The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-12-12
the Senate" These provisions were

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Intended to securse to every State, and to
the people Of every State, the right Of
each House Of Congress;
and SO important was it deemed by the
trainers Of the Constitution, that the
equality Of the States in the Senate
should bs preserved, that not even by an
amendment Of the Constitution can any
State, without its consent, be denied q
voice in the btaach Of the National Leg
islature. 9a sSs sGitEiggH halg -F 81
It is true, it has been assumed that the
existence Of the States was terminated by
tho rsbellious acts Of their inhabitants,
and that the insurrection having been
suppressed, they were thence forward to
be considered merely as conquered terri
tories. The Legislative, Executive, aud
Judicial Departments Of the Government
have, however, with great distinctness,
and uniform consistency, refused to sane
ton an assumption SO incompatible with
the nature Of our republican system and
with the protested objects Of the war;
Throughout the recent legislation Of Con-
gress, the undeniable fact makes itself ap.
parent, that these ten political communi-
ties are not hing less than States Of the
Union. At the very commencement Of
the rebellion, each House declared, with
a upaninity as remarkable as it was sig-
ni6cant, that the war was not "waged,
upon our part, in any spirit Of oppression,
nor for any purpose Of conquest or subju-
cation, nor for the purpose Of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or es
tabhshed Institutions of those States, but
to defend and maintain the supremacy Of
the Constitution and oil laws made pursu.
ance thereof, aud to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights
of the several States unimpaired and
that as soon as these objects were accom-
plished the war ought to cease" In some
instances, Senators were permitted to con-
tinue their legislative functions, while in
other instances Representatives were cleo.
ted AID admitted to seats after their
States had formally declared their right
to withdraw from the Union, aud were en-
deavoriDg to maintain that rightAy force
Of arms. All of the States whose people
we're iu insurrcction, as States, we're in
cluded in the apportioushent Of the direct
tax of twepty millions of dollars annually
laid upon the United States by the act
approved the 9th Of Au .ust, 1861. Con-
gress, by the act of March a, 1862, and
by the apporlionment Of representation
Hereunder; also recognized their pres
cnce as States in the Union and they
have, for judicial purposes, been divided
into districts. as States alone can be divi.
ded. The same recognition appears in
the recent legislation in reference to Ten
nessee, which evidently rests upon the
fact that the functions of the State were
not destroyed by the rebellion, but mere
ly suspended; and that principle is Of
course applicable to those States which,
like Tennessee, attempted to .renounce
their places in the Union. -
The action Of the Executive Depart
ment Of tie Government upon this sub
jpct has been equally definite and uniform
and the purpose Of the war was specifcal-
ly stated in the Proclamation issued by
my predecessor on the 22d day Of Sep
tember, 1862. II was then solemnly pro.
claimed, that thereafter, as heretofore,
the war will be prosecuted for the object
Of practically restoring the constitutional
relation between the United States and
each Of the States and the people Il ereof
in which States that relation is or may be
suspended or disturbed"
The recognition 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 Senat RS and Rep
resentatives from any and all Of the States
there can be no just ground oil ap2rehen.
sion that persons who we're disloyal will be
clothed with the powers of legislation
for this could not happen when the Con-
stitution and the laws are enforced by 0
vigilant and faithful Congress Each
House is made "judge Of the elections,
returns, and qualifications Of its own
MEMBERS" and may, "with the concur
renee Of two thirds, expel q member
When Senator or Representative pre-
sents his certificate Of election, he may al
once be admitted or rejected or, should
there be any question as to his eligibility
his credentials may be referred for inves
tigation to the appropriate committe. Il
admitted to seat, il must be upon evil
dence satisfactory to the House Of which
he thus becomes q member, that he pos
sesses the requisite constitutional aud le-
gal qualifications. If refused admission
as member for want Of due allegiance
to tho Government, and returned to BIZ
constituents, they are admonished thai
none but persons loyal to the United
States will be allowed voice in the Leg
islative Councils Of the Nation, and th,
political power and moral influence oI
Congress are thus effectively exerted ia
the interests Of loyalty to the Govern
mept and fidelity to the Union. upor
this question, so vitality affecting The res
toration of the Union and the permanen
cy Of our present form Of government
my convictions, heretofore expressed, have
undergone nc. change lbut, on the contra
ry, their correctness has been confrmet
by reflection and time. IL the admission
Of loyal members to seats in the respect
i've Houses Of Congress was wise and ex
pedient a year ago, il is no loss wise anG
exuedienk noW---if. in the eraat nouditior