The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-05-18
From the Ohio Statesman.
Recognition Of a Divided Union
John Sherman's Resolution.

Gradually the leaders of the Abolition
party. and It's majority in Congress, are ma
king formal recognition of the alleged fact
that there are existing in the bounds Of
the United States two distinct independent
governments or nationalities. \ recent act
of the majority in the United States Senate
only adds another strong link to the chain
of evidence on this point,
Some time since John Sherman, oF Ohio,
offered in the Senate Il resolution embracing
three propositions: First. that quorum of
the Senate shall consist of a majority of the
Senators duly chosen and qualified; second,
shat if majority of the electors duly APP
pointed and qualified vote for one man for
President. he shall be the President, and
third, that if the choice Of President de-
wolves upon the House of Representatives,
a majority of the States represented in the
House, may determine who shall be Presl-
dent.
1t is natural to inquire why the necessity
of any action of Congress upon these mat
tels, since the Constitution is explicit upon
each of them? The Constitution provides
Art. T., Sec. 81 that majority of each
Houseof Congress shall constitute quo
rum to do business; it also proseribes
amendments, Art, XlI.) that if any
one person shall be voted for by majority
of the whole number of electors appointed,
he shall be the President, and it further
provides lin the last named artlciel that, III
case the election of President devUlves upon
the House Of Representatives, the votes
shall be taken by States, the representatives
from each State having one vote, that a
quorum for this purpose shall consist of u
member or members from twO-thirds OF the
States, and IL majority OF ALL THE
STATES shall be necessary to choice.
Does Mr., Sherman by his resolution pro-
pose to explain, modify or alter the Consti
tuition. and if he does, whence does Con
gress derive the power to do anything OF the
kind? The Constitution speaks for itself; it
is the supreme law Of the land, and it has
established Supreme and other Courts as
its authorized eXponents and Interpreters.
This attempted interference with the func-
tons of the Judiciary is an evidence Of the
revolutionary tendencies and designs Of the
leaders of the party, with which MIR. Sher-
man is connected.
The Senate on the 4th inst. adopted the
first proposition in Mr., Sherman 5 resolu
ton, by vote of 26 years to | | nays, leay
ing the other two propositions to be acted
on hereafter. The majority Of the Senate
have thus declared that a quorum in that
body shall consist hereafter, not ofa major
ity of Senators representing all the States,
but of majority Of the Senators who may
happen to be chosen, and qualified by tax
ing the test-oath prescribed by the Abolition
majority We do not now inquire into the
con3titutionality Of this proceeding we on
ly record it as a most significant fact, admit
ting practically that no representation i'll the
Senate is expected by. those who voted for
the measure, from several States Of the Tn
ion
Thisaction is in truth an admissions or rath-
cr a proclamation to the American people
aud to foreign nations, by solemn legislative
action; that the Union is divided. and that
portion of the States have seeded from,
or dissolved their connection with the I'm
ion. and that there is no present prospect Of
their return or restoration. If such be not
the true explanation of Sherman propos-
iton as adopted by the Senate it has no
meaning or force Its manifest intention is
to provide for a State Of disintegration or
division of the Union, which is thus formal
ly acknowledged to exist. It consequently
admits the existence of at least two distinct
and Independent sovereignties within the
limits Of what natives and foreigners have
been in the habit of regarding as the Amer
lean Union.