Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-16
DciS6s IN CONGRESS.


resolutions heretofore submitted by him as
follows:
Resolved, That the message of the Presi-
dent of the United States, delivered at the
opening of the present Congress, is regarded
by this body as an able, judicial and patriotic
State paper.
hesolccd, That the principles therein adj
vocated for the restoration of the Union are
the safest and most practicable that can now
be applied to our disordered affairs. ="
I2csolrcd, That no State or number OF
States confederatcd together can, in aSy
manner, sunder their connection with the
Federal Union, except by total subversion
Of our present system Of government and
that the President in enunciating this doc
trine in his late message, has but given ex-
preston to the sentiments of all those who
deny the right or power of a State to secede.
RcSOirsd, That the President is entitled
to the thanks of Congress and the country
for the faithful, wise and successful efforts to
restore civil government, law and order to the
States whose citizens were lately in insurrec-
tion against the Federal authority; and we
hereby pledge ourselves to aid, assist and up
hold him i'll the policy which he has adopted
to give harmony, peace and union to the
country.
Mr.. Voorhees, said that in introducing
these resolutions he did not intend to step in
between the ajority and the heshpots he
had no eye on the public crib on which they
had fed and fattened SO long, :ncr. upon un-
fathomahle contracts CT anything that was
thcirs. Those Of the riinority had lived
without such assistance, and would not now
bend the knee that thrift might follow fawn-
ing. For his own part, in the future, as in
thepast, he would pursue the course which
hc thought was right, irrespective of the re-
wards or the pcrils of reproach What we're
the issues declared by the President? Were
they new, strange and sinister that they
should be received with Indignation and
alarm? They had bced assailed by the vete-
ran ofthe Republican party, (Mr. Stcvens),
as if every word were filled with conta-
giOn and death. That gentleman had delib-
eratcly declared that the Southern States
we're destroyed BY the rebellion, and re.nain
destroyed to the present day and nov the
House were asked to ravel and pick to pieces
all the President has done, and begin to re-
knit anew. lie should stand by the Presi-
dents position as 4 cure Hganst the blind i'm
preston which first pronounccs the patient
dead and then gives the medicine. lie was
in no sense the PRESIDENTS, partisan, he did
ret support him for election lie dreaded
the issue which would be made if he obtained
power, but since the day he took the oath of
office he bcheld in him the magistrate. not
the private oitiZch. lie (Nlr NoOrhces)
never maintained that the Southern States
had the right to secede. Many of the men
of that section, while maintaining the same
view, held that tkcy possessed the right to
revolution. TO say that the Southern Statcs
-, 70 tbof IL,
the Union is an utter failure. In every re-
spect was the theory of the majority fraught
with Death aud disgrace to the Government
With this he contrasted the course of the
President who, when the temple of janus 7as
closed, extended the hand Of friendship to
the Solthern States. TO meet the demands
Of the people, he did not, as others, view the
conduct Of the President as Il u<urpation of
power. He found the Southern States with
out law, and. i'll performance of duty, he used
the best means to restore them to power
lie hailed the appointment of Skarkcy, Per
ry, johnson and Parsons, as Provisional Go.
ycrnors, bright promise OF good admins
tratlUn and harbingcr of peace to The South
crn people, and prosperity to the whole
country. Such men as Butler had been dis
appointed in the fat, juicy pickings, and the
hungry sharks in the Southern States had
bccm deprived of their prey.
Mr.. Voorhees,, in combating the doctrine
that the States are out of the Union, said tnat
in more than hundred instances, in letters,
proclamatons and speeches, the late Execu>
tive always recognized as Rc .jure the South
crn States. If these States then are in the
Union, what power could close these doors
against them? How could this House refuse
to receive their representatives Peace and
submission to the laws are the only guarantee
that can be demanded of Il cor 1u&red people
The course pursued by the Southern States
i'll adopting the Constitutional amendment
ABOLISH ng slavery, was wise, and in the fur
thGranCc of this question Of guarantees, the
refusal to admit these Southern representa-
tives arose from sense Of power aud not Of
right or justice. Had not Congress made 4
record it could not ignore? Had it not Off
cally assumed . position it could not over
throw during the war? Were not Louisiana
members admitted to seats BY the TerY ruler
who now keeps them out Was Tennessee
destroyed! IIer name was called more than
half the period of the war, and representatives
answered from both ends of the capitol
Could it then be asserted that Tennessee was
u portion of foreign Government and the
President himself a naturalized foreigner -
Frederick the Great said if wanted to ruin
my, Government, would make it over to the
philosophers, for philosophers contradict
themselves, and of this they had abundant
evidence. Those, too, who clamcd to BE-
representatives from Virginia were admitted
during the war but were now excluded
MIR. Dcming asked the gentleman to inform
the Hoase whether he thought the right of
representation must commence at Antietam
or Gettysburg.
peating a sentence he had already uttered,
namely: That peace and obedience are the
only guarantees for the future which auy Co.
yernmcnt can require, and when peace reigns
he held that the people cannot be governed
without representation. The present is more
IL.