The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-03-02

peculiar force, that no State, without
its consent shall bedeprivedOf its equal
suffrage in the Senate. The original
act was necessarily passed in the absence
of the State chiefly 10 be affected, be
cause their people were then contuma-
ciously engaged in the Rebellion,
! Now the case is changed, and some,
at least, of the States are attending
Congress by loyal representatives solic-
iting the allowance Of the Constitution
al right of representation. At the time,
! however, of the consideration and the
passing Of this bill, there was no Sena-
tor or Representative in Congress from
| the eleven States which are to be main
| Iy affected by its provisions. The very
| fact that reports were and are made a.
gainst the good disposition of the coun-
try is an additional reason why they
need and should have representation
/ in Congress, to explain their condition,
reply to accusations, and assist by their
local knowledge in perfecting measures
Immediately affecting themselves,
while the liberty of deIiberation would
then be free, and Congress would have
full power to decide according to its
Judgment, there could be no objection
urged that the States most interested
had not been permitted to be heard
The principle is firmly fixed in the
minds ofthe American people that there
should be no taxation withoutrepresen-
tation. Great burdens have now to be
borne by all the country, and we may
best demand that they shall be borne
without murmur when they are voted
10y majority Of the representative Of
all the people. | would not interfere
with the unquestionable right of Con-
gress to Judge and act for itself as to the
elections, returns and qualifications of
its own members, but that authority
cannot be construed as including the
right to shut out, in time of peace, any
State from the representation to which
it is entitled by the Constitution at
present.
All the people of eleven States are
excluded; those who weremOst faithful
during the war not less than Others
| The State of Tennessee, for instance,
whose authorities engaged in rebellion,
was restored to all her constitutional
relationsto to the Union by the patriotism
and energy of her injured and betrayed
people. Before the war was brought
to a termination they had placed them
selves in relation with the General Gov
ernment; had established State Gov
ernment Of their own, and as they were
not included in the emancipation proc
lamation, they, by their own act, had
amended their Constitution, so as to a.
boIish slavery within the limits of their
State.
] Ikn0w no reason why the State Of
/ Tennessee, for example, should not fully
enjoy all her constitutional relations to
| the United States. The President of
/ the United States stands towards the
country in a somewhat different atti
,tutle from that of any member of Con-
gress chosen from single district or
State. The President is chosen by the
people of all the States. Eleven States
are not at this time represented in eth
| -. = II It-n,Ill Saap1
to be his duty, on all proper occasions,
! to present their just claims to Congress.
There always will be difference Of O.
pinion in the community, and indiyid-
| uals may be guilty of transgression Of
/ the law; but these do not constitute
valid objections against the right of
State to representation, and would in
no wise interfere with the discretion Of
/ Congress with regard to the qualifica-
tions of members, but l hold it my du
ty TO recommend to you in the interests
of peace, and in the interest Of the T.
Mon, the admission of every State TO
it's share in public legislation when,
| however insub0rdinate, insurgent or
rebellious its people may have been, it
presents itself not only in an attitude
of loyalty and harmony, but in the
persons of representatives whose 10y
atty cannot be questioned under any eX-
! isting constitutional or legal test.
1t is plain that an indefinite or per-
manent exclusion of any part of the
country from representation must be
attended by spirit of disquiet and
complaint. 1t is unwise and dangerous
| to pursue a course of measures which
will unite a very large section Of the
country against another section of the
country, however much the latter may
prepOnderate. The course of emigra-
ton, the development of industry and
business, and natural causes will raise
up at the South men as devoted to the
Union as those of any other part of the
land. But if they are all axcluded from
| Congre S, if in q permanent statutethey
are declared not to be in full conStitu-
tiOnal relations to the country, they
may think they have cause to become
a unit in feeling and sentiment against
the Government. Under the political
education of the American people, the
idea is inherent and ineradicable that
the consent of the majority of the whole
people is necessary to secure willing