The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-12-13

House declared, with unanimity as re-
markable as 10 was significant, that the
war was not "waged, upon our part, in
any spirit of oppression, nor for any pur-
pose of conquest or subiugation, nor pur-
pose of overthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions of
those States, but TO defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution and all
laws made in pursuance thereof, and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality, and rights of the several States
unimpaired and that as soon as these OBJ
jects were accomplished the war ought to
cease" In some instances, Senators were
permitted to continue their legislative func-
tions, while in other instances Representa-
tives were elected and admitted to seats af-
ter their States had formally declared their
right to withdraw from the Union, and
were ehdeavoring to maintain that right
by force of arms. All of the States whose
people were in insurreotion, as States,
were included in the apportionment of the
direct tax of twenty millions of dollars an
nually laid upon the United States by the
act approved 5th August, 1861. Congress,
by the act of March 4, 1862, and by the APP
portionment of representation Hereunder,
also recognized their presence as States in
the Union; and they have, for judicial
purposes, been divided into districts, as
|
recognition appears in the recent legisla-
ton in reference to Tennessee, which evil
IDENTIFY rests upon the fact that the fInc-
tions of the State were not destroyed by
the rebellion, but merely suspended and
that principle is of course applicable to
those States which, like Tennessee, nt-
tempted to renounce their places in the
Union.
The action of the Executive Department
of the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite and uniform and the
pul pose of the war was specifically stated
in the Proclamation issued by my prede-
cessor on the 22d day of September, 1862.
It was then solemnly proclaimed and de-
clared that thereafter, as heretofore, the
war will be prosecuted for the object oi
practically restoring the constitutional re-
lation between the United States and each
of the States and the people thereof, il
which States that relation is or may b'
suspended or disturbed"
The recognition of the States by the Ju
. dioial Department of the Government ha
also been clear and conclusive in all pro
ceedings affecting them as States, had ir
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 apprehen.
clothed with the powers of legislation foI
this could not happen when the Constitu.
ton and the laws are enforced by a vigi-
, liant and faithful Congress. Each House
is made the "judge of the elections, re-
turns, and qualifications of its own mem.
bers," and may, "with the concurrence Of
f two-thirds, expel member" When Q
I Senator or Representative presents his
certificate of election, he may at once he
admitted or rejected or, should there bt
any question as to his eligibility, his Gre
dentials may be referred for investigation
to the appropriate committee. If admitted
to seat, it must be upon evidence salts.
factory to the House of which he thus he.
comes member, that he possesses the re-
quisite constitutional and legal qualifica-
tions. If refused admission as a member
for want of due allegiance to the Govern.
ment, and returned to his constituents
they are admonished that none but per.
sons loyal to the United States will be al.
lowed voice in the Legislative Councils
of the Nation, and the political power and
moral influence of Congress are thus ef.
fectively exerted in the interests of loyalty
to the Government and fidelity to the
; Union. Upon this question, so vitality af
fecting the restoration of the Union and
the permanency of our present form of gov.
ernment, my convictions, heretofore ex.
pressed, have undergone no change but
on the contrary, their correctness has beer
confirmed by reflection and time. IF the
: admission 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
condition is right now-if, in the exact
condition of these States Mt the present
time, it is lawful to exclude them from
representation, do not see that the ques
ton will be changed by the efIlux of time
Ten years hence, if these States remain as
they are, the right 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.
B ommend to the consideration of Congress
"such measures as he shall Judge ;ocessa.
ry or expedient," 4 know Of no measure
moe lmperatively demanded by every
! consideration of national interest, sound
policy and equal justice, than the admis
sion of loyal members from the now un
: represented States. This would consummatt
the work of restoration, and exert a most
salutary influence in the re-establishment
= of peace, harmony, and frnternal feeling
f 1t would tend greatly to renew the conf
: dence of the American people in the vigoi
and stability of their institutions.
would bind us more closely as n nation
and enable us to show to the world the in
herent and recuperative power Of Gov
T ernment founded upon the will of the peo
pie, and established upon the principles o
: liberty, Justice, and intelligence. Our in
creased strength and enhanced prosperity
would irrefragably demonstrate the fallacy
: of the arguments against free institution
, drawn from our recent national disorder
; by the enemies of republican government
, The admission of loyal members from tn,
, States now excluded from Congress, by
: allaying doubt and apprehension, woulC
turn capital, now awaiting an opportunity
; for investment, into the channels of trade
and industry. 1t would alleviate the pres
ent troubled condition of those States, and
) by inducing emigration, aid in the settle
ment of fertile regions now uncultivated
and lead TO an increased production o
! those staples which have added so greatl,
/ to the wealth of the nation and the com
/ merce ofthe world. New fields of enter
prise would be opened to our progressiv,
people, and soon tho devastations of wa
, would be repaired, and all traces of our do
; mestic differences effaced from the minds o
our sountrymen. Hr. "ni
In our efforts to preserve s'the unity o
, Government which constitutes us one peo
ple," by restoring the States to the condi
ton which they held prior to the rebellion
we should be cautious, lest, having rescued
our nation from perils of threatened dis
! integration, we resort TO consolidation, anS
! in hn md