The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-28

90 py tne fresloent Tor the Bubetitution OF civil
authority in the place Of universal military rule
IN the insurrectionary States. In this plan two
things presented by, the proclamation and the
residents instructions, are worthy Of especial
hoaily and absolutely restricted to the people
who are loyal to the United States, and no
others" This is in accordance with the views
mencement OF the rebellion and undor tho most
Impressive circumstances. Secondly, the choice
OF delegates WAS not only limited to loyal people
required in respect to the emancipation of slaves
and the repudiation Of the debt. sound rea-
son for such guarantees in respect to slavery is
stated by the President in his message, namely
Tho necessity of tho evidence OF sincerity in the
future maintenance of tho Union. These views
expressed by the President in his message receiv-
ed and continue etc receive my cordial acquiescence
and support. Who are loyal people, is a question
that ought not to be difficult Of decision
Alter lun explanation OF the steps taken by him
to to restore tho constitutional rotations Of the
States, the PRESIDENT i'll his Annual Message,
proceeds to state, with equal distinctness, what
remains to be done, and to whom tho authority
ana duty Sr OF doing it belongs, in the following
adopted it would remain for the States, whose
powers have been 80 long in sbeyance, to resume
their places in the two branches of the National
zene of tho Senate and for you, fellow citizens of
the House of Representatives, to judge, each OF
you for yourselves, of the elections, returns and
qualifications of your own members" Whoever
doupte that the authority and duty of judging for
itself of the elections returns and qualifications
gress, may have his doubt removed by tho Fede-
raj Constitution, which declares, in the fifth sec
ton of the first article that each House shall
bo tho judge of the elections, returns and quail
fcatOns of its own members.
In thus distinctly recognizing the constitutional
right of each House Of Congress to Judge of the
members, the President has conformed to the plain
letter Of the Constitution, it being the function of
each House to judge OF the elections, returns and
qualifications of its own members. The obga-
tion is implied of taking testimony, weighing
evidence. and deciding the question of member
ship. What testimony has been taken, or what
evidence has been presented on this question to
either branch OF Congress, or what judgment is
to be given, is not known to me, nor have the
right Of inquiring.
Besides the steps taken by the Executive to re-
store the constitutional relations OF the States,
his annual message called the attention of Con-
gress to the necessity of insuring 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 security 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, observing further,
that the country ia in need of labor and that the
freedmen arc in need of employment, culture and
protection.
In connection with this subject the President
further remarks: "Slavery was essentially mo-
nopoly OF labor and, as such, locked tho States
where it prevailed against the incoming of free in
dustry; where labor was the property of the capi-
tslist tho white mau was excluded from employ
mont or had but the second best chance of finding
it, and the foreign emigyant turned away from
rious. With the destruction of the monopoly free
labor will haston from all parts Of the civilized
world to assist in developing various and unmeas-
urabie resources, which have hitherto lain dor
mant. The eight or nine States nearest tho Gulf
VI Mexico have soil OF eXuberant fertility, ci-
mate friendly to long life, 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 in Europe" These
views OF the President i'll relation to the freedmen
renee. They have guided the action of the War
Department and were substantially advocated in
it's annual report. In what believe an honest de-
sire to conform to them, bill was passed by Con-
gress regulating the Freedmen's Bureau, but the
provisions Of the bill did not meet the Presidents
approval because he believed the powers conferred
upon him and upon the agents to be appointed by
nun to be unwlse and unconstitutional, Concur
ring IN the object of the bill, and regarding the
power as temporary and safe in his hands, I ad-
lsed Ts its approval; But having been returned to
having failed the needful support it is no longer
living measure, nor the subject OF debate or of
Inference of opinion.
Another Congressional measure, called the Ciyi,
Rights bill, has been the eubject Of conflict That
,ll, now law, has for it's object the security of
ivll rights In the insurrectionary States. It was
Eell observed by the President In his annual mes
age, that peaceful emigration to and from that
portion OF the country (the Southern States) is
me OF the best means that can be thought Of for
he restoration Of harmony" It's possible interior
nee with such emigration was one OF the chief
hought that the influence Of class Legislation in
avor Of tho slaveholding monopoly heretofore ex-
sting in the Southern States, would still be strong
7 exerted to prevent peaceful emigration into
hose States, and would exclude the laborng pop
llation Of the North from that vale OF exuberant
ertiiity and friendly climate, that productive re-
ZION embracing the eight or nino States nearest
hese States should be yigilantly protected by Fe-
ieral laws and Federal tribunals. Although the
measures enacted by Congress for this purpose
allied to receive the Executive sanction, yet, hav
House, they have now passed to the Statute book
md ceased to be the subject of debate.
And the measure or series of measures Of prime
Importance, now pending before Congress, merits
! brief remark, namely: The plan Of restoration,
,r reconstruction, as it is sometimes called. To
he plan reported by the Joint Committee, have
lot been able to give my assent. 1t contemplases
IN amendment to the Constitution third
lection OF the proposed article being in these
erms: lr'.. - " 'rr, - -,,r -
sEo g. Unt the 4th day Of July. In the year 1870 all
who voluntarily adhered to the late nsurrec.
ion, giving It aid and comfort shall be excluded from
he right to vote for Representatives to Congress and
or Electors for President and vioepresdent OF the
United States L-..i -. IA = ~ Y !. !
It 1s urged by the advocates OF this plan that
his third section is the vital one, without which
The others are Of no value. It's exclusive action
will NO doubt commend it to the feelings of, many
IS wise and just provision But am unable so
to regard it. because for four years 1t binds Con-
or Presidential electors all persons who voiun-
tarily adhered to the late insurrection giving it
aid and comfort. No matter what may be the
condition OF tho country, nor what proofs OF pre-
sent and future loyalty may be given, an absolute
bar is to be erected for four years against large