Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-07-13
TEEE SFgEE-yFTO OF THE GONSTFTE
TT0NALs AMENDMENT.

The importunate A. J. who presides at
the White House, felt his dignity somewhat
impaired when the two Houses of Congress
resolved to send the Amendment to the
States without giving him an opportunity
to display his usual egotism Thereupon
he seated himself, wroth no doubt, and ad-
dressed brief little lecture to Congress,
telling the Representatives of the American
people that u deem it proper to observe
that this is all improper The whole
reminds us of he''Pope's bull against the
Comet The gist of this presumptuous
affair runs thus
Even in ordinary Zines, a question of
amending the Constitution must be Justly re-
garded as of paramount Importance This
Importance is, at the present time, enhanced
by the fact that the Joint resolution wQs not
submitted 6y the tlc6 Houses for the approruI
Of the FreSident, and that, of the thirty six
States which constitute the Union, eleven are
excluded from representation in either House
of Congress, although, with the single excep-
ton of Texas, they have been entirely restor-
ed IN all their functions as States, in confor-
nifty with the organic law of the land, and
have appeared at the National Capitol by
Senators and Representatives who have ap-
piled for and been refused admission to she
vacant seats.'
The first point made here, and therefore
the most important in the estimation of the
President,ag the Amendment, is that it
was not submitted to A. j. for his approval.
Now, it is well established principle oflaw
in this Country, that resolutions submitting
amendments to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, for the ratification Of the various
States, no more require the sanction of
the President than do the acts of the British
Parliament.
But in the second place lest he might be
charged with desire to QuibbIe over the
right Of A. j. to sign such Amendments
he asserts that it is improper to amend the
Constitution while eleven States are 'exclu-
ded from Representation. We are
prompted to ask Who took them out of the
Union? Their exclusion is the result of
their own voluntary acts. But saws the
President, they have been entirely restor-
ed III all their functions as States. 1t does
appear very strange that they could with
draw from the Union and when suppressed
by armed force, Immediately resume their
Legislative functions without any restric-
tions or conditions if they desire to dc SO.
For four long years they were excluded by
their own voluntary acts, during all which
time they struggled for the destruction Of
the life Of the parent Government, and the
moment they are suppressed, the very men
who controlled the action of the eleven
States alluded to by the President, are Sc
lected to represent them in the councils of
the Government which they struggled to
destroy This may seem wise on the part
of rebels and their friends, but no man who
has had the interest Of his country at heart
for the last four or five years can endorse
such an unparalleled proceeding.
If it is wrong to adopt these amendments
TO the Constitution because the seeded
States are notrepresented, it was wrong to
pass the anne ndment abolishing slavery in
the United States, and yet that amendment
has been accepted by the President in all his
speeches
The President appears to have only one
idea at the present and that is how he can
best serve the interests of the late rebels
lie is as completely under their control as
ever James Buchanan or DIillard Fillmore
was. All hopes for reconciliation between
him and.the Republican party, are virtually
out of the question. In the future the Re-
publicans must expect no assistance from
the egotist and betrayer of his friends who
fills the Presidential chair.