The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-03-01
[WhOIe No. 1853.

tlOu WIN taxation, that each State
shall have nt least one representative,
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 Senators from each
State, and adds, with peculiar force,
that no State, without its consent,
shall be deprived of its suffrage in the
Senate. The original act was neces-
sarily passed in the absence of the,
States chiefly interested, because their.
people were then coniumaciously EN-
gagged in the rebellion. Now the case
is changed, and some ut least of tho
States are attending Congress by loyal
| representatives, soliciting the allow
ance Of the constitutional right of
representation. Attic time, however,
Of the consideration and passing of the
! bill, there was no Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress from the eleven
States which are TO be mainly affected
! by its provisions. Tho very fact tfUt'
reports werc and ore made against the
good disposition of the country, is an
additional reason why they need and
should have Representatives Of their.
own in Congress TO explain their con-
dition, and assist hy their local knowl-
edge in the pcrfCcting Of measures i'm
mediately otIeciirg themselves, while
the liberty Of deliberation would then
be free, and Congress would have full
power TO decide according to its judg-
ment. There could be no objection
urged that the States most interested
had rot bcCn permitted to be heard.
The principle is firmly fixed in the
minds of the American people that
there should be no taxation without
representation. Great burdens are now
to be borne by ell the country, and we
may best demand that they shall be
, borne without murmur when they
are voted by majority Of the Repre-
, sentatives of ali the people. 1 would
. not interfere with the Unquestionable
, right Of Congress to judge, each house
for itself, Of the election, returns and
, qualifications Of its own members; but
that authority cannot be construed as
including the right to put out in time
Of peace any State from the represen-
tation to which it is entitled by the
Constitution. At present, all the pco-
pie Of the eleven States are excluded
those who We're most faithful during
the war not less than others. The
State ofTcpnceseC, for instance, whose
authorities were engaged in the rebel
lion, was restored to all her constitu-
tional relations to tho Union, by the
patriotism and energy Of her injured
and betrayed people. Before the war
was troHFht TO n termination, they
had placed themselves in relations
with the General Government, had
established q State Government of their
own. As they were not included in
the emancipation proclamation, they,
by their own acts, have amended their
Constitution so as TO abolish slavery
within the limits Of their own State.
know no reason why the State Of
Tennessee, for example, should not
fully enjoy her constitutional relations
to the United States. The President
Of the United States stands toward the
country in Smcwhat different atti-
tude from that of any member of
Congress, chosen from n single district
or State. The President is chosen by
the people Of all the States. Eleven
States are not at this time represented
in either branch Of Congress. 1t would
seem to be his duty on all proper occa-
sions to present their just claims to
Congress. There always will lie differ
ences Of opinion in the community,
, and individuals may be guilty Of trans
lgreSsion of the law; but these DO not
constitute valid objections against the
right of State TO representation. 1t
would in nowiso interfere with the
discretion Of Congress with regard to
; the qualifications Of members, but I
hold it my duty to recommend to you
in the interest Of peace and in the in
terost Of the Union, the admission of
! every State to its full share Of public
legislation, when, however insubordi-
nate, inSlrEInt or rebciliOus its people
may have bccn, il presents itself, not
i, only in an attitude Of loyalty and har-
mony, but in the persons of Republi-
+, cans whose loyalty cannot be question
= ed under the existing constitutional
: or legal test. 1t Is plain that an inGc-
finite or permanent exclusion Of any
part Of the country from representa-
ton, must be attended by a spirit Of
disgust and complaint. 1t is Unwise
> and dangerous to pursue course Of
/, measures which will unite any large
!, section Of the country against another
= section OF the country, no matter how
!, muchtho latter may predominate.
The course Of immigration, deyel-
Il oTmCnt of industry and business ard
;. natural causes will raise up at the
h South men IS devoted to the Union as
Those Of any other part of the land f;
= but II they are all excluded from Con-
). gress, II in permanent statute they
!. are declared not TO be in full constitt-
! liohal relations TO the country, they
i may think thoy have cause to become
e a unit III feeling and sentiments against
! the Government. Under the political
~ education Of the American people the
b idea Il inherent and incradicable that
:, tho consent OF the majority Of the
q whole people is necessary to secure a
h willing acquiesccnce in legislation.
l.. The bill under consideration refers
g to certain of the States as though they
4 lhad not been fully restored to the Uni