The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-04

snc eAkuiCt c4upuJ AIiu ttkHlsso VI lue seset0i
States unimpeired, and that, a. soon as these
objects were accomplished, the war ought to
cease. In some laab@uces, SepeAop were
pesmitted 70 eoitnue theirs legieatiw func-
tions, while in bther instances Representa-
tives we're elected and admitted to seats after
their States had formally declared their right
to withdraw from the Union, and were en-
deAvonng 70 maintain thst right by force Of
arms An of the States whose people were
in insurrection, IS States, we're included in
the spportionmdnt of the direct tax Of $50,
000, eco Asauallt laid upon the United StnGes,
byth6Act Approved Augstebth, 1851 Con
gress, by the act Of March 4th, 1861, and by
the apportionment of Representatives there
undsn-AIso recognized theie presence, az
Ststes~in the Uuiou; and they, for Judicial
| purposes, were divided into districts as States
only can be divided. The same recognition
appeared in the recent legislation. in refer
enee to Tennessee, which evidently rests up
on the fact that the functions Of sthe State
were not DESTROYED by the rebellion. but
merely suspended; and that principle is, Of
course, applicable to those States which, like
tennessee, attempted to renounce their pla-
ces in the Union. The action of the Execu-
tive Department ofthe Government upon this
| sdbjsct has been eqsally deliherats. md mi
form, ,and thspurpose d tAe ~ 4as aafed
IN ths proclsnaton iasea ~ yny pr0dss1sa
or, on the 22d of September, 1662 1t was
then solemnly proclaimed aud declared that
hereafter, as heretofore, the war VIII be pros
| ecuted for the object Of practically restoring
the Constitutional relations between the Uni
ted States, and each Of the States and people
thereof, in which State that Relations is or
may be suspended or disturbed, the recogni-
ton Of the States By the judicial department
Of the Government has also been clear and
conclusive in all proceedings affecting them
as States. and in the supreme, circuit and
district courts in the admission of Senators
and Representatives from any and alfpf the
States, there can be % just grounds Of APP
preheusiou that persons who are disioyal will
be clothed with powers Of station, for this
eeald not happen when the Constitution and
laws are enforced by sigilan, and faithful
Congress. Each House is made the judge OF
the election returns and qualifications of its
own members. and may, with the concurrence
OF two-thirds, expel a member. When d Sen.
atorsor Representative presents his certificate
of election he may at once be admitted or re
jected or should there be any question as
20 his eligibility, his credentials may he re.
ferred to fof Investigation to the sppropriAte
committee. Ii admitted State, it must be
upon evidence satisfactory to the House of
which he thus becomes member. that he
possesses the requisite Constitutional and le-
gal qualifications. II refused admission as a
member Tor want of due allegiance to the
they are admonished that none but
persons loyal TO the United States
will be allowed a voice in the
legislative councils Of the nation, and the po-
litlcal power and moral influence of Congress
are thus effectively exerted in the interests of
loyalty to the Government and fidelity to the
union. Upon this question SO vitally affecting
the restoration OF the Union and the perma>
neucy OF our present form of Government,
my CONVICTIONS heretofore expressed have
undergone no change. But, on the contrary
their correctness have been confirmed by re-
fection and time. II the admission of loyal
members to seats 10 the respective Houses of
Congress was wise and expedient year ago,
it is no less wise and expedient now. II the
anomalous condition is right-if in the exact
condition Of eselStates, at the present time,
it IS lawful to exclude them from Representa-
ton. do not see that the question will be
changed by the eflux of time. Ten years
hence, il these States remsin as they are, the
right Of representation will be no stronger,
and the night OF exclusion no weaker. The
Constitution Of the United States makes il
the duty OF the President to recommend to
the consideration df Congress such measures
as he shall Judge necessary or expedient /
know of no measure more imperatively de-
manded by every consideration OF national
interest, sound policy, aud equal justice, than
the admiss: On Of loyal members from the now
unrepresented States. This would consummate
the work of restoration, and exert a most sal
utary nhnence ia the re establishment of
peace aud harmony and frasernal feeling.
II would tend greatly 10 renew the conf
dence of the people OF the yigor and stability
of these institutions, and would bind as more
closely together as a nation, and enable us to
show to the world the inherent and recupera
tive power OF q Government founded upon
the will of the people, and established upon
the principles Of liberty, justice, and inteili-
geDee. Our increased strength and enhanced
prosperity would irrefragAbiy demonstrate
the fallacy Of the arguments against free in>
stltutions drawn from our recent National
disorders, by the enemies Of Republican Gov
ernment. The admission Of loyal members
from the States now excluded from Congress
by ailaving doubt and apprehension, would
turn capital, nov awaiting an opportunity for
investment, into the channels Of trade and
industry. : IL would alleviate the present
troubles and condition Of these States, and by
inducing immigration, aid in the settlement
of the fertile regions now uncultvated, and
lead to an increased production OF those sta
pies which have added 90 greatly to the
strength of the nation and the commerce of
the world. New fields Of enterprise would
be opened to our progressive people, and
soon the devastation Of war would be repair
ed, and all traces Of our domestic differeace
effaeed from the minds Of our countrymen,
IN our efforts TO preserve the
unity of Government which constitutes us
one people. BY restoring the States TO the
condition which they held prior to The rebel
lion, We should be cautious lest kAviag res
cued our nation from the perils of threatened
disintegration, we resort to consolidation, and
in the end, absoluts despotism. AS remedy
for the recurrence of similar trouble, the
war having terminated and with it all s,cca-
sion for the exercise Of powers of doubtful
Constitutonality, we should hasten to bring
legislation within the boundaries prescribed
by the Constitution and return TO the ancient
landmarks established by our fathers for the
guidance of succeeding generations. The
Constitution, which at any time exists until
changed by an explicit and authentic net of
the whole people, is sacredIy obligatory upon
all. IL in the opinion Of the people, the dis.
tribu-io or modification of the Constitutions
al powers be in any particular wrong, let it
be corrected by an amendment, in the way in
which the Constitution designates: but let
there be no change by usurpation, for it is the
custom by which free Governments are de-
stroyed. Washington spoke these words to
his coontrymen when, followed by their lave
and gratitude, he voluntarily retired from the
cares ofpabsic lite; to keep in all things with
in the pale OF orr Constitutional powers, and
cherish the Federal Union as the only ark Of
safety. we're prescribed by Jefferson as rules
of sctscn. TO endeAr 70 his countrymen
the true principles Of their Constitution and
promote union sentiment and action equal-
ly auspicious to their happiness ond safety.
Jackson held that the actiou Of the Gener-
al Government should always be strictly coz.
fined to the sphere of its appropriate duties,
and justly and forcibly urged that our govern.
ment is bot TO be maintained, nor our union
preserved, by invasions Of the rights and
powers Of the several states In that at.
tempting to make our general government
strong we make il weak Its true strength
consists in leaving individuals and states Is
mdeA as possible to themselpes, or making
itself felt not in control, not in its power, bal
in its. beni6cehce not in it's control, not in
IFS protection, not in binding the States more
lclosely tolhs ~centye but leaviaf zach to
move unobstructed IN IL proper Constitutional
orbit. These are the teachings Of menwhose