Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-12-06

CONSENT SilaIl DC ucprlVGu Oh ltS CQuai sui |
rage in the Senate" These provisions
we're intended to secure to every State and
10 the people OF every State, the right of
in each House of Congress |
and 50 important was it deemed by the |
trainers of the Constitution that the equali
ty of the States in the Senate should be
that not even by an amendment
Of the Constitution, can any State, without
its consent, be denied a voice in that branch
of the National Legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated by
the rebellious acts of their inhabitants, and
that the insurrection having been suppress
ed, they were thenceforward to be consid
cred merely as conquered territories. The
Legislative, Executive and Judicial De-
partmeut of the Government, however, with
great distinctness and uniform consistency,
refused to sanction an assumption so in
compatible with the nature of our republi
can system and with the professed objects
OF the war. Throughout the recent legis-
lation of Congress the undeniab}e fact
makes itself apparent, that these ten polit-
Cal communities are nothing less than
States OF the Union At the very commence
ment of the Rebellion, each House declar
ed, with a unauimty as remarkable as it
was significant, that the war was 'not
waged, upon our part in any spirit of op-
pression, nor for any purpose OF conquest
or subjugatlon, nor purpose OF overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or estab-
lished institutions of those States, but to
defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution and all laws made in pursu-
ance thereof, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and rights
of the several States unimpaired and that
as soon as these objects" were "accom-
plished. the war ought to cease IL some
instances, Senators were permitted to con-
tinue their Legislative functions, while in
other instances Representatives We're elect
ed and admitted to seats after their States
had formally declared their right to with
draw from the Union, and were endeavor-
ing to maintain that right by force OF arms.
All of the States whose people were in in
surrection, as States, were included III the
apportionment Of the direct tax Of S20, ,000,
900 annually laid upon the United States
by the act approved August 5, 1861. Con
gress by the act of March 4, 1862 and by
the apportionment Of representation there
under, also recognized their presence as
States in the Union and they have, for ,ju
dicial purposes, been divided into districts,
as States alone can be divided. The same
recognition appears in the recent legis.a-
tion in reference to Tennessee, which evil
IDENTIFY rests upon the fact that the functions
of the State were not destroyed by the Re-
belion, but merely suspended and that
principle is, OF course, applicable to those
States which, ike Tennessee, attempted to
renounce their places in the Union.
Toe action Of the Executive Department
Of the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite and uniform, and the
purpose of the war was specifically stated
III the Proclamation issued by my prede-
ccssor on the 22d day of September, 1862.
1t was then solemnIy proclaimed and de-
clared that thereafter, SIS heretofore, the
war will be prosecuted for the object Of
practically restoring the constitutional re-
lati,n between the United States and each
If the States and the people thereof, in
which States that relation is or may be 5us-
pended or disturbed"
The recognition of the States by the Ju
dicial Department of the Government has
also been clear and conclusive in all pro-
ceedings affecting them as States, in
the Supreme, Circuit, and District Courts
In the admission Of Senators and Repre-
sentatives from any and all of the States,
there can be no Just ground Of apprehcn-
sion that persons who are disloyai will be
clothed with the powers Of legislation for
this could not happen when the Constitu
ton and the laws are enforced by vigi-
liant and faithful Congress. Each House IS
made the "iudgc Of the elections, returns
and qualifications Of it's own members" !"
and may, with the concurrence OF two
thirds, expe member" When a Senator
or Representative presents his certificate
If election, he may at once be admlttet or
rejected or, should there be any question
as to eligibility, his credentials may he re-
ferred for investigation to the appropriate
committee. II admitted to q seat it must
be upon evidence satisfactory To the House
of which he thus becomes a member, that
he possesses the requisite constitutional
and legal qualifications. If refused adnis-
sion as Il member for want OF due allegl-
ance to the Government, and returned to
his constituents, they are admoulsted that
none but persons loyal to the United States
will be allowed voice In the Legislative
Councils Of the Nation and the political
power and moral influence OF Congress are
thus effectively exerted in the interests Of
LOYALTY to the Government and fidelity to
the Union. Upon this question, =" vitally
affecting the restoration of the Union and
the permanency Of our present form Of gov
ernment, my convictions, heretofore express
ed, have undergone no change; but, on the
contrary, their cOrrectnesss has been con-
frmed by reflection and time. If the ad
mission of loyal members to seats in the
respective Houses of Congress was wise
and expedient year ago, it is no less wise
and expedient now If this anomalous con
dition is right now-f, in the exact condi-
ton Of these States at the present time, it
is lawful to exclude them from representa-
ton, do not SEE that the question will be
changed by the ef1lux of time. Ten years
hence, if these States remain as they are,
the right of representation will be no
stronger-the right of exclusion will be no
weaker.
The Constitution of the United States
makes it the duty of the President to rec
ommend TO the consideration of Congress
" such measures as he shall judge necessa-