The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-08-22
NEW SERIES---VOLUME O. NO4

| ton, hence can only attribute this sourri-
| lOus attack upon me either to jealously and
envy, or to the fact that | have exp essed
myself satisfied with President Johnjon's
reconstruction policy, and dissatisfied with
John A. Bingham's course in Congress in
opposition to that policy.
In order that my friends in the Union
organization may understand my position,
| will state that of the President, which has
! to great extent been misunderstood by the
people, being misrepresented by radical
politicians
The Presidents policy is not as often
charged, to Unfortunately admit to seats
in Congress or to hold offices, all persons
from the South. whether loyal or disloyal,
who may be designated for such positions
1t is to restore harm?ny, friendly and con-
stitutional relations between all the States
of the Union. TO effect this restoration,
after the rebellion had been put down and
the prominent men in the South, both 10y.
! alists and rebels had apparently in good
faith declared their willingness to accept the
results of the war as final decision OF all
the questions involved in the controversy
between the rebels and the government, and
to fully submit to the laws Of the United
States; the President issued proclamations
to the different States authorizing them to
organize State governments and elect mem
bers of Congress, and he urged them to
adopt the Constitutional Amendment for
ever abolishing slavery, and to prohibit by
their own Constitutions the payment OF the
rebel debt. This was approved by our. own
party except the radical wing. The lately
rebel States having done all that was requir-
ed in this behalf, the President believed
they should be represented in Congress, he
aI oil t,n,as 1aI 70 Inporacos thu Nv
| elusive and constitutional right to judge of
the loyalty and qualifications of such repre-
| scntatves. President Johuson's proclama-
ticn3 are identical in principle with those
issued by President Lincoln on the same
subject, and his pclicy is the same, with the
exception that President Lincoln did not
require as a condition precedent that they
should adopt the Constitutional Amend
ment abolishing slavery. Most OF the
States complied with these requirements
within reasonable time, and elected Sena-
tors and Representatives. This policy was
approved almost unanimously by the Union
PARTY atthattime, and the Union. State Con-
vention of Ohio one year ago, by a resolu-
tion unanimously adopted. sustained It,
The Presidents policy now is precisely the
same as it was then; he lelieves that those
States have placed themselves in such po-
sition as to be entitled to representation in
Congress by loyal citizens. lie has at all
times conceded to each House OF Congress
the sole and constitutional right to deter
mine as to the loyalty and qualifications of
| their own members but he complains that
they do not exercise this right.
lie believes that in regard to the admis-
| sion Of members each house should have
proceeded to investigate the rights of those
Sta'es in this behalf as in all other cases;
that those Stotes should have been called;
that the names of the members elect should
have been called in order, and the House,
sitting as o jury, should have tried the case,
of each as called, and upon a careful and
impartial hearing should have determined
| it, IF the member thus tried should be
found loyal and qualified, admit him; and Il
found dsloyal or unqualified, reject him and
return him to his constituents that they
might e'e't Representative qualified for
the position; and that the House should thus
proceed with all the States and all their
members until they should have determined
the cases of all claiming seats from those
States. lie deems it urjust and oppres-
sive to the loyal citizens that they should be
deprived of representation in the National
Congress without hearing, while laws
deeply affecting their best interests were be-
ing enarted by Congress.
This policy | deem just and proper to the
South and to all sections, and | therefore
most cordially endorse and shall support it,
and call upon all sober thinking men of
the Union organization to do likewise.
On the e.other hand, cannot support Mr..
Bingham for the reason that he las per-
sistenly opposed this just and reasonable
policy of the President, and voted to ex.
cludc eleven States from Congressional rep
resentation, and has pursued course in
Congress which. in my judgement tends to
widen the breach between the sections, and
which, if continued in, will forever prevent
that restoration of harmony and good feel
ing so ardently desired by all lovers of our
country and its prosperity. And IN justih-
cation Of my position as against Mr.. Bing-
ham course, j call the attention of every
Union man to the letter of that old Union
veteran, Hon. Thomas Ewing, dated Aug
ust 2, 1866 approving the President policy
and condemning The radical policy pursued
by such men as John A. BinghaR. From
ut is very clear to my mind that
the exclusion of States as States for any
reason, supposed or alleged, is violation Of
their constitutional privileges. The men,
bers who may be in possession of tho SEN
ate Chamber and House of Representatives
have the same right to assume that New
I ork as that Georgia is unfit to be represen-
ted until it complies with their prescribed
requisitions; and if they exclude eleven
States they may exclude twenty, and each
will affect alike the Constitutional legiti-
macy of the body, which thus lays down
conditions for admission and refuses 1t to
those who do not comply with those condi-
tions. The wrong would be more. garing
If majority were excluded, but the prln-
ciple would be the same.
ut may be said that in the Senate there
would not be constitutional quorum if
twenty were excluded, but what of that2
Admit the binding eficancy of the Consti-
tuition and there is an end of the argu-
ment.
claws formally enacted by the members
and certified, approved by the officers Of the
two Houses and the President, must be re-
organized by our courts without inquiring
into the regular constitution of each of the
powers enacted them, out whatever comes
in the form Of law emanating from single
branch of the law making power, is IN. my
judgement open to examination. ass for
example, il but one third of the States
should meet mad take possession of the halls
of the Senate and House of Representatives,
enact resolves in the form of law without
executive sanction or recognition, II would
be absurd to say that the courts would be
bound to hold that such resolves were law,
without having power to inquire into the
constitutionality Of the assembly enactiDg
them This is but an .fortion case--the
principle is precisely the same with that
before u.s. 1t is quite immaterial whether
one third or two-thirds Oh the States be ex-
cluded from participation in the enactment
Admit the right ofina1irv into the consti