The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-04-13
spEECH or HON. J. NJ. ASHLEY.


Government 10 the maintenance OF mVorNg uau
to oneTena claiming to be loyal while "'Te-'s"tA'
are openly dkloyai.
In answer to many objections which have been
urged by distinguished gentlemen who have writ
ten me on the subject OF the Ten per ceNt. basis,
will say, that the loyal oactsnh are to represent
all the inhabitants. loyal and disloyal, in The
States that representation in Congress IS not
based upou the number of electors or loyal citizens
in any State, but upon the whole numberot inhao.
itants. Formerly, In the South hree fVhs OF all
the slaves were included in their enumeration.
Since the emancipation of tho slaves, the three
hfths representation clause in the Constitution Is
practically abolished and each cnaucpatcd slave
will hereafter be enumerated as an inhabltant.
So that there is no injustice to the North IN allow
ing the old representation in Congress from the
rebel States. That part of the population known
as the hco oitbs free and slave, not counted IN the
enumeration, will now be added, and two-htthS Ot
four millions will probably exceed the number ot
whites, killed or driven from the southern States.
Ii we should undertake to apportion Representa-
tivcs in Congress, from the several States, upon
the number ofloya electors, we should find, fear
a number of districts in the North quit, as dis
loyal as many in the South.
l believe that safety 10 the Government, and
Justice to loyal men, demand that we should put
the entire authority of reconstructing new State
Governments in the rebel States, into the hands
Of loyal men, and none others. Ii is deemed saie
TO intrust ten per cent. of the number OF electors
i'm each State in 1860, with this power, they must
State and NATIONAL tn entire population of those
States, loyal and diSloya including all the colored
Inhabitants.
There are some other points in the bill which
| am prevented from noticing for wantot time.
Mr.. Speaker, five would avoid all possible com
phi cations, aud the danger of another conspiracy
and rebellion, let us providc before this Congress
adiourns, by law, for the re-cstabisment OF he-
publican Governments, by the loyal citizens, IN
rebel States. a subject Of so much Importance
! mus not he tn he
tary commander.
MIR. Speaker, suppose the doctrine be adopted
that " State once a State, is always State,
and that small minority claiming to be loyal
may at any time, and in any part of State, oc
cuped by our forces, call a mass convention o.
those favorable to organizing n new State Govern
ment, and when the convention is assembled, 4
selects Governor and State officers, authorize:
| them to assume the functions ct a Stal'
Government, either under the old Constitu
| ton, as was done in Virginia, or under 0
Constitution proclaimed by martial law, as was re
Gently done in Louisiana, and that the Governo
| thus chosen proceed to issue his proclamation to
the election of Il Legislature and members thereof
in pursuance of said proclamation, are elected Il
some halfdoZen counties of theSStatc, and conven
and organize as the Legislature of the State, an
form law apportioning the State into Congress
sional Districts and elect two United states Sena
tors and appoint day upon which Representa-
tives are elected to Congress, and send their elec
toral vote here for President and Vice Presider
lnext winter, what action would this House take up
on such condition of things? If tiHa- or six 9
more of the rebel States, i'll which we have mil
itary force, should by the action Of few hundre
men thus organize and send their electoral vote herr
and claim, as they would, that it should be count
ed would this House consent 10 itY Suppose tn
electoral vote here, should change the result {
the Presidential eection--and II counted, elect
President in sympathy with the rebels; or suppos
there were three Presidential candidates before III
people, and that the votes of these assumed stat
organizations are SO cast as to defeat an election
the people, and make it necessary for the Hous
to select the President, do not gentlemen Know tht
the excitement which attends such a contingenc
would exceed in violence anything ever witnesse
in this country, and that it might terminate in al
other rebellion? ? Are not gentlemen apprehensiv
that the conspirators of the South, driven 10 de;
peration, may undertake to accomplish their pu
pose by some such scheme as this? And is n
our present unguardcd and loose manner of REQ
ganiziug the rebel States well calculated to invi
the rebels to Just such an effort as have sugges
ed ? | frankly confess that | am not entirely fire
from apprehension. Gentlemen may reply th
we have mi iority of the states as now represente
in Congress, and that, therefore, there can be !
danger To this reioin that every State so REQ
Tanizcd will have its Senators and Representative
here next winter, demanding admission. and II Il
Executive Department of the Government has " r
cognizcd EN- ms the true Government of the State
there will be danger that majority Cf this llOu
would vote tn admit them as members as they d
in the last Congress. l desire, therefore, to qua
against any possible contingency of the kind no,
1t pass this bill, such conspiracy can not po
/, Sibly succeed.
think may safely speak for a large maiori
on this side of the House, when declare that ne
cr by their authority or consent will single elc
tnral vote from any rebel State for President
Nice-PreSdCnt be counted in this Hall, until tn
, State shall have rcorganized State G0vernmeI
republican in form, and it has been recognized
Congress. In other words, before one of the s.
called seeded States can be permitted to rea
sume any part of the governing power of Il
country it must first resume its constitutional +
atOns to the National Government, in cOntormi
1 with and subject to the Constitution of the Unit
States. The State Governments which have be-
OverthrOwn ordestrnyed must be replaced by mt
Governments, organized by the loyal people, al
these new Governments can only become Constit
= tiOnal Governments when thus organized and l
!, cognized by Congress.
This is certainly point about which there oug
to be no dispute among loyal men. | lay it doy
u as principle, from which we ought not to Z
n part, and which we cannot safely yield, that Il
J. whole question Of reconstruction, whether uno
A the war powers or the peace powers of the Cover
ment, is question coufded by the Constituti
expressly to Congress, and not to the President
}, to any General charged by him with the exec
C tiOn Of military orders. l desire the House and
f. country to understand that, by silence we sai
d ton every assumption of doubtful Constitution
o power by any Department or officer of the Cove
mcnt. The dominant party IN Congrt SIS ought to
!, | member that il is making history, and will
d held responsible in history for every dangert
k precedent established with its consent 1t ouj
}. not to be forgotten that every act of the Execut
+ and Congress becomes precedent, to be reviN
4 hereafter, if occasion offers, by those who sl
then be charged with the administration Of
G Government. | may be deemed over-anxious
I this subject. But, sir ! know the power of
d ample, aud | much prefer that the President
f every officer appointed by him shall do no act
- less clearly authorized by the Constitution, or
act of Congress.
II Iprefer that before any doubtful Consttutio
|, power is exercised by the President or any off
of the GOvernment,the question shall be submit
n to Congress for its decision and advice. l tn
we ought to demand the establishment of this II
and insist on its strict observance by the Presid
: and every Department of the Government. IIC
II ever ready we may be as partisans to apologize
# or justify the assumption Of doubtful Constituto
d power by those endowed by us with authority,
i. a Representative, ! am unwilling that the Pre-
y dent of my own choice, or any officer of his
Z pointment, should exercise any power whicl
5, would condemn if exercised by political opponC
o Concluded next week.