - his accusation ith disfavor. Thell
THE PRESIDENT vs. CONGRE Wt. Senate is ebb() utely witkont any
How far the duty 'of the President known standard cf deoisiou applica- 1
to preserve; protect and defend the Lie to such a ease. • Its judgment can-
Conatituti n regents hint to go on . in not be anticipated, for •it is not gov.l
opposing an unconstitutional act of ..erned i .by any rul -. The law does
Congress, is a very serious and impor- not define what shall be deemed goal
taut question t on which I hive deli b- came for removal. It is impossible I
crated much and felt' extremely_ anx• even to.cenjecture •wis:,ti may or may
ions to reach a' proper conclusion,— not he rai considered by the Senate.
Where all eat has been passed accord- The nature -of the subject forbids
hag to the fo rms of theasonstitution by' clear proof ., lf *the '
charge be Inca-,
supreme leislative, euthority, and is pacity, what evidence will -support '
regularly enrolled among the public 'it? Fidelity,ao the-Constitution may.
statutes of the country, Executive re- be understood of mieundersteod in
sistence to I .t, especially in times of thousand 'different ways; and by vlo
high party excitement, would be like- lent party men in violent pony 'times,
ly to produeo a violaut collision be- unfaithfulnees to the Constituti on tween the, respective \adherents ef the may even cane to be considered nier
two bran dies of Government This - itorions. If an officer be accused of
world be' simply Civil war, and civil dishonesty,h w silted it be made out?
war mnstbe resortedlte only as a last Will it be i tferred from actsµneon
remedy for the worst ref evils. . What- netted With eblie ditty,, from private
ever might tend to provoke it shonid be history, or fr m general reputation -- ;
most ,earefolly aVoided. .A iaithtul. or must the Prelident await the cool
and couscientions3 magistrate will con- mission of an actual "misdemeanor in
cede very' much to honest error, an d, office 1 1 Shall he, in the ,meantime,risk
Something even-to perverse • malice, the character and the interest of the
before•he will endanger publio peace, nation in the hands of men to whom
and he will not adopt forcible mewl", he cannot give his confidence? Must
tires,..iir seat; as migh Ipad to force as! he forbear his complaint , 'until . the
long,_as,those which,re peaceable re- mischief is done and , cannot lie pre
mainiope Ito:hitri t or to le constituents. vented f If his zeal in the public ser
it is true .that case mityoecur is vice should impel him to anticipate
Illi
which the Executive would •be'com- 'an overt act, must he move 'it the
•
• • . -. 4•Y%
-,- rf tf :7r4vi r ri p ,1
• .•
IN\
I 3 ;• ))o .3t;
' I
\\.
. .
. • ::.", "; - e s ,
. •
=ME
MN
,
pelted to Stand, on r ghts--and main
tain them regardless , :f consequences.
If Congrp:s should pate an. act which .
is not 'onin palpabl., Conflict with
the Cons tntien,
tl y
iltit will'eeitilnly, if
%lurid on , produce immediate_ and ir
,reparhbleilinjury to the organic Istrucl
ture bf t e Government, and if ithere
hp neither , judicial remedy for the .
wrongs it inflicts, nor, power 14 the
people .to protect - themselves, without
,
official aid 6f , ' their elected,defender;
if, for instonie, the ,Legislative_ De
partment , should pass an act, even
through all forms of law, to abolish a
co-ordinate department of the Govern-
nient, innuch a case( the President
must take the high responsibilities of .
his :oMce: and save , the life Of the na
tion at all haiarde. The so-called Re
construction Actk . :though as plainly
unconstitutional atany that can be
imagined, were not 'believed to be
Within the class het Mentioned. Peo
ple were not:. wholly. disormed 'of the
power of selfilefenee:. In all the-Nor
thprn- States, they still _hold in: -.theft
hang the sacred right of the ballot
and itAvss safe to believe that in due
, ',I • y VV. • I ii : ,i It -8 e of
1, . ,
02 per Annum, an A.4vancii.b.
BEE
peril ot, behtg tried hiinself kr the of.
fence of slandering his subordinate
In the present circumstances of the
country some one must be held re.
'venal* for official delinquenbes of
every lcied. It is extremely
_difficult,
to hay where that responsibility
shotildi be i thrown if it be not left
where it has been , placed by the Con
stitution. I `l3ut all just men will ad ,
mit that the 'President ought to.be en•
tirely relieved from soh responsibili
ty, if 'he cannot meet it by reason of
reatriettons placed_ by law upon his
actions. Unrestrieted power of re.
moval.from Office is a very great one
to' be trusted* even to a Magistrate
amen* by the general suffrage of the
Whole ,people, and- accountable direct
ly te:them for his acts. it is undoubt
edly liable to abuSe, and at some Pe
riods of our history pirhaps has been
`abused. If it he thought desirable
gad constitutional' that it should be
'so limited as to make: the President
merely mint/ton informer against
other pitblic agents,he shouldat least
be permitted to actin that capacity
before some open tribunal, indepen
dent of party ready to inves-
•. _ - •
NIMBER 2'
,
Ifilitiiitlienifeilfieeriefiftroakcitir- .
niehedWith , thetneanikof .ts , g eyi- •
deuce and-bona to decide ac rding
to• established ' rules . This Would ' -
,•,
'guarantee the safety- of: the ' user.. "
when he acts %Toed faith an atthe •
seine, time securo s the ' rights oT :the
Vithet party:- ' - L I speak, of cont. , with '
all proper respect for the ,
Senate '; but it-does not see ~ to me ...
that any legislative bOdy`-e. , be 'so
constituted as to insure its..fi 'en fOr -
thole functions. It is not the theory
of this: Government that the; public
offices are the - property of filo:6 who '-` -
bold them. They are given' nerdy "
as'afilist for the public bend ,some
tildes fora fixed'period, so .. earners.
di6ng good behavior ; but : : , Ally
they are liable to be . tenni , ted at--
1 the pleasure of the appointing power
which_Opresents :the vollecti e maj- ;
esty and speaks the will of ' , e, peo- .
ple,',: The forced ` retention in once of
a single dishonest person ma . work
_great injury to the public 'lute et,:
:Danget• to the public service comes
'not from the power to remove,but from .
thepowerappoint ;:: therefore it
was that the framers of • the tonstitn- ' -
lion left the- o ver of retrieval dare
stricted, whil •J they gave the. Senate
the right to 'Je,ct ail appointments .
which;iin its .:hpinion, were not fit to
I be made.: Alittle' 'reflection on this .
, s.ubjeel'ivill probably satisfy all who '
have the good of the country at heart -
that-our best course is - to take the
Constitution for our vide, and walk
. i
in the path marked out by the found- -
ere of the Republic, and obey the :
?Wes made ea red byithe observance
of our great edecaeOrs:
' MA 'C AL MiXIIRS. . • i .
c
The,-prese nt -condition of our mail. ,
pes-anld circul ting medium is one (q ,
Which your- i ly consideration' is in; -„.1
rvited.,The pr portion - which the cur . - - .L.:
rency Of any otintry 'should bear, to .
the whole Tel a :of the ;annual prc
'duce cireula by - its means, is a
question_upon Wtich political econo
mists have not agreed ; nor canit be .-
controlled b y 1 gislation,,but mnet be -. •
left to those irrevocable laws which •
•every Where reinlate commerce and
trade. The circulating medium *ill • • .-
"`ever irresistably-fiew to thoeeNneilits .•
where it is in the greatest demand.—
The law of 'demand and Supplfiaas .
unerring as thaewhich regulates the -
tides of oceans ; and, indeed, the cur- .!
reucy, like the tides, has its ebbs and. '' .
flows thro'ont 'the commercial world.
At the beginning of the rebellion the
bank note circulatien of the country
amounted to not Much more than
$200,000,0110- Now the circulation of
the National Bank motes, and thoie
known as .Legal Tenders, is. nearly
$700,600,000. While it Is urged by
some that this amount should be in
creased, others contend that a decid
ed reduction is absolutely ey:sential
to the best ibterests of the country.
In view-of these , diverse' opinions, it _.
may be well to ascerin the ' real -
"value of our- paper . issups, when com
pared with a metallic or touvertable
currency. For this purpose let.us in-'
!quire how much gold and silver mon
ey could be . purobaSed by the sl'oo,-
000,000 'of 'paper money now in circa.
ration. Probably not more than half
the amount of the latter, showing
that when our currency is compared
with gold and silver, its coiamercial
value is compressed -into $350,000,-
000. This striking foot makes it -the
obvious duty (.1 the Government, us 1
early , a maybe consistent with the
principles of sound political economy._
to take such measures _as. will -ena,, i.
ble the holders of its noted and thOse
of the National, Ranks to convert \
them without loss into specie or its
equivalent. A reduction of our pa, I .
per circulating medium-need nut 'leo,
essurily follow. ThiS,however„would
depend upon the law of demand AA
supply ; though it should be hurtle in
mind that by making legal-tender and
bank notes convertible into coin ()r
its 'equivalent their' present spi!efe.
value in the hands of their holders
would be enhanced one hronliedper
cent. Legislation far the:accomplish
mient.uf a tesult GU desirable is de-. -
Mended bytt he highe! highest: pu public coniid.
ta
orations: T e Constitutieez %mtetu. '
plates tout the circulating triedituaut
the country shall he e.%ifuruA in pelt.?
ity and value. At the time,of tbs•
formation of that instrnment the came
try had . just emerged Imin - the war 4
the Revolution,' and was suffering.
from the effects of a redundant suet ,
worthless paper , currency.. The sa
.ges of that petiod - were :anxious : to.
protect their posterity from the evils
which they themselves had eiperiene ,
ed. Hence re providing a'circulating• •
medium,they conferred upon Curigress '
the power to coin money and,regn
late the value thereof, at the . same
time prohibiting the States from mak
ing anything hut gold - laid silver ten-,
der in payment otArbts' i ' The anon!-1 _
aloes condition of our currency is in
striking contrast' with that which
was.ciriginally deftigned. Qar Circu
lation now cmbraces, first, the uotea
of the National Ranks, whieTt. are
made receivable for all dues to the
GoVernment; excluding imports, and
by all its creditors, exceptiug- pay
ment of interest up - n its bonds - and
securities themselvee.; 6( cond,, legal,.
tender. uotes,lssued by the _United
States, and . which the law requires
shall be received as well lb payment
of ail debts between, citizens, as of
all. Government , dues, excepting im
ports; ladithird i gold and silver coin.
By.the operation of - cur • present sys
tem of finance, however, the'metalic
currency when oollected is reserved :
Only. for one clais of Government
. reditors, •Who, holding its bonds,
erni-annnally receive their interest
icoin Gum the National Treasury. •
lk
They are thus made - to occupy an in
idious position, which may be used
to strengthen the arguments of those
ho u would bring :into disrepute the
-bligatioes of the nation. In ,pii,y
out of all debts the plighted faith of•
he Gsivernment;s t honld be inviolably
aintained ; but -while it acts with
fidelty toward the boudhOltier who'
bottled his money „that the integrity
of the Union might be .prererved, it
?Mould at the same tittle . observe good
faith with flit... great Masses of the
people, who, having •reseued the Un
ion fromthe perils of. rebellion, now
- bear dhe burdens of taxation that the
Goveinment may be able to its
eugagothents , There is . no reAson
Which will be accepted atisatisfacto..
ry by the people, why those who de
fend ns on land and protect us on Wit.
sea,the pensioners upon the gratitude
of the nation, bearing sears and
.wounds received white - in its service;
the public servants-in variant depart
ments of the Government ; the farm
'ere who supplie'd the soldiers of the
( See
_fourth page.) 1