American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-12


| the Declaration of Amercau lndepend'
ence, that no people ought to bear the
burden of taxation, and yet be denied
the right of representation. 1t would
have been in consonance with the express
provisions of the Constitution, that leach
State shall have at least one representa-
tive" and, ''that no State without its con
sent, shall be deprived of its equal
suffrage ia the Senate" These provls>
ions were intended to secure to every
State, and to the people of every State,
the right Of representation in each House
of Congress; and so important was 1t
deemed by the trainers Of the Constltu-
ton that the equality of the States IN
the Senate should be preserved, that not
even by an amendment of the Constltu-
ton can any State, without its consent,
be denied voice in that branch OF tie
National Legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated
by the rebeIious acts of their inhabi>
tanfs, and that the insurrcctlon having
been suppressed, they were thenceiorward
70 be considered merely as conquered ter>
ritoFies. The Legislative, Executive,
aud Judicial Departments OF the Gov
crnment have, however, with great DIS
tinctncss and uniform consistency, r 'tus-
ed to sanction an assumption so lnchm>
patible with the nature of our repuoll
can system, and with the professed OBJ
iects of the war. Throughout the recent
Legislation of Congress the undeniabie
fact max es itself apparent, that these ten
political aommuities are nothing less than
St .te of this Union. At the very com
meme ,ment Of the rebellion, each House
declared, with uuanimity as remarka-
BILE as it was significant ,-that the war was
not "waged, Oh our part, ihany spirit OF
oppression, nor for any purpose OF con
quest or subjuSation nor purpose OF over
throwing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions OF those States,
but to defend and maintain the suprcma
CIV Of the Constitution aud all laws made
in pursuance thereof aud to preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality, and
rights of the several states unimpaire ;
aud that as sooa as these objects" We're
accomplished, the war ought tn cease.
In some instances Sen ttors were permit
ted to continue their legislative fanct>
ions, while in other instances Represene
tatiyes were elected and admitted to seats
after their States had formally declare
their right to withdraw from the Union
and were cndeavoring to maintain thar
right by force of arms All of the States
whose people were in insurrection, as
States. were included in the apportion
ment of the direct tax of twenty millions
If dollars annually laid upon the United
States by the act approved 9th August.
1861. Congress, by the act Of March /
1862, and By the opporiionmcnt ofrepre
sen;ation thereuuder,a also reco%nlzel their
presence as States in the Union; and
they have, for judicial purposes, 5eca di.
vdcd into districts, as States alone can
be divided. The same recognition ap,
pears in the recent legislation in refer
ence to Tennessee, which evidently rests
upon the fact that the functions of the
State were not destroyed BY the rebellion,
but merely suspended and that prnci-
pie is of course applicable to those States
which, Ike Tennessee, attempted to re-
nounce their places in the Union.
The action of the Executive Depart
mcnt of the Government upon this subs
ect has been equally definite and uni
form, and the purpose of the war was
specially stated in the proclamation issu-
ed by my predecessor on the I'D diy OF
September, 1862. 1t was then solemny y
proclaimed aud declared that thereafter
..s heretofore, the war will be prosecuted
for the object Of practically restoring the
constitutional relation between the Uni>
eed States and each of the States and the
pe pie thereof in which States that rela-
ton is or may be suspended or disturbed
= The recognition Of the States by the
Judici Department of the Government
has also been clear and conclusive in all
pr iecedings affecting them as States, had
"A e Supreme, Circuit and Dlsrlci
Courts.
Ia jhe admission Of Senators and Rcp~
rcstntatTves from any andall Of the States
| hare can be nn just sroun apprehen
| siou that persons who are di.l0yai will be
/ clothed with the powers of legislation
for this .r9uld not happen when the Cen
stitution and the laws are enforced by a
. gilant AMI faithful Congress. Each
Hau-e is made the Judge 8. the elec
tions. returns : and qualifications of its
own msmbers and may. with the con
currenco oftwob birds, eSpel member. >
j When a Senator or Representative pre-
sents his certifcate of election, he may
at once be admttedor rejected; or, shoule
/ there be any question rs 10 his eligibility
4 hi credentials muy be referred for inves
tgation to the appropriate committee.
admitted to seat, it must be upon eyl
dence satisfactory to the House ofwhiel
he thu becomes a member. that he pos
sesses the requisite legal and constitution
al qualifications. If refused admission
as u member for want of due allegIanc'
. to the Government, and returned to hl
constituents, they are admonishet tha
= nsae. but persons loyal to the Unite
Estates will he allowed a voice in the Leg
Il islatiye Councils Of the Nation, and th
. political power and moral influence {
Congress are thus effectively exerted j
/ the interests of loyalty to the Gqverr
ment. aud fidehtseto the Union Up9
th;a,.,ost;op 60 vitality affecting the re: