The Future: A Political Essay - Montgomery Hunt Throop - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

The Object of the Work-The Propositions which it aims to establish

-The Spirit in which the Author will endeavor to discuss them-

The propriety and importance of such a Discussion at the present

time-Practical Questions alone to be considered,

State Sovereignty-Mr. Sumner's Attack upon it in "Our Domestic

Relations "The Articles of Confederation-State Sovereignty

under the Confederation-Origin and Theory of the Constitution-

The Powers which it grants to Congress and denies to the States,

compared with those granted and denied by the Articles of Confe-

deration-The Federalist on the changes made by the Constitution

and on State Sovereignty-The question of Supremacy consid-

ered-Recognition of State Sovereignty in the Constitution-Con-

stitutional and Legislative Provisions of New York and Massachu-

setts on that Subject-Its recognition in the proceedings of the two

States and of Congress, relative to the Cession of Boston Corner

to New York-Mr. Sumner's Opinion in 1855,

The Constitutional Power of the General Government to suppress a

Rebellion-That Power not affected by the unwarrantable sanction

of a Rebellion by a State-The impossibility of a Constitutional

Collision between the State and National Sovereignties--The course

of the General Government in the Nullification Controversy-A

similar course in this Controversy will not expose us to the charge

of coercing Sovereign States-Consideration of the Doctrines of

Forfeiture of State Rights by State Treason, of State Suicide, and

of the Abdication by a State of its Place in the Unioni,
46

V

Answer to Senator Sumner's Theory of a "Tabula rasa" in conse-

quence of the vacancy of the State Offices-The unconstitution-

ality of the project to disfranchise Individuals or Classes by Act

of Congress-The recognition of the Insurgents as Belligerents

will not give us the rights of Conquerors over Territory wrested

from them-State Rights, not being derived from the Constitu-

tion, cannot be forfeited to the General Government-That Gov-

ernment has no power to disturb the balance of our Political

System by accepting such a Forfeiture,

The Theory upon which we entered into the War-The Assurances

respecting its Object and Termination which were given to For-

eign Nations-The Adoption of the Crittenden Resolution-Its

Obligatory Character as a National Pledge,

The Emancipation Proclamation as a War Measure-Consideration

of the Rights of a Belligerent over the Slaves of Citizens of an

Invaded Nation regarding them as Property-The same Rights

regarding them as occupying a Peculiar Status under the Local

Law-The Owner's Rights after the Restoration of Peace-Rea-

sons why the Emancipation Proclamation exceeds the Rights of

a Belligerent, and manifests a Revolutionary Intention on the

part of our Government,
88

How the Southern People were induced to Favor the Rebellion-

Relations of the Slaveholders and of the Institution of Slavery to

the Masses of the People-Theories of the Constitution and of

Public Policy which were prevalent in the South-The Manner

in which the Southern Union Party was Extinguished-Action

of the Border Slave States,

Effects of the Policy thus far pursued by our Government towards

the People of the South-The "Anti-Rosewater Military

Policy-The Penal, Confiscation and Exclusion Statutes -Result

of those Measures in arousing the Resentment and Hatred of the

Southern People-Falsity of the Theory that the Masses at the

South will regard with complacency the Ruin and Outlawry of

their principal Citizens-Exaggerated Effects attributed at the

North to Dissensions between the Confederate Authorities and

their People-Practical Results of the Policy of Severity in the

Districts which we have already conquered.

The impossibility of Governing the People of the South by means

of State Governments, depending upon the Popular Vote, with-

out allaying their Discontent-Results which attended the

Attempt in Utah to maintain the Federal Government over a

Dissatisfied People-Collisions which a similar Attempt in the

South would provoke-The impracticability of introducing a

new Element of Political Power, by means of the Blacks, or of

Foreign Immigrants, or of Immigrants from the North-The

practical Result of the Power of Government, popular in Form,

to coerce its Subjects to obedience, compared with the Theory-

Action of President Jackson in the Nullification Controversy-

His Opinion respecting the possibility of maintaining the Union

by Force alone-Madison, Benton, Everett, Douglas and Web-

ster's Opinions upon the same subject.
157

Senator Sumner's Plan of Territorial Governments for the South-

The President's Plan of "Reconstruction "—A detailed Explana-

tion of the latter-Delusive character of the apparent Intention to

submit the Emancipation Proclamation to the Supreme Court-

The Plan contemplates the Abolition of Slavery by a revolution-

ary overthrow of the State Constitutions-Nature of the Popular

Element of the "reconstructed" State Governments-Probability

of the acceptance of the Terms of Amnesty by the Southeru

People now within our Lines-Readiness of the Baser Element

of a Conquered People to ingratiate itself with the Conqueror-

Illustrations of this Principle by the Conduct of Individuals in

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina during

the Revolutionary War-Efforts of the British Authorities to

reëstablish Civil Rule in South Carolina in the years 1780-1781-

Their apparent success in bringing the People back to their

Allegiance Their Severities towards those who refused to ac-

knowledge themselves British Subjects,

The Facility of putting the President's Plan into Execution in the

early Stages of the Experiment-The Difficulties will thicken as

the Problem approaches Solution-Feelings with which the un-

corrupted Part of the Southern People will regard the Tender of

the Oath-Nature of the Undertaking which it requires from the

Pardoned Rebel-Character of the first Officials under the new

State Governments-Feelings of Animosity which will exist be-

tween them and a large Portion of the Conquered People-The

Necessities of the National Government will require that such Men

shall be kept in Power-The Aid of the Military will be invoked

for that Purpose-Impossibility of effecting the Pacification of the

Country under such Circumstances--Worthlessness of Forced Oaths

of Allegiance-The inevitable Tendency of Military Rule over a

Conquered People is to Severity-The Evil is thus increased by

the Means employed to remove it-These Propositions illustrated

-Results of the British Efforts to reëstablish the King's Authority

in South Carolina in 1780-1781-How Military Force agrees with

a Popular Form of Government in Maryland and Delaware-The

Military Establishment which the Policy of Subjugation will re-

quire us to maintain-Expense of such an Army-Questions as to

our Ability to defray the Expense or to keep the Ranks filled-

Other Questions relating to the Subject,
210

Consideration of the Policy of Subjugation, under Mr. Sumner's

Plan or the President's Plan, with reference to its effects upon

Popular Institutions at the North-The Constitutional Restric-

tions upon the General Government were framed for the purpose

of preventing the Downfall of Public Liberty-The tendency of

the Government to disregard them-The Barriers erected to

check that tendency-The Independence of the States was one

of those Barriers-The effect of the proposed "Reconstruction "

will be to destroy it-The Independence of the Legislature and

Judiciary constitutes another Barrier-It was secured by the

Dependence of the President upon them and of the Legislature

upon the People-It was further secured by the President's Per-

sonal Responsibility—The Provisions to protect the Liberties of

the individual Citizen added to give it greater Strength-Con

sideration of the Doctrine that the Provisions protecting Personal

Liberty are not applicable to a time of Civil Commotion-Its

effect in destroying the Responsibility of the President and of the

Legislature to the People-Its effect in destroying the Independ-

ence of the Legislature and Judiciary, and rendering the Pesident

independent of both-The President's Plan is even more dan-

gerous than Mr. Sumner's-The policy of Subjugation under

either Plan frees the Executive from Control or Responsibility,

and leaves the Liberties of the People at his mercy-Effect of the

vast Increase of the Annual Expenses of the Government which

it involves, in disposing the Wealthy Classes to the Abolition of

Popular Government-The presence of a large Standing Army

will destroy the Popular Appreciation of the existing Form of

The Danger to Popular Institutions from Party Spirit was over-

looked by the Authors of The Federalist-The Honesty and

Patriotism of the present Executive and his Party conceded-

But their Political Training menaces Public Liberty with Destruc-

tion-The Dangerous Tendency of the Doctrine that Rulers must

be Unconditionally Supported, pending a Great National Crisis-

Causes of the excessive Party Spirit which has hitherto raged—

Alarming Results which it has already produced-Further Ex-

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