The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-10-06
ernment. 1t goes to its essence and spir-

it.
What is the great question, / do not
say principle Of to.dayY Shall the South
ern States be represented in Congress =?
Around this question is grouped every
other question which the war has raised
and by the principle on which it is de-
cdcd will every other question be deter
mined. The President says that they arc
entitled to rcprcsentation--tha they have
resumed their normal and harmonious re-
laton TO tho Union The Democratic
party asserts the same position. The Re-
publican party, speaking by its leaders in
Congress. says that although they are at
peace with the Union, they shall not be
represented till they buy tho enjoyment
Of that right by consenting to amend
mcnt Of the Constitution which the South
crn people loathe from the bottom Of their
hearts, aud will never yield to except by
coercion. This is the question remitted
to the people for decision-and upon their
decision depend peace and order, and the
perpctuation Of the Government, or dis.
content, disorder, revolution and anarchy
---despotiam. IL not this true? Ifthese
States are not entitled to representation
in Congress, they are not entitled to vote
in the electoral college. If they are not
permitted to vote in 1868, and their vote
combined with that Of either party at the
North would elect President, will that
party submit 10 the decision? viii it
consent that the will of the whole country
should be defeated by known and ac.
knowledged minority, and if it will not
submit, will there not bo disorder, tur-
bulence, probably war?
Why should not these States be repre-
sen'cd? Pennsylvania and Ohio arc rep
resented. Why not Virginia? Ohio
recognizes the supremacy Of the Federal
Government within the Constitution so
does Virginia. Ohio obcys the Federal
Laws; 50 does Virginia. There is not an
armed enemy in all the Confederate States.
There is not show Of opposition to Fed
eral authority not even so much a. a
shadow when ii declincth. The Coufcd-
crate Government is dissolved; tho ordi.
nanccs Of secession are abroga'cd the
old Constitutions arc set aside, new ones
are established the old State Govern
ment4 are displaced, new ones are in'thcir
stead. The old officers have been expcll-
/ ell new ones have been elected. The
States are performing all the func-
! tions necessary TO the maintenance Of
/ civil society; they preserve order, punish
crime, protect life aud property, collect
debts, enforce contracts, regulate the rela-
tons of husband and wife, father and
child, guardian and ward they regulate
The descent and distribution Of real and
personal estate they charter cities and
colleges; they exercise the right Of cnli.
nent domain, bnll railroads, aud estab.
lish common schools
Why should they not be represented
Ohio pays Federal taxes 50 docs Virgin
-. 'aH 4asberor rides every county
4 cusiom-housc officer is at every port
/ Virginia took up arms agains. the FEEDER
al Government; alas she did Scduccd
by the advice Of fanatics ut the South
goadcd BY the acts Of not less wicked ia
natics at the North unwiscly she took
.up arms 10 resist the execution of the
/ Federal laws. But when YOU sounded the
tocsin of war. and called upon the people
TO maintain their Constitution, their Gov.
.ernmcns. you told them that so soon a'
| Federal laws were obcycd the war should
cease, and it should leave the States with
their rights, their powers. their equality
unimpaired. Cheers Ohio is 4 fre,
State SO is Virginia. Ohio protects ne
grocs in every civil right; so does VIr
einia. But, but but what, my friend
/ Out with it. Virginia does not permi
negroes to vote. Neither does Ohio, moi
Indiana, nor Illinois, nor Iowa, nor Wis
consin, nor Pennsylvania, nor Delaware
nor New jersey, nor Connecticut, nol
New Hampshire, nor New York, nor Cal
ifornla, nor Oregon, nor Colorado; and i
that is reason, why are not those States
excluded?
1t is fundamental maxim that th'
States in the Union are cqual-not cqua
in territory, or wealth, or numbers, bu
equal in duties. in rights, in powers
They were sovereigns, and as such wer
equal before the Union. They each. n
sovereign, came into the Union. The,
, delegated the same powers they agreed
to perform the same duties They guar
anteed each to the other the enjoyment o
the same rights. Representation is th
most important right. Ohio enjoys it
why not Virginia? The Southern State
arc in the Union or they are out of it,
{ If they are in the Union they are equa
to Ohio, and entitled to representations
If they are out of the Union, the claim t
govern them ut all is fraud anda usurp
alton. [Cheers1 They entered the I'm
ion by passing an ordinance adopting an
/ ratifying the Federal Constitutions The
tried to dissolve that connection by abrc
eating that ratification The abrogatin
I ordinance was the act of secession. Eithc
it was valid or it was invalid. If invalid
it was null, it had no effect; it did no
| effect the tic which bound it to the Union
1t left the State in the same position i
in which it had been for q month, for
year before the act of secession. If
was valid, it destroyed the Union and re
moved the State beyond the Constitution
t beyond your power, [ reject the clair
+ that these ordinances are valid for on
! purpose, invalid for another--valid to dc
stroy the State, invalid to dissever til
I Federal tie 1t is the fanciful creation Q
Q disordered brain, or the arbitrary dicta
ton of man who will have things as h
$ wishes them.
y I understand the position of Mr., Ste
S vens and those who follow him. He be
$ lieves that either the ordinance of sece: