Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-12-06

rAuO oA0 OAi0c Ota1O VI 3 duIAitAOLo oOuIlI,
we will see accomplished one of the most
naked usurpations of power which have ev-
err been attempted in this country, and
from which a brood of evils and dangers
will flow no one can venture to depict.
The claim Of power in Congress to go
into the limits Of State, and level all its
political, civil, and judicial foundations to
their base, is proposition which no sane
man in the better days of the Republic
would have ventured to predict as possible.
And yet this proposition is not only re-
ceived without surprise, but evidently com.
mands considerable degree of favor
Nothing can be imagined in constitu-
tional law more utterly at variance with all
our received and settled ideas upon this
subject. To illustrate the argument most
briefly in this regard, let us refer to the
case of Tennessee. Tennessee was in pre-
cisely the same condition as regards her ex-
istence as State, and as regards her rela-
ton to the Federal Government, as the
other States which had passed acts Of Sc
cession. Her representation was refused
admission to Congress, but at length the OBJ
lection made by the party in possession Of
Congress was waived, and the Representa-
tives from Tennessee were admitted to
their seats. All that Congress did was to
withdraw the objections made to the admis-
sion Of the representation from Tennessee.
The persons claiming seats from Tennessee
had been elected before the resolution
passed by Congress for the admission Of
representatives from Tennessee. The
necessary conclusion is, that Congress re-
cognized Tennessee as a State prior to the
admission of her representatives. Such,
in point of fact, was the law Such, in
case, because no one pretends that Congres
can make State. A State either exists
from having been State, or by the action
of the people in Territory organizing
themselves into State.
1t is clear, then, beyond all dispute,
that Tennessee was State, in the full
sense of the word, under our system of
government, before Congress graciously con-
descended to admit her representatives.
Tennessee was as much State as Massa-
chusetts before the admission of her repre-
sentatives. The only difference that can
be imagined between them was that the
representatives from Massachusetts, were
in the Capitol and the representatives from
Tennessee were outside of the Capitol.
Unless Tennessee was full and perfect
State previous to the admission Of her rep
resentatives, Congress had no right to ad-
NIT them. For it is only in virtue Of be-
ing State that Tennessee was entitled to
representation. And there can be no gra-
dalton in States. 1t is perfect State or
it is no State, for all the States are perfect
y equal
It must be conceded, then, by the ad-
mission of the representatives by Congress
from Tennessee, that Tennessee was
State, in the full sense of the word, in this
Union. Now, it is evident that Tennessee
differed in no degree whatever, so far as
her constitutional status was concerned,
from the other seeded States.
Tennessee having been treated as a'per-
feet State in the Union, it follows that the
other Southern States are perfect States
also Congress, by its action in regard to
Tennessee, is estopped from denying this
conclusion. The ten excluded States be-
ing then perfect States in the Union, it is
gravely proposed that Congress shall over
turn their State organizations and reduce
them to the territorial condition. Can
anything be conceived of more at war with
the genius of our Government and the let
ter and spirit of the Constitution Mad.
Intelligemcer.
Horace Greeley on Political Issues.
Horace Greedy published two-coumn
article in the Tribune of Tuesday on the
issues now pending. He re-asserts his be-
lief that universal amnesty and impartial
suffrage must be the foundation of gen
uine and enduring resettlement of our
overturned national structure He adds
Il am for universal amnesty, so far as
immunity from fear Of punishment and
confscation is concerned, even though i'm
partial suffrage should for the present be
resisted and defeated
Il did think it desirable Jefferson Da-
Wis should be tried for treason, and it still
seems to me this might possibly have been
done many months ago, but it was not
done then, and now [ believe it would re-
suit in far more evil than good
Il hope to see impartial suffrage estab-
lished by very general consent. Many
will favor it because they hold it eminent
ly wise and just: others because they are
tired of contention about negroes, and wish
to put an end to it, and the one simple,
obvI>us mode of taking the negro out of
politics is just to treat him as man.
s.If the South shall insist on her abstract
right to hold blacks as subject race, the
North will doubtless insist on the indefi-
mite disfranchisement of all prominent reb-
els, and matters will thus 60 on as they
have for the last year.
Il must still cherish the opinion that this
is unwise, but shall stand with my own
people while awaiting the calmer and wiser
views that | am confident must ultimately
prevail"
Test Oaths in Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, November 27.-In the SUI
preme Court of the State an important de-
cision was made to-day in the case of
Thomas g. Champion agaisnt the State, in