Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-02-27

GOmpetttlonB Tor his services from planters,
those who are constructing or:repairing rail-
roads, and from capitalists in his Vicinage or
from other States, will enable him to CON-
mand almost his own terms. =. He also pos
sesscs perfect right to change his place '@ of
abode, land if, therefore, he does not find in
one community or State IL mode of life suited
to his desires, or proper remuneration for his
labor, he can move to another WheI q that Ia
Dor is more esteemed and better rewarded
In. truth, however, eueh State, ,induced by its
own wants and interests, will do what is ne
cessaryy and 7prOper:to retain within its bor-
ders all the labor that is needed for the de
velOpment OF. its resources. Yfhe laws that
regulate supply aud demand. will maintain
their force, and the wages of the laborer will
be regulated thereby. Thefe. is no danger
that the exceeding great demand for labUr
Will 'aOt operate in favor of the laborer, nei-
tlier is sufficient consideration given to the
ability of the freedmen to protect and take
care Of themselves 1t is no more than ius-
tice to them to believe that as they have re:
ceIved Their freedom with moderation and
torbearance, SO they will distinguish them
selves by their industry and thrift, and soon
show the world that in condition of free
dom t:ey are self sustaining, capable Of Sc
lectiny their own employment aud their own
places OF abode, of iTs!stin" for themselves on
u proper remuneration. and of establishing
and maintaiEing their own asylums and
schUos. 1t is earnestly hoped that instead
OF wasting away they will, by their own cf-
forts: establish for themselves a condition of
responsibility and prosperity. IL is certain
that trey can attain to that condition only
through their own merits and cxertioAs
In this connection, the query presents it.
self, whether the system prOpt sed by the bill
will not, when rut into complete operation,
practically transfer tire entire care, support
and control of four millions Of emancipated
slaves to agents, oT'ersecrs, or task ma stcrs,
who, appointed at Washington, are to be To-
Gated III every county and parish throughout
the United States containing freedmen aud
refugees Such a system wOuld inevitably
tend to concentration Of power in the Ex-
ecutivc which would enable him, if so dis
posed, TO control the IctiGE! OF this tIlncruus
class, and use them for the attainment of his
own political end. l cannot but add another
very grave objection to this bill. 4lie Cons
StItutlon iHperatively declares, in connection
with taxation, that each State shall have at
least Cne Representative, and fixes the rule
for the number 10 which in future times
each State SHALL beo.cntitled. 1t also pros
vidcs that the Seuatc Of the United States
State, and adds, with peculiar f; rec, that no
State without its consent shall be deprived
Of its equal suffrage in the Senate The
original act was necessarily passed in the alb
sence OF tire States chiefly 20 be affected, be-
cause their people were then contumaciously.,
en-. aged in the rebellion Now the case is
changed, aud some at least Of the States are
attending Congress by loyal Representatives,
soliciting the allowance of constitutional
rght "t representation. At the time how
ever, OF the consideration and the passing of
this bill there was no Senator or representa-
tive III Congress from the eleven States which
are to be raainly effected by its pr Visions
The very fact that reports were and are 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 condition, reply to
accusations, and assist by their local knowl-
edge III the rertecting OF measures immc-
d'dtcly affecting themselves. While the lib
erty OF deIiberatlOn would then be free. and
Congress would have tull power to decide
according to its judgement, there could be
no objection urged that the States most in
terested had not heen 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 bur-
dens have now to be borne by all the rcun-
try, and we may best demand that they shall
be borne without mUrnIur when they are
voted by majority of the representatives, of
all the people. l would not interfere with
the unquestiOnnblc right Of Congress TO Judge
each GuU$c for Itself OF the election returns
and qualifications Of its own members, but
that authority cluuot be construed as in
Guiding the right to smut out in time of
peace any State from Representation to which
it is entitled by the Constitution. At pres
cnt all the people OF eleven States are ex-
clrdcd-thU>e who were most faithful during
the war not less than others. The State of
Tennessee. Tor instance, whose aIlthnrti S
engaged in rebellion, was restored to all her
constitutional relations to the Union by the
patriotism and energy OF her injured and be-
traycd people before the war was brought 10
termination. They had placed themselves
i'll relations with the General Government.
had established State Government of their
own, and as they were not included in the
Emancipation Proclamation they, by their
own act, bad amended their Constitution SO
as to abolish slavery within the limits of their
State. l know no reason why the State Of
Tennessee, for example, should not fully en-
joy all her constitutional relations to the
United States.
The President of the United States stands
towards the country in somewhat different
attitude from that of any member of Con-
gress who is chosen from single district or
State. The President is chosen by the peo-
pie of all the States. Eleven States are not
at this time represented in either branch of
Congress. It.would seem to be his duty, on
all proper occasions, to present their just
clnims to Congress. There always will be
differences of opinion in the community. and
individuals may be guilty of transgressions
Of the law +; but these do not constitute valid
objections against the rights of State to
representation. would in no wise interfere
with the discretion of Congress with regard
to the qualifications of members, but hold
it my duty to recommend to you, in the in