Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-12-05

The message opens as usual. with thanks
70 Providence for peace and prosperity, in
the abatement of the pestllence and the
restoration of civil authority throughout the
United States. A review is then had of the
facts set forth in the President S message,
relative to the measures the Executive had
/. taken for TIE gradual restoration of the
Southern States to the Union, such as ap-
pointing provisional Governors, etc. Only
one thing then remained, the message says,
to be done, and that was the admission OF
loyal representatives TO Congress. This
question was devolved solely on Congress.
| In the meantime, the President says, no
other plan having been proposed, he con-
tinued his efforts TO perfect restoration
through the Judicial, revenue and postal
systems of the country. The South had
also ratified the amendment abolishing sla-
very, conformed their social laws to the fact,
repudiated rebel debts and proceeded In
good faith to Iegislate for the ameiioration
Of the colored race The President then
speaks as follows:
| Congress, however, yet hesitated to ad-
NIT any of these States to representation,
and it was not until the close of the eighth
month of the session that an exception was
made in favor OF Tennessee | deem it
subject of profound regret that Congress has
| thus far failed to admit to seats loyal Sena
| tors and Representatives from the other
States whose inhabSants, with those of
| Tennessee, had engaged in rebellion Ten
| States, more than one fourth of the whole
number, remain without representation.
| The seats of fifty members OF the House
and twenty OF the Senate are yet vacant
not by their own consent, not by failure
of election, bat by the refusal of Congress
to accept their credentials. Their admis-
sion. ii is believed, would have accomplish
| ed much towards the renewal and strength
enlng of our relations as one people, and re-
moved serious cause for discomfort on the
part Of the people Of those States 1t
would have accorded with the great princi-
| pie enuuclated in the declaration of Ameri-
can Independence, that no people ought to
bear the turden of taxation and yet be de-
MED the ris hit Ct representation. 1t would
have been in consonance with the express
provisions of the Constitution that each
| State shall have at least one representative,
| aud that no State without its consent shall
| be deprived of equal suffrage in the Senate
| These provisions were Intesded TO secure to
every State tue right OF represent; tim in
| Congress, and so important was 1t deemed
| by the trainers OF. the Constitution that the
| equality OF the States shall be preserved in
the Senate, that not even by an amendment
OF the Constitution can any State without
its consent be denied voice in that branch
| of the National legislature 1t has been as
sumed that these States, by rebellion, be-
came territories but all departments of the
| Government, with great distinctness, refus-
ed to sanction an assumption SO lncohpati-
BILE with the nature of our Republican sys-
TEN and the professed objects of the war
| Throughout the recent legislation of Con-
gress. the undeniable fact makes itself ap-
parent that these ten political communities
are nothing less than States.
The President then quotes the Critten1en
resolution of 1861, on the object of the war,
and reviews the legislation of Congress,
wherein the States are recognized, and also
in Lincoln's proclamation He then pro
ceeds again as follows:
I'm the admission of Senators and Rep
| reseutatives from all Of the States, there can
| be no just grounds of apprehension that
| persons who are disloyal will be clothed with
| the power of legislation, for this could not
happen when the Constitution and the laws
/
| gress. Each House Is the Judge of its own
members. A Senator or member may be
admitted or rejected, or his credentials re-
| ferred to proper committee. If admitted
to seat it must be on evidence satisfactory
to the House of which he becomes mem
| Der, that he possesses the requisite loyal and
| Constitutionalqualifc If refused ad-
mission and sent to his constituents for want
| of due allegiance, they are admonished that
none but persons loyal TO the United States
will be allowed in the counsels OF the nation,
and the political power and moral influence
of Congress are thus effectively exerted in
the interests of loyalty to the Government
and fidelity to the Union. Upon this uaes-
ton, SO vitality affecting the restoration of
| the Union, and the pernanency of our form
of Government, my convictions heretofore
expressed have undergone no change, but
on the contrary their correctness has been
confirmed by reflection aud time. If the
admission OF loyal members to seats in Con-
gress was wise year ago, 1t is no less wise
and expedlent now. Ii this anomalous con-
dition is right; if in the exact condition
of these States at the present time it is law
ful to exclude them from representation, |
do not see that the question will be changed
by the efux of time. Ten years hence, if
these States remain as they are, tie right of
representation will be no weaker. The Con-
stitutlon makes it the duty of the President
to recommend to the consideration of Con
gress such measures as he shall deem expe-
expedient. | know of no measure more
imperatively demanded by every considera-
tion of national interest, sound policy and
equal justice, than the admission of loyal
members from the unrepresented States.
lt would consummate restoration, renew Wig
or and stability, allay doubt, induce emigra-
ton, and open new fields of enterprise f"