The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-12-13
SYNOPSIS OF THE
Presidents Message.

stateuent Oh Wnat nau Deen 00ne, up 10
that time, in the work Of restoring the
late rebellions States to their former status
in the Union. He then says:
In the meantime, the Executive, De-
partment-no other plan having been pro-
posed by Congress-continued its efforts
to perfect, as far as was practicable, the
restoration of the proper relations between
the citizens of the respective States, the
States, and the Federal Government, ex-
tending, from time to time, as the public
interest seemed to require, the judicial,
revenue, and postal systems of the eoun-
try. With The advice and consent of the
Senate, the necessary officers were ap-
pointed, and appropriations made by Con-
gress for the payment of their salaries.-
The proposition to amend the Federal
Constitution, so as to prevent the exis-
tence of slavery within the United States
or any place subject to their jurisdiction
was ratified by the requisite number of
States and on the 18th day of Deem
ber, 1865, it was officially declared to have
become valid as part of the Constitution
of the United States. All of the States in
which the insurrection had existed
promptly amended their Constitutions, SO
as to make them conform to the great
change thus effected in the organcic law
of the land /; declared null and void all
ordinances and laMs of secession repudi-
ated all pretended debts and obligations
created for the revolutionary purposes of
the insurrection ; and proceeded, in good
faith, to the enactment of measures for
the protection and amelioration of the
condition of the colored race. Congress,
however, yet hesitated to admit any of
these States to representation and it was
not until towards the close of the eighth
NJ onth of the session that an exception
was made in favor of Tennessee, by the
admission of her Senators and Represen-
tatives.
| 1 deem it subject of profound regret
that Congress has thus far failed to admit
to seats loyal Senators and Representa-
tives from the other States, whose inhab-
itants, with those of Tennessee, had en-
gagged in the rebellion. Ten States-more
than one-fourth of the whole number
remain without representation the seats
of fifty members in the House of Repre-
sentatives and of twenty members in the
Senate are yet vacant-pot by their own
consent, not by failure of election, but
by the refusal of Congress to accept their
credentials. Their admission, it is be-
lieved, would have accomplished much
towards the renewal and strengthening of
our relations as one people, and removed
serious cause for discomfort on the part of
IL & 81 t.
have accorded with the great principle
enunciated in the Declaration of Ameri-
can Independence 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 :" each State shall have at least one
Representative" and "that no State, with
out its consent, shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate" These
provisions 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
it deemed by the farmers of the Consti
tuition that the equality of the States in
the Senate should be preserved, that not
even by an amendment of the Constitu-
ton can any State, without its consent,
be denied voice in tha. branch of the
National Legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated by
the rebellious act of their inhabitants,
and that the insurrection having been
suppressed, they were thenceforward
to be considered merely as conquered
territories. The Legislative, Executive,
and Judicial Departments of the Govern
ment have, however, with great distinct
ness and uniform consistency, refused to
sanction an assumption so Incompatible
with the nature ofour republican system,
and with the professed objects of the war.
Throughout the recent legislation of Con-
gress, the undeniable fact makes itself
apparent, that these ten political commu-
mites are nothing less than States Of this
Union.
The President then refers to the legis-
lation of Congress, and the proclamations
of Lincoln sustaining this position. He
then proceeds as fellows:
In the admission Of Senators and Rep
resentatives from any and all the States,
there can be ne just ground of apprehcn-
sion that persons who are disloyal will be
clothed with the powers of legislation ;
for this could not happen when the Con-
stitution and the laws are enforced by a
vigilant and faithful Congress. Each
house is made the Judge of the elections,
returns, and qualifications of its own mem
bers," and may" with the concurrence of
two thirds, expel a member" When
Senator or Representative presents his
certificate of election, he may at once be
admitted or rejected; or should there be
any question as to eligibility, his creden-
tials may be referred for investigation to
the appropriate committee. If admitted