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


stored.
He is talking there about representation
Is It not plain, distinct, indisputabe inter
ence from what | have read from the vett
message. that we cannot judge upon any cues
ton except the simple question of the election
returns and qualifications of our own mem
bers? Let us hear what he goes on I'd say il
that message:
"A present all the people Of eleven States
are excluded-tbose who were most faithful
during the war not less than others The
state OF Tennessee, for instance, whose an
thorIties engaged in rebellion, was restored
TO all her constitutional relations 10 the Onion
by the patriotism and energy Of her injured
and betrayed people.
Does he mean US to Judge upon the position
of the State of Tennessee?
Before the war was brought to atermina.
ion they had placed themselves 10 relations
with the General Government, had establish.
ed State government of their own. ard as
they we're not included in the emancipation
proclamation they, by their own att had
amended their constitution SO as to abolish
slavery within the limits of their State
know no reason why the State of Tennessee
Tor example, should not fully enjoy iall her
constitutional relations TO the United States =
| shall not read any more from the mes
sage, though 1t contains other language hch
goes TO confirm the idea. If have m ktake n
the view OF the President. | shall he yery
glad TO be corrected BY him or by a1ybod,
that IS authorized TO speak for him and QUE
would think there are plenty OF those gentle.
men about but what he SAYS is. substantially.
III my Judgment, this: II have come to the
conclusion that these States are in the il Mon
to be represented in the councils Of the ne.
ton, and particularly the Stale Of tennessee.
| admit that certain things must be done ;
they must show their loyalty, but | am the
person to decide upon whether those things
nave been done whether thar LOYALTY has
been shown whether that condition has been
complied with, and all other conditions that
may judge necessary, and when | have deci
drd that question with reference 10 these
States, Congress mag take Up the question 81
the elections, qualifications, and returns ol
the members who present themselves to them,
inquire into that, and have nothing to do but
TO settle the question whether they come
within the provisions Of the Constitution OF
not.
If the President does not mean that, then
the question is for Congress to decide. If he
does mean that, tie issue OF which spoke il
directly presented 10 Congress. For myself
| could not rest. as a Senator Of the United
States. content with ny position: | could not
believe that ! was faithful to the great inter,
ests committed to my care, connected with
others as am. BY the State which sent me
here, il ] yielded for moment to the idea.
come from what source il NAV. that anbodr
bllt Congress Lad the night with reference to
senator. and Representatives to settle pre.
imiuariiy the question whether The States
that sent them here we're entitled to have
Senators anlgafg -esenta,ives or not.
Sir. wNfyS(d he Welding everything. We
rzI9es~e no power left We should bt less
thsneH dreu. We should be hardly eniided 10
cali ourselves slaves ii question upon which
the very existence q these bodies. the Senate
and House Of Representatives, NAV de- pend.
The question Of whether State or bddy Of
men Or an organization auywhere il edtitied
20 representation herr. is not for as TO let;le
and Us alone. 50 far as those proposed knet-
hers are concerned, without any diclatioa
from any body. ay. without auy adsiee from
anybody be President IL IL the Cod,ti,a.
ton authorized ard required to give infbrna.
uon 10 Congress from time 10 time cd the
state Of public affair bat upon auf fstion
affecting the representation IN the Seuate or
in the House af Representatives. he /, not
competent even ta advise us from his posi-
ton aud from the necessity that exists That An
these different branches OF the Govern Iment
should he entirely independent 81 each other
! am free to say ! should consider mystlt aS
sitting in body bound Hand and foot hay-
ing 40 power. no rights. no iudepe ndende, no
character. il | thoneht ea- compelled 10
ask the opinion otany one with regard H. the
rgtt OF Senator 70 sit upon this hooF and
the right OF the State winch sent him hire TO
be represented npoh TINS ioor. II y lacs-
tlon for u.s. and only for u.s.
Looking. therefore, upon these two hIra-
ments IN tins part OF fhe veto message as did,
one distinctly indicating that no leeislat4onaf
fecting the States which have recently bden IN
rebellion would meet with the approval bt the
President while those States were not rlpre
sented here, the other that all the consilera-
uon that ge as members Of the Senate had a
right to give to this subject was 10 look at the
papers presented aud say whether men coming
here bad the proper credentials from some
body, leaving the question 10 be settled at the
other end OF the avenue whether or not the
States themselves had a right to be represent
ed on tins ioor-while considered those two
things as not only shadowed forth butdistinc..
~ stated IN the veto message, | could not hes
ltate for single instant 70 say that where
such reasons were given for the veto Of bill.
| could ot, without sacrificing all my self re-
spect, and what is Of more consequence. sac.
rificing as far as | am concerned. ali the
rights and honors of the body of which nm
a member vote to snstaln that message I'm
der those circumstances, and. will confess
influenced by those views and statements of
the President, the committee offfteen which
is so denounced, saw fit to propose distinctly
the resolution which is now upon your table;
and it is this:
That in order to close agitation
10 have no more dispute about it among
ourselves as to our own action
upon question which seems likely to disturb
the action Of the Government as well as to
quiet the I'm ertainty which is agitating the
minds Of the people of the eleven States which
have been declared to be in insurreetion, no
Senator or Representative shall be admitted
into either branch Of Congress from any OF
said States until Congress shall have declared
such Stae entitled to such representation.
That, sir, is resuming the original PROPOSE
ton, substantially. Having been instructed
to inquire into the condition of these States.
and to report whether they, or any Of them.
were entitled to representation, and not being
prepared TO report on that question. we pro-
pose to the House and the Senate this resolu.
ton, providing that
No Senator or Representative shall be ad-
mtted into either branch Of Congress from
any of said States until Congress shall have
declared such State entitled to such represen-
tation.
Originally, did not think that resolution
was necessary; but now do. Why? In order
that Congress may assert distinctly its own
rights and its own powers; in order that there
he be hcr I'M hn mi Yf
the Executive or in the minds of the people
of this country. that Congress, under the cir
cumstances of this case. with this attempted
o1uorc vii h I'd L.