The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-22
An honorable gentleman from Penn.

An honorable gentleman from Penn.
sylvauia at the other end of the Capitol,
with some self conceit, as it seemA to me,
sets down all these reconstruction sugges-
tions or theories as mere whimsies, He
has plan of his own to restore the Union
and get rid of traitors. 1t is simple in
theory aud cheap in execution. He will
execute it himself with only the aid Of a
constable. Whenever a rebel shows bis
head, !he and bis constable will pounce
upon him like Buchanan marshal on a
flying negro. He will put him where 10
rebel ever went before with his consent
10 the old Capitol prison. If the honor
able gentleman really thinks that his
plan is practicable, why does he not set
about its execution? His intended VIC
tins swarm through the Capitol and the
White House, and two or three dozen of
Them are asking admission to Congress.
There are objections to this theory. H.
deed it has been tried. 1t was Buchan-
mans plan for suppressiDg the rebellion,
but it failed.
Now, sir, the theory of the Opposition,
based upon the second and third sections
of the first article of the Constitution, ,un.
der which members from the rebel States
are to be admitted to these Halls without
our leave, is that the right of State to
representation cannot be forfeited or lost
so long as these two sections remain un-
altered. Is there no objections to this
theory? Why, i: comedies the right @
representation during the whole var
Their members could have entered this
Capitol at any time and voted as the in-
terest of the confederacy required. If
the war had lasted fifty years instead of
four the right would have run through all
that time. Nor would it have ceased if
our armies had been overpowered aud the
confederacy left unnolested. After one
hundred years of separation, they might
still vote for President and send menu
bers to Congress. Unless you admit the
doctrine, of forfeiture, you cannot avoid
this conclusion. Aside from this doctrine
nothing but an amendment Of the Consti.
tuition could deprive them of this right.
But the Constitution could not be amend
ed, because these eleven States are more
than one fourth Of the whole, and the as
sept of some of them would be necessary
for any amendment ; aud to deprive them
of Senators the assent of every one would
be necessary.
The advocates of this theory, to avoid
this result, concede that the right of rep
resentation would be forfeited By success.
But how? The Constitution is not changed
by the result of battle. There is is just
as it was before. If they lost nothing by
defeat would they by success They
lost nothing by Secession and un-
successful ar,you say, because these we're
unconstitutional. Can they lose auythiug
then, by victory? would not that Oe un-
also "But We would ac-
quiesce" Well suppose we should !;
would not acquiesceuce be unconstitutional
and void Where in the Constitution are
We authorized to acquiesce in division Of
tho Republic ? If their ordinance of Sc
cession was void would not cur consent 20
it be equally void If the ordinance was
void can 1t be rendered more so by defeat
or less SO by victory7 Some Of the advo-
Gates of this lheory,to avoid this reasoning
copcede that the right of representation
is forfeited or suspended during "contu-
macy" This cruel word to characterize
the great rebellion is not original with me.
1t is the word maliciously chosen by our
friends who are determined
to make treason odious. | wish the prin-
ter to inclose it with inverted comma, that
such severity of language may not be as
,ribed to me. But who is 20 decide when
The suspension begins aud whom it ends ?
The State If SO, that is no suspension
at all, A ight that can be taken up and
aid down at pleasure cannot be said to be
Is Congress the judge ? Then
[ submit that by secession from the
United States, by the formation of new
by four years of terrible war
md FIVE of scorDful refusal, these States
would become little contumacious, aud
Congress would bejustifed in suspendng
heir rights until the legislation pec 8 airy
20 make representation fair and equal
could be agreed upon and passed. And
hat is al! that anybody here proposes to
10.
This appeal to the Constitution for
authority to hand the Government over
10 the unrepentant plotters of its des;Epc-
ton, is but continuation of the policy
pursued by the Opposition for tho last
five years. During that period they have
raised cry about the Constitution many
tunes, but always in opposition to good
measures or in advocacy OF bad ones. When
it was first proposed to coerce the rebellion
and save the Union, and at every follow
log step toward apparent success they
cried, Unconstitutional" It was uncon.