The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-17


opinion is not definitely expressed
Mr.. Doolittle-Read the message | dc
not understand that to be the effect of what i.
said by the President
Mr.. Fessenden-I understand that to be the
effect of it. ] cannot understand it other
wise. wish | was mistaken. do not say
that he asserts We have no legal right to do it.
but that we have no moral right. If the Sen.
ate will excuse me, | will read that portion et
the message
IL cannot but add another very grave OBJ
Jection to'this bill. The Constitution impera
lively declares, in connection with taxation
that each State shall have at least one Repre-
sentative, and fixes the rule for the number
TO which. IN future times, each State shall be
entitled. 1t also provides that the Senate OF
the United States shall be composed of two
from each State; and adds, with peculiar force.
that no State, without its consent, shall be
deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
he original act was necessarily passed in the
absence of the States chiefly to be affected.
because their people were then ncontulnacious-
ly engaged in the rebellion. Now the case is
changed and some, at least. t.of those States are
attending Congress by loyal representatives,
sollcitlng the allowance of the constitutional
rght OF representation. AT the time, how
ever, OF the consideration and the passing oil
this bill, there was no Senator or Reprpgen-
tative IN Congress from the eleven States
which are mainly affected by its provisions.
The very fact that the reports were and are
made against the good disposition Of the peo.
pie OF that portion Of the country is an add
tional reason Why they need. and should have
representatives oftheir own in Congress to ex-
PLAIN their condition, reply 20 accusations,
ana assist, by their local knowledge. in the
pefiecilpg ot measures Immediately affecting
themselves. While the liberty Of ofdeliberation
would then be free; and Congress would have
foil power 10 70 decide accord ng 10 its iudg
menl, there could be no objection urged thai
the States most interested had not been per
mlitted to be heard. The principle is firmly
fixed in the minds Of the American people
that there should be no taxation without rep
resentation. Great burdens have now to bc
borne by all the country. and We may best
demand thatthey shall be borne without mur
muir when they are voted by majority ofthe
representatives. fall the people.
do not contend that he says in 80 many
words that we have ro legal right to pass d
BILL but the objection that be makes goes 10
the foundation. that no bill affecting the right,
orthe interests OF the so-called toniederat,
States shall be passed by Congress until Rep.
are permitted TO take part IN our deliberations
II follows necessarily, if that lie correct 90
sition. that in relation to those States which
have been recently in rebellion. which haye
fought for four years against the Government
and endeavurcd TO overturn il. we can pass ~
law affecting them, or providing anything. nc
matter what with reference to q change ofthe
Constitution or anything else. until Ne admit
their Representatives aud their Senators upor
the floor ot Congress. | understand that Ia
be the necessary inference. The president
argues II: he states ii argumentativeIv. rs ~
sure. bat then that is thu inevitable reSnlt
that our moral right to leg. late upon ANYTHING
which affects their interest i gone; and paf-
tlculary. that we have no puwor To pass an,
a~ or any rule or make any condition with
regard TO them, but that We are hound Il
take them Just they are. upon their say So
aud when they are here, acting wth Us. We
may pro,eed % legisate. decline to eive
my assent to any such proposition
Mr.. Doohule-I certainly a. not wish II
interrupt the honorable Senator in the course
If his argument. but
Mr. Fe<senden-ltis no interruption al all
am perfectly willing TO hear anything the
Senator desifes 10 say.
Mr.. Doolitle. | only rise now 10 state
thai understand the force Of that portion ~
the message to be discussion Of the propri
ety. not the power, of legislation. Il Is
question OF propriety whether II would not
be better. If loyal representatives are here
aud the States are fit TO be represented. that
We should have them here and consult with
them when legislating for their States.
Mr. Fessenden But he makes that
ground for his veto and il he can veto one
bill upon that ground, he will and must. for
the sake Of consistency, veto every other bilt
we pass on that subject. Why is TINS 10 the
message? The gentleman talks about the
proprety Of the thing. When the propriety
OF the thing IS made specific ground for re
tusing to sign bill, that sense Of propriety
applies to every other bill that may affect
the interests Of those States; does il not?
MIR. Doolitlle.-I do not understand that
to be stated as ground of the veto at all
You ask why it's There He states i, is an
inpropriety, in his judgment,
Mr. Fessenden II cannot hut add anotb
er very grave objection to this hill Is mol
that ground OF objection TO the bill? That
Is the way the paragraph commences. Il
the President had gwen us a little friendly
advice IN relation 10 that matter, disconnec
ted entirely with statement of it as an oh
Iection to the measure under consideration.
nobody would have received it with better
nature and better grace than myself.
might not have acceded to his reasons, but |
would have received them with all respect.
and perhaps on some matters we should
agree very much better than we would appear
10 do whenshe stands in the position of Presi
dent vetoing the bill. and ! in the position OF
"a Senator commenting upon it, But my oh
lection to 1t was just there he makes the
fact that Senators and representatives have
not been admitted from those States an oh
lection to this bill; and while it stands SO il
is an objection to any bill, no matter what
that we may chose to pass, or ANYTHING thai
we may chose TO do which BY any possibility
may affect the interests of those States
The gentleman cannot get rid Of it or creep
out of it.
Striking me with the force that this posi-
zion of the veto message did, whatever
might think of the Presidents other obiec-
lions to the bill, and however might treat
them, that is one ground which rendered il
impossible for me to yield my assent, by
agreeing to wave my own opinions in refer
ence to the measure itself. and to support his,
with a view to get something because you
see that goes to the very foundation. No
BILL the Senate will perceive, touching
Freedmen's Bureau, no bill touching any
other interest connected with the eolored
people, no bill touching anything that may
affect the Southern States, can in any way
pass upon ground like that.
Let us go little further, sir. | received
he impression that the President really un-
dertook to limit what understood to be the
powers of Congress in relation to
this matter, and to show that | will
read a little more Of the message. After
speaking on the subject of Introducing legiIa.
ton before admitting Senators and Represen.
tatives from these States into Congress, he