Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-08-18

iHc Il iSSiuSHb pIONcNuS.
"Now, therefore, ] Abraham Lincoln. /
President Of the United States, do proclaim
declare and make known, that, while | am
las was in December last, when by pro-
clamaton | propounded plan for restor-
atom unprepared, by a formal approval Of
this bill, to be inflcxibly committed to any
single plan Of restoration"
That is to say, the President is resolved
that the people shall not Ly iatc take any
securities from the rebel States against re- I
newal of the rebellion, before restoring their
power to govern W.
His wisdom and prudence are to be our
sufficient guarantees
He further says
"And, while | am also unprepared to de- /
clare that the Free State Constitutions and
governments already adopted and installed
in Arkansas and Louisiana shall be set aside
and held for naught, thereby repeling and
discouraging the loyal citizens who have set
up the same as to further effort"
That is to say, the President persists in
recognizing those shadows Of Governments
in Arkansas and Louisiana, which Congress
formally declared should not be recognized
whose Representatives and Senators were
repelled by formal votes Of both Houses Of
COngress-which it was declared formally
should have no electoral vote for President
and Vice President
They are the mere creatures Of his will.
They cannot live day without his support.
They are mere oligarchics, imposed on the
people by military orders under the form Of
election at which generals, provost Mar
shalS, soldiers and mp-followers were the
chief actors, assisted by handful Of resi-
dent citizens, and urged on the premature
action by private letters from the Presi-
dent.
In neither Louisiana nor Arkansas, before
Banks defeat, did the United States CON
troll half the territory or half the popula-
ton. In louisiana. Gen. Banks proclaim
alton canddly declared Z: "1hc J,mdonen-
! tai lar Of tie ,Stute is mdrstdi h'r.
| On that foundation Of freedom, he erec-
| ted what the President calls the free Con
stitution and Government of Louisiana.
But of this State, whose fundamental
| law, only sixteen parishes out Of forty
eight parishes were held by the United
! States; and in five of the sixteen we held
only our camps.
The eleven parishes we substantially held
had 333, lSj inhabitants; the residue of the
State not held by us j7j, ,G11.
At the farce called an election, the officers
of Gen. Banks returned that | 34j ballots
were cast, but whether any or by whom the
people of the United States have no legal
assurance; but it is probable that 1000 were
cast by soldiers or employees of the United
! States military or municipal, but none ac-
cording to any law, State or National, and
| ! 900 ballots represent the State OF Loulsl-
| ana.
Such is the Free Constitution and Gov
ernment of Louisiana; and like it is that of
Arkansas Nothing but the failure Of a
military expedition deprived us ola like one
in the swamps of Florida; and before the
Presidential election, like ones may be or
ganized in every rebel State where the Uni
} ted States have Il camp.
The President, by preventing this bill
from becoming u law, holds the electora
votes of the rebel States at the dictatlon O
| his personal ambition.
r If those votes turned the balance in hi
e favor, is it to be supposed that his compel
itor, defeated by such means, will acqui
esce
If the rebel majority assert their suprem
acy in those States, and send votes which
elect an enemy Of the Government vii
we not repel his claims?
And is that not cir .1war for the Presi-
dency, inauguratcd BY the votes Of rebel
States ?
Seriously impressed with these dangers,
Congress, ''thc proper constitutional au-
thority,' formally declared that there are
no State governments in the rebel States,
and provided for their erection at the prop
er time; and both the Senate and House OF
Representatives rejected the Senators and
Representatives chosen under authority OF
what the President calls the Free Constitu-
ton and Government of Kansas.
The President Proclamation ''hOldS .foi
nItif +hiS i,tlrannpt and diScorus tht
authority of the Supreme Court, and strides
E hcadlone toward the anarchy his Proclama
, ton of the Sth of December inaugurated
, If electors for President be allowed to bt
: chosen in either OF those States, sinste
: light will be east on the motives which in
duced the President to "hold for naught
a the will of Congress rather than his Gov
ernment in Louisiona and Arkansas.
II That judgement of Congress which til
: President deties was the exercise Of an au
:, thority exclusively vested in Congress b
!, the Constitution to determine what is TIL
. established Government in a State, and il
its own nature and by the highest judicia
q authority binding on all other department
+ Of the Government.
= The Supreme Court has formally declared
that under the 18th section Of the til artl
Gle Of the Constitution, requiring the Uni
= ! tea states 10 SudTdultc " cNclg rldtS
republican form Of government, st rest
miM Congress, to decide ,chat GorC'mmen
IS the estaJLislcd one in q State; and "rheI
Senator's and Representatives, eta STATE ar
E admitted into the councils Of the Union
, the authority of the Government Wdc
, ,chich they are oppoinstd, as well as its re
publican character, is recognized by the con
shtutioaal authority, and its decision I
. binding on erery other department Of tn
, Gorernment, and could not be ques
/, toned in a judicial tribunal. 1t is tru
; that the contest in this case did not last lonl
enough to qring the matter to this issue
and, as no Senators or Representatives wer
elected under the authority Of the Govern
: ment of which Mr.. Dorr was the head, Con
, gress was not called upon to decide the con
, troversy. Yet the right to decide is placeC
: there.
, Even the Presidents Proclamation of th'
Sth of December, formally declares tina
"Whether members sent to Congress from
any State shall be admitted to seats, consti
= = tutionally rests exclusively with the respec
tive Houses, and not to any extent with th
Executive.
And that is not the less true becaus'
wholly inconsistent with the President 5 as
, sumption in that proclamation Of a right tt
! institute and recognize State Governments
in the rebel States, nor because the Presi
dent is unable to perceive that his recogni
, ton is nullity if it be not conclusive OIL
, Congress.
1InIar tbo Constitution the right tC