The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-12-11
CoUDERsPoRT IL

| renewal and strengthening OF our relations
as one people, and removed serious cause
for discomfort on the part of the inhabit-
ants of those States. 1t would have accord
ed with the great principle enunciated in
the Declaration of American Independence
that no people ought to bear the burden of
taxation, and yet be denied the right of
representation 1t would have been in
eonsonance with the express provisions of
the Constitution that leach State, shall
have at least one Representative" and
be deprived ofits equal suffrage in the Sen
ate" These provisions were intended to
secnre 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 trainers of the Con-
stitution that the equality of the States in
the Senate shoull be preserved, that not
even hy an amendment of the Constitution
can any State without It's consent, be de.
MED voice in that branch of the National
| Legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated by
the rebellious acts of their inhabitants, and
that the insurrection having been suppress
| ed, they were thenceforward to be consid-
cred merel y as conquered territories The
Legislative, Executive and Judicial De
partments of the Government, however,
with great distinctness and uniform consis-
tency, refused to sanction an assumption so
incompatible with the nature of our repub-
lIcan system, and with the professed objects
of the war. Throughout the recent legis-
lation Of Congress, the undeniable fact makes
itself apparent, that these 10 political COM
munlties are nothing less than States of
this Union. At the very commencement
Of the Rebellion, each House declared, with
a unanimIty as remarkable as it was signif-
lcant, that the war was not "waged, upon
our part IN any spirit Of oppression, nor
for any purpose Of conquest or subjugation,
nor purpose of oyerthrowing or interfering
with the rights or est blished institutions
of those States, but to defend and MAINTAIN
the supremacy of the Constitution and laws
made In pursuance thereof, and to preserve
the Union with all the dignity, equality,
and rights of the several States unimpaired; :;
and that as soon as these objects" were "ac.
comPllshed, the war ought to cease" In
some instances, Senators were permitted to
continue their legislative functions, while
IN other instances Representatives were
elected and admitted to seats after their
States had formally declared their right to
withdraw from the Union, and were en-
deavorlng to maintain that right by force
OF arms. All Of the States whose people
were IN lnsurrection, as States, were in
cluded IN the apportionment of the direct
tax of $2O,OOo,O00 annually laid upon the
United States by the act approved August
5, 1861. Congress, by the act of March 4,
1862, and by the apportionment of repre-
sentation Hereunder, also recognized their
presence as States in the Union; and they
have, for judicial purposes, been divided in
to districts, as States alone can be divided.
The same recognition appears in the recent
legislation IN reference to Tennessee, which
evidently rests upon the fact that the func-
tons OF the State were not destroyed by the
Rebellion, but merely suspended; and that
Prnc'ple Is Of course, applicable to these
States which, like TenneSs ee, attempted to
renounce their places in the Union.
The action of the Executive Department
OF the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite and uniform, and the
purpose OF the war was specifically stated
IN the Proclamation issued by my prede-
cessor on the 22d day of September 1862.
1t was then soemnly proclaimed and oe,
clared that thereafter, as heretofore, the war
will be prosecuted for the object of practi-
cally restoring the constitutional relation
between the United States and each of the
States and the people thereof, in which
States that relation is or may be suspended
or disturbed.
The recognition of the States BY the Ju
dlclal Department of the Government has
also been clear and conclusive in all pro-
ceedings affecting them as. States, had in
the Supreme, Circuit and District Courts.
In the admission of Senators and Repre-
sentatives from many and all of the States
there can be no just ground Of apprehension
that persons who are disloyal will be cloth
ed with the powers of legislation; for this
could not happan when the Constitution
and laws are enforced by vigilant and
faithful Congress. Each House is made
the Judge Of elections, returns, and quail
fcations of its own members" and may,
with concurrence of two-thirds, expeI al
member" When a Senator or Represent
atiye presents his certificate of election, he
may at once be admitted or rejected; or,
should there be any question as to his eligi- |
biity, his credentials may be referred for
investigation to the appropriate committee.
If admitted to seat, it must be upon evi-
dence satisfactory to the House of which he
thus becomes a member, that he possesses