Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-16

representation in the legislative bodies
of the nation. The numerical proper.
| ton of represented and unrepresented
States has been changed by the admis-
sion of the delegation from Tennessee.
A unit taken from the smaller has
been put to the larger number but ten
States are still denied representation IN
Congress, to which they are entitled I'M
der the constitution.
The President, not in pursuance OF
any constitutional power, had called on
the Confederate States to accept condl-
lions for their admission to the exercise
of their legitimate functions as members
of the Union. The ratification OF the
amendment to the Constitution abolish
ing slavery, and the reputation OF debts
contracted to overthrow the Government
we're these conditions. They were met
and accepted The exaction OF new con
ditions is unjust and violation oil the
faith of the Government, subversive OF
the purposes of our political system, and
dangerous to the public prosperity aud
peace Applause
Each house of Congress may, as the
Judge of the qualifications OF ITS own
members, reject individuals for just
cause, but the two bodies acting con-
Jointly cannot exclude an entire delega-
ton, without an unwarrantable assump-
ton of power. [Applause,] Congress
has not only done this-it has gone inr-
Their. 1t has incorporated new conditions
with amendments TO the CONSTITUTION,
and submitted them for the ratification
of the States. There is no probability
that these amendments will be ratlhed oy
three.fouths Of the States of this Union.
GApylause. To insist on the conditions
tliev contain is TO prolong indefinitely,
the exclusion of more than one-fourth o.
the States from their right TO be repre-
scented in legislative bodies. They had
the right under the Constitution. They
had right under the resolutions passed
in both houses of Congress IN 1861.
EApplause. Those resolutions were not
concurrent, but they were substantially
identical Moreover they were entitled
to be represented on other grounds oil
fairness and good faith.
1t is this wrong we have come here to
protest against, and as far as in us lies
TO redress il. Applause.
When the President of the United
States declared that armed resistance to !
the United States was over, all the States
had right to representation IN Con
gress. Applause
Is this the government our fathers
fought to establish Loud cries OF
no. Is it the government we have
been fighting to preserve NO, no.
The President has done all in his power
to restore the rights of the States IN the
legislature of the country, by giving to
each section its full status.
Legislation without representation is
an anomaly in the political system:
Under any form of government IT would
be but another name for usurpati0n and
misrule.
Gentlemen, | trust that in our delibe-
rations here we shall confne ourselves
TO our main purpose, that of redressing
the wrong to which | have referred. |
There is much in the administration OF
the government which needs amendment.
Some things need to be done, and others
need TO be undone There are CONNER
cial and financial reforms which are
to the public welfare, but
we shall not have the power to carry
out these until we change the political
of Congress Applause, |
This should be our first and our i'm
mediate aim. Applause 1t is in the
Congressional districts that the vital
contest is to take place. The control
of one body win enable us to prevent
partial, unjust and perniclous legis-
lation The control of both Houses, with
the power to introduce and carry out
sanitary reforms, to bring the Govern
ment back, in the language Of Jefferson,
to the Republican track, will come later
Applause BY wise, harmonious and
judicious action on our part and the part
Of those we represent, that period need
not be long delayed believe that pub
lie opinion is ripe, and that il is only
necessary to PRESENT. to the public clearly
the issues between US and the other party
which controls the action Of Congress;
and, gentlemen, is not the object for
which we are contending worthy Of our
highest aud most devoted efforts APP
plause. To bring back the republic,
purified and strengthened by the fiery
ordeal through which it has passed, to
its ancient prosperity and power, to pre-
sent to the world an example worthy of
No Utopian vision of good govern
ment but the grand old reality Of the
better times, bringing up the memory Of
BUR fathers and the recollections of the
past and with the past and the future in
entwined to one country, one
flag, and one union of equal States
Long continued applause