Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-08-20

That judgment Of Congress which the
President deies was the exercise Of any
authority exclusively vested in Congress
by the constitution to determine what is
the established government in State ia
i,s own nature and by the highest judicial
authority binding on all other depart.
ments Of the government.
The Supreme Court has formally de-
clatea hat under the 4.h section Of the
lVth article of the constitution requiring
the United States to guarantee to every
State = republican form of government
ut rests with Congress to decide what
government is the established one in a
State;" aud when Senators and Repre-
sentatives Of State are admitted into
the councils OF the Union, the authority
Of the government under which they are
appointed, as we'll as its republican char
ae'er, is recognized by the proper const.
tu,ional authority, and its decision is
binding on every other department of the
government, and could not be questioned
in q judicial tribuoal. 1t is true that the
contest in this case did not last long
enough to bring the matter to this issue :;
aud, As no Senators or Representatives
were elected under the authority Of the
government of which Mr. Dorr was the
head, Congress was not called upon to de.
eide the controversy: Yet the right to de-
eide is placed there"
Even the Presidents proclamation Of
the S,h Of December, formally declares
that whether members sent 70 Congress
from any State shall be admitted to seats,
consttutionaiIy rests exclusively with the
respective houses, and not to any extent
with the Executive"
wholly inconsistent with tho Presidents
assumption in that proclamation of a
right to institute and reorganize State
govern ments in the rebel States, not be.
cause the President is unable to perceive
that his recognition is a nulli,y if j. be
not conclusive on Congress.
Under the Constitution, the right to
Senators and Representatives is INSOFAR
able from State government.
1t there be State government, the
right is abso|uts.
1t there be no State government, there
can be no Senators or Representatives
chosen.
The two houses Of Congress are ex.
prerly declared to be the sole judges Of
the.y san members.
Wien, therefore, Senators and Repre-.
sentaiivss are admitted, the State govern.
men. under whose authority they were
chosen, is conclusively established when
they are rejected, its existence is as con.
clusively rejected and denied and to this
judgment the Presiden. is bound to sub.
NIT.
The Presiden, proceeded to express his
unwilingness ito declare q constitutional
competency in Congress to abolish slave
ry in States IS another reason 70. not
signing the bill.
Bat the bill! nowhere proposes to abolish
slavery in States.
The bill did provide tha. all slaves in
the rebel States should be menumi,ted.
But as the President had already sign
ed three bills manumi;ting several classes
of slaves in States. it is not conceived
possible that he entertained any surplus
toushing that provision Of the bill respect-
ing which he is silent
lie had already himself assumed a
right by proclamation to free much the
larger number of slaves in the rebel
States, under the authority given him by
Congress to use military power to sup.
press the rebellion; and it is quite incon'
ceivable that the President should think
Congress could vest in him discretion it
could not exercise itself.
It is the moro uninselligible from the
fact that except in respect to small part
of Virginia aud Louisiana, the bill cover.
ed only what the proclamation covered
added Congressional title and judicial
remedies by law to the disputed title under
the proclamation, and perfected the work
tho President professed 10 be SO anxious
to accomplish.
Slavery rs an institution can be abolish.
ed only BY change Of the constitution of
the United States, or Of the law of the
State; and this is the principle of the bill.
1t required the new constitution Of the
State to provide for that prohibition, and
the President, in the face of his own pro-
clamation, does not venture to object to
insisting on that condition. Nor will the
country tolerate it's aband donme ent--yet he
defeated the only provision imposing il |! !!
But when he describes himself in spite
Of this great blow at emancipation, as
sincerely hoping and expecting that con.
s,itu,ional amendment aholishing slavery
throughout the nation may be adopted,
we cnriously inquire on what his expect
alton rests, after the vote Of the House Of
Representatives at the recent session. and
in the face Of the political complexion of
more than enough of the States to pre-.
vent the possibility Of its adoption within
any reasonable time and Why he did not
indulge his sincere hopes With 50 large an
installment Of the blessing Of bis approval
Of the bill would have secured.
After this arrignment Of bis reasons for
preventing the bill from becoming a law,
the President proceeds to declare his pur.
pose to execute j. as q law By his plenary
dictatofial power. s.G.4... =. =, ...a..
He aays:, y... ....... .....t
''Neyeptheless, am fully satisfied with
The system for restoration contained in
the bill ~, one very proper plan for the
loyal people Of any State choosing il; and
that am aud At al times shall b, pre-.
pared to give tho Executive aid and assis.
lance to any such people 80 Soou - The