The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-22

tei!ec'lng or measures Immediately af-
~ .is themselves. While the liberty
ol oenioeratlon would then be free, and
NohsIess would have full power to decide
accoioils 10 Its Judgment, there could
DC no objection urged that the States
most interested had not been ncrnitted
to be heard. fNA
Inc principle is firmly fixed in the
minds OF the American neonIn th,t
there should be no taxation without rem
resentation. Great burdens have now r.
b borne by all the country, and we NAV
best demand that they Shall be horne
without murmur when they are voted
j by majority of the representatives Of
the people. / would not interfere with
the unquestionable right of Congress to
judge, each House for itself, .Sof the
! elections, returns, and qualifications of
its own members" But that authority
cannot be construed as including the
right to shut out, in time Of peace, any
State from the representation to which
it is entitled by the Constitution. At
present, all the people OF eleven States
are excluded those who were most
faithful during the war, not less than
the Others. The State of Tennessee. for
instance, whose authorities, engaged in
reheillon, was restored to all her Consti-
tutional relations to the Union bv the
patriotism and energy of her injured
and betrayed people. Before the war
was brought to- termination, they had
placed themselves in relations with the
General Government, had established n
State government Of their own, and. as
they were not included in the Emanci-.
patton pro"lamation they, by their own
act, had amended their Constitution so
as to abolish slavery within the limits of
their State. | know no reason why the
State OF Tennessee, for example, should
not fully enjoy call her Constitutional
relations to the United States.''
The President Of the United States
stands towards the country in a some
what different attitude from that of any
member Of Congress. Each member of
Congress is chosen from a single district
or State; the President is chosen by the
people Of all the States. AS eleven
States are rot at this time represented
in either branch of Congress, it would
seem to be his duty on all proper oc-
casions to present their just claims to
Congress. There always will be differ
ences OF opinion in the community, and
individuals may be guilty of transgres-
sions OF the law, but these do not consti-
tute valid objections against the right
of q State to representation. / would
in no wise interfere With the discretion
Of Congress with regard to the qualifi-
cations OF members, but | hold it my
duty to recommend II you, in the inter
ests of peace and in the interests Of
Union, the admission of every State to
its share in public legislation, when,
however insubordinate, insuryent, or
rebellious its people may have been, it
presents itself not only in an attitude of
loyalty and harmony, but in the persons
of representatives, whose loyalty cannot
be questioned under any existing consti-
tutional or legal lest.
1t is plain that an indefinite or perma-
nent exclusion of any part of the coun-
try from representation must be attend
ed by spirit of disquiet and complaint.
1t is unWise and dangerous to pursue Il
course OF measures which will unite Il
very large section of hecountry against
another large section Of the country,
however much the latter may prep0nte- I
rate. The course of emigration, the de-
vclopments of industry and business, and
natural causes, will raise up at the
South men as devoted to the Union as
those of any other part Of the land.-
But if they are all excluded from Con- /
gress-if, in Il permanent statute, they
are declared not to be in full constitu-
tional relations to the country they may
thiuk they have cause to become Il unit
in feeling and sentiment against the
Government. Under the political cdu-
cation of the American people, the idea
is inherent and ineradicable that the
consent of the majority OF the whole
people is necessary to secure a willing
acquiescense in legislation.
The bill under consideration refers to
certain of the States as though they had
not been fully restored in all their
constitutional relations to the United
States. If they have not, let IL, at
once act together to secure that desira-
BILE end at the earliest possible moment.
1t is hardly necessary for me to inform
Congress that in my own Judgment most
of those States, so far at least as depends
upon their own action, have already
been fully restored, and are to be deem
ed as entitled to enjoy theirconstitution
al rights as membersof the Union. Rea
soning from the Constitution ITSELF and
from the actual situation of the country,
feel not only entitled, but bound to
assume that With the Federal courts re-
ctOraI onI fhOSo Of tho cnxornl Stutas |