The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-24

| No one better than Mr.. johnson understood
| The solemn duty imposed upon the national
| Executive TO maintain the national authority
vnuicated at so great sacrifice, and the obliea-
| tOn not to suffer the Just fruits OF so fierce a
| struggle and OF so many battles aud victories
| TO slip away or turn 70 ashes. In many speeches
| 10 delegations from loyal States, in dispatches
to the provisional Governors acting under his
| authority, and in declarations made to tnc pub-
! lie Tor their information, there was no disguise
OF his purpose to secure the peace and tran
| quillity OF the countryen Just and sure founda-
! tons. These measures received the cordial ann
port of every member OF the Cabinet and were
! approved by the sentiments declared in conven.
| tions in nearly all OF the States
One point of difference presented itself
| namely, the basis of representation BY some
1t was thought Just and expedient that the right
| oil suffrage in the Rebel States should be secured
IN some form to the colored inhabitants OF these
states, elmer as universal rule. or to those
qualified by education or by actual service as
soldiers, who ventured their lives for their Gov
ernment. My own mind inclined TO this view,
but after calm and full discussion my iudg.
ment yielded to the adverse arguments, resting
upon the practical difficulties to be encountered
In such measure, and TO the Presidents con-
Victton that to prescribe the rule OF suffrage was
not within the legitimate scope of his power.
The plan OF organization embodied in the pro-
clan alton TO the people of North Carolina, and
the instructions to the Provisional Governor of
that State. exhibit the system and principles
prescribed by the President for the substitution
OF civil authority in the place of universal mill.
tarv rule in the insurrectionary States. In this
plan, two things presented by the proclamation
and the Presidents instructions are worthy of
special notce:-
First, That the exercise of the organizing
power is specifically and absolutely restricted
10 the people who are loyal TO the United States
and no Others" This Is IN accordance with the
views often expressed by Mr.. johnson from the
commencement of the Rebellion and under the
most impressive circumstances.
Secondly. The choice OF delegates was not
only limited to loyal people, and no others, but
constitutional guarantees were required in re-
spect to the emancipation of slaves and the re-
pudlation of the Rebel debt.
sound reason Tor such guarantees in respect
to slavery is stated by the President in his mes
sage, namely, the necessity of "the evidence of
sincerity in the future maintenance of the
Union." These views, expressed by the Presi.
dent IN his message, recei Jed and continue to
receive my cordial acqulescence and support
Who are loyal people? is a question that ought
not to be difficult of decision.
After full explanation of the steps taken
by him to restore the constitutional relations of
the States, the President, in his annual essage
proceeds to state with equal dIstipctness what
remains TO be oone, and to whom the authority
and duty of doing it belongs, in the following
Words:-
''The amendment to the Constitution being
adopted it would remain tor the States whoCe
powers have been so long in abeyance to resume
their places IN the two branches OF the National
Legislature, and thereby complete the work of
IGSIOIUJlOu nGI0 III Is lOr YOU, lellOW citizens
OF the Senate, and for you, tellow-citizens of the
House OF Representatives. TO Jadge each of aOu
for course. UeS, OF the elections, returns, and
qualifications of your own members"
Whoever doubts that the authority and duty
Of JUDGING for itself OF the elections and oualif-
cations Of lis members belongs TO each House
OF CONGRESS, may have his doubt removed by
the Federal Constitution, which declares, in the
NTH section OF the hrst article, that "Each
House shall be the Judge OF the elections returns,
and 0uallhCatlOQS OF ltS members - In
distinctly recognizing the constitutional right of
each House OF Congress to Judge of the elections,
returns. and qualifications of its own members,
the President has conlormed to the plain letter
of the Constitution.
II being the function Of each House to Judge
OF the election returns ana qualifications OF its
own members, the obligation is implied of
taking testimony, weighing evidence and de-
cldmg the question OF membership. What tes-
timony has been Iaken, or what evidence has
been presented on the question to either branch
OF Congress, or what Judgment will be given is
not known TO me, nor have 1.-The right of in
CURING
Besides the steps taken by the Executive to
restore the constitutional relations of the States
his annual message called the attention OF Con-
eress to the necessity of insurlng the security
OF the freedmen, reminding Congress that while
he had no doubt that the General Government
could not extend the elective franchise, it is
equally clear that good faith requires the secu.
riIy Of the freedmen in their liberty and their
property; their right to labor, and their right to
claim the Just return of their labor; and OBJ.
serving, further that the country is in need of
labor, and that the frl edmen are in need of en-
ployment, culture, and protection.
In connection with this subject the President
further remarks, slavery was essentially q
monopoly OF labor and as such locked the States
where 1t prevailed against the incoming OF free
industry. Where labor was the property of the
capitalist the white man was excluded from en-
ployment, or had but the second best chance of
hndmg it, and the foreign emigrant turned
away from the region where his condition would
be so precarious. With the destruction of this
monopoly free labor will hasten from all parts
ef the civilized world to assist in developing the
various and immeasurahle resources which
have hitherto lain dormant.
1.-The eight or nine States nearest the Gulf of
Mexico have soil OF eXuberance and fertility,
a climate friendly to long lite, and can sustain
denser population than is found as yet in any
part OF our country, and the future influx of
population TO them will be mainly from the
North or from the most cultivated nations of
Europe.n
These views of the President in relation to the
freedmen received and continue to receive my
hearty concurrence. They have guided the ac.
ton OF the War Department, and we're substan-
TALLY advocated in its annual report.
In what | believed an honest desire to con-
form TO them, bill was passed by Congress re-
gulating the Freedmens Bureau, but the provi-
sons of the bill did not meet the Presidents
approval, because he believed the powers con.
terred upon him and upon the agents to be aO-
proved by him TO be illegal and unconstitu-
toDal. Concurring in the objects of the bill,
and regarding the power as temporary and safe
in his hands, advised its approval, but having
been returned to Congress with the Presidents
objections, and having failed to receive the need
iul support, II is no longer living measure, nor
the subject of debate, or difference of opinion.
Civil Rights bill, has been the subject OF con-
Hict That bill, now a law, has for its object