The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-09-01

time the unanimous nomination Of this conven.
ton Of the Unconditional Union party NJ their
candidate for the next Congress. To say that
am deeply sensible Of the high compliment which
You thus pay me In selecting me As yonr stand
ard-bcarer at this time, and that am profoundly
grateful for this additional evidence OF your con
tdence, Is not TO express q tithc Of the emotions
which thrill me at this fresh example Of your
consideration in the unanimity with which you
have thus again renewed your confidence Ia me.
One year ago, when was selected your candi-
date for the Thirty-ninih Congress [applause1 II
was at time and under circumstances requiring
choice Of such men as the party and the coun.
try could rely upon as determined 10 pursue such
q national course, as whilst the efforts Of their
representatives would be devoted TO the bringing
back OF peace and fraicrna feeling, would at the
same time sec that the republic received no det.
rimeni at the hands Of It's assailan,s. When !
accepted Of your nomination, ! spoke in plain
terms rs TO the issues then before the public and
10 what the Union party of my district might
expect In case their nomination was ratified at
the polls. After stormy session Of eight
months in tue national councils, can appeal 10
the uticrances which made at the time accept
ed OF that nomination 10 bear me out Ia the state
ment that no man dare pu, his finger ON a single
nc, during my course IN Congress aud say iha,
] have have betrayed either INV constituents or
my country Applause ], or ever acted in any 9th.
er manner than rs representative OF the Cncon.
ai,ional Union sentiment Of Maryland. which in
ls6l aTrayed itself on the sido Of the Government
aud which for four years batlled manfully aud
boldly In behalf Of our republican institutions
aud aided by the help Of God, in cxtirpating sla.
very from our State and IN placing her alongside
OF the tree States Of the North. Applausel. Willis,
the resolutions Of the convention which noniina-
ted me at that time expressed great confidence IN
the patriotism aud wisdom Of Andrew johnson
1t ~ the sanc time pledged the support Of that
Convention and It's nomintc to such wise meas
ures aud 10 such only as he should pursue in
reconstruction VI the Rebel States of the South
I Applause When ! entered the Halls Of Con.
grcss. and took upon myself the solemn oath Of
office, ! made up my mind faithfully TO carry
out what conceived 10 be the true wishes Of the
Union meu oi my district aud nt the same time
10 vote for such legislation in relation to those
states ~ would put them ou bass of justice
aud of right, and yet that would prevent the re-
curieuce uf another rebellion. did no, conceive
1t 10 be my duty, la voting upon those grave
questions VI reconstruction, to yield my judgment,
either a. man OF citizen. 10 ih" dcin,ion Of
auy ouc man ut OF any -, If mcn. hu, that II
Wa, is duty ir,e representative Oi an iutclli.
gent constituency. 10 exercise my Judgment free
Is Is nn honest man and as patriot, anl 10 do
al in nv power 10 devise aud To vote for such
mta,urt- would firmly settle the results of ilIo
rebellion without ans loss 10 its grand develop
m,ui- applause When Therefore, the Pres
iu rousItss 90 H., first oi n session ~ Speaking
about The tchciliuu. States stated hat the cxcu.
sivc right belonged tu tuhgT,-s 10 Judge. each
House iug itself IS 10 the qualineriion, aai the
rights uf admission ol any U' Is mtHIbegs. aud
after resolution was offered that 10 State lately
in rebellion should BE- entitled Ia representation
until Congress in is wisdom conceived that i,
was loyal, on the side Of the Government. eon-
sidcrca that was doing no more than what il
was my bounden duty tO do IA acting ~ have.
aud no more than the President Of the limited
states conceived 10 be our duty, aud power. aud
right when be uttered those words. Great aI.
pause because although the President now
says that Congress, by passing a coneurrcn, reso.
luton, takes away from each House its power 10
Judge Of the elections aud qualifications OF its own
members yet the sequel shows that Congress, by
the admission Of the representatives FROM tue
State OF Tennessee, voted each House for itself as
10 the qualifications aud the right Of the Sena-
tors aud Representatives 10 seats in their rcspec-
tive bodies willis, they voted conformity or con.
currently ia declaring when aud how the State
OF Tennessee was entiiled TO representation. Con.
gFcss did not by that resolution, lalend tU dc.
priyc either House OF its exclusive right Of iudg.
ing OF the qualifications OF its members, but lcft
that right where Il remained under the constitu.
ton. and in tue Joint resolution referred to- only
prescribed mode BY which the status OF each
State could bc properly determined rs 10 lis 10y.
aiy aud as 10 the form Of is governments, before
any OF them could he entitled TO representation -
The President himself, in the reorganization Of
each OF the State Governments Of the rebellious
States, had taken upon himself the law making
power Of the Government when he assumed the
! right 10 establish Provisional Governments aud
10 prescribe the qualifications OF ELECTORS and the
/ mode and manner Of recognizing these State
! Governments he was acting In strict accordance
with the law aud the Constitution, vet II will be
found by reference TO his despaiches sent TO the
Provisional Governors at the times Of their ap.
poinimcnt, that he conceived, as well IS did his
Secretary Of State that exclusive power in the
law-making branch OF the eGovcrnmen,-the Con.
grcss Of the United States--to determine finally
| as TO the kind Of State Governments lo he formed
BY these people and when aud how they should
be admitted 10 representation. Applause.
shall not attempt at this time 10 read you these
dispatches and show you how the President, by
his subsequent acts, controverted the position
which he first assumed In relation 10 the forma.
ton OF these State Governments, and | only al.
ludc 10 the subject now 10 viudicaic my vote on
this concurrent resolution, about which 80 much
has been said, and TO show 10 you tha:. in SUP
porting ,ha, resolution, carried out not only
7 the power that resided n the people through
their representatives to determine exclusively for
themselves the manner aud the terms upon which
the people OF those States should resume their
rights In the Union, but. ~ the same tune "a
prove 10 you that when the President aud his 60
laborcrs OF the rcbcllious aud Democratic party
attempt iO cast odium upon Congress for is &C.
ton IN this behalf, they equally stigmaiixe The
frs, aud best expression Of opinion Of the rresi'
dent 10 the reconstruction Of these States. Ap.
plause. This question IL reconstruction, al,
friends Is very grave one. II !. the fundamen'
tai question OF this great political contest upon
which we are now about 10 enter, upon proper
solution Of which depends the lile o, the death
Of this nation. ! shall have 0ccasion henafter be.
fore the people To discuss this great question, aud
not only 90 bring home 10 their minds the i'm
portance Of the issue, but 10 Justify oil of niy actl
thus far IN Congress, aud 10 show that the Presi
dent aud his patty are aiming more at the recon.
structon Of The Rebel eleinen, Of the South aud
II that old COppeThead gyml.aihixluN, Tebellloui
element Of the North, than 10 the reorganization
Of these Rebel States upon sure foundation o
iuslice aud Of truth The Congress of the Uni
ted States has already developed aud PLACED
before the people the terms upon which I
is willing 20 admi, these States 10 representation
in Congress and thus TO restore them 10 all o
their rights under the Constitution. Congress ha
taken no steps 10 deprive these States Of their ~
cal Governments, and although II has bceI
charged upon Congress that there was part,
there in favor of disorganiEing all 81 the loca
Governments formed by the President aud Of or
ganizing Others upon different terms aud subicc
10 certain conditions, yet defy any map q
place his finger upon siugle act or resolution o
Congress TO indicate any such purpose or shc,
any such design. Aprlause.1 Although ih
President 10 the formation Of these local Gov
ernments. 10 allowing every Rebel wh
fought against the Government during ,h
rebellion 10 take part 10 the formation q
, such 0overnmenis, has thereby handed then
over 10 the very men who overthrow and de
. siroyed them, and has thus placed the whit
Unionisis OF the South In The power Of their dlFsi
1 enemies, yet the Congress Of the United STATE
1 never attempted 70 pFoduce revolution b q