Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-11
The Presidents Message.

that great work within two years.
The Presidents Message.
We publish on the first page correct and
full copy of the President Message Such as
have been expecting the President to modify
the policy he has heretofore advocated will be
disappointed He stands steadfast, and ex-
hibits s'no variableness or shadow of turning.
It is calm document, very unlike the speeches
he delivered in his tour to and from the West
some time since, when he poured, in rapid sue
cession, voleys of hot-shotinto the serried ranks
of the Radicals. The argument in the message
for the admission of Southern Representatives
is lucid. strong and conclusive. The message
comedies, however, qualification to which we
cannot assent It says that to be admitted to
a seat the Representative should possess the
requisite constitutional and legal qualifca-
TONS IF he means by illegal qualifications
such as Congress may see proper to impose, We
dissent in toto from the position for, as we have
demonstrated time and again, the Constitution
prescribes the qualifications required, and these
cannot be added to or substracted from without
violating
lions which the Constitution prescribes should
be possessed by members of the House of Rep
resentatives are as follows That he should be
TWENTY-FIVE years of age that he should have
been seven years citizen of the United States,
and an inhabitant when elected, of the State in
which he was chosen These are the only quail
ifcations prescribed by the Constitution.
If Congress has the right to add to these con-
stitutional qualifications, no limit can be pre-
scribed, and that body may impose such as may
suit their purposes, as they have already at
tempted to do by rea1iring Representatives to
take the test OATH The imposition of such a
qualification destroys representation, and makes
it impossible for the Southern people to be rep
resented in the councils of the nation, and frus-
trates the very object designed to be accomplish
ed by the election of persons for that purpose.
With this qualification of our appreciation OF
the President Message we give the comments
of the National Intelligencer as follows:
The President adheres to his oft-expressed
conviction that loyal representatives should be
promptly admitted to their seats in both Hou-
SEES. His argument in favor of that policy is
clear, condensed, and, in our judgment, irresist-
ible. He shows that all these branches of the
Government-the executive, legislative, and
judicial-are Enthusiastically committed to the
doctrine that the Southern States are in the
Union, have never been out, and are entitled to
representation. But neither now or at any 9TH
er time does he wish to dictate to Congress their
1,,4x, d;-+o
deny that the message, in its broad, catholic,
patriotic spirit, is the freest possible from any
attempt at dictation or undue interference with
the other branches of the Government. But
the Executive puts the responsibility of non-re-
storation where it belongs The Supreme Court
has done its duty in restoring the old cases to
their docket and in welcoming new ones The
Executive has done its duty in preserving order
in the South and in announcing to those citi-
Zens who wished to return to their allegiance
that every facility should be given them to re-
construct their Government. 1t only remains
for Congress to complete the work, by welcom-
ing unobjectionable Representatives to the floor
of both Houses. Nothing could be said with
more terse, convincing, and comprehensive Wig
or than the passage which sums up what would
be the gratifying results of the prompt conces-
sion to the South of its constitutional rights.
As to the other features of the message, they
cannot fail to commend themselves to the pop
ular judgment. They are marked by such Wig
orous common sense, such clear comprehen-
sion of the rights and responsibilities of this
great nation, such moderation and independence
as will, we doubt not, command widespread
approval among patriotic Americans of all cas-
Ses.
The statement that is given of the resources
and industrial condition of the country, will be
read with pride by every citizen of this great
Republic. Despite the vast debt accumulated
by our great struggle, the nation, after the strain
of war, springs forward anew in It's course of
unexampled prosperity, and is already begin
ming to pay off its liabilities What is said
about the Alabama claims and the Fenian move
ment, and the right of citizenship, will prove
universally acceptable; but, perhaps no portion
of the message will be read with greater interest
than that which treats of our relations to Mexi-
co. In this regard, despite the rumors with
which the air is thick, it is found that the Gov
eminent has acted wisely and with statesman
like foresight and dignity.