Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-03-01

some at least of the States are at
tending Congress by loyal repre-
sentatives soliciting the allowance
of the constitutional right of repre-
sentation.
At the time; however,, of the
consideration and passing of the
bin there was no Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress from the
eleven States which are to be
mainly affected by its provisions.
The very fact that reports were
and are made against the good
disposition of the country, is an
additional reason why they need
and should have Representatives
of their own in Congress to explain
their condition, especially to the
accusations, and assist, by their lC-
cal knowledge, in perfecting of
measures Immediately affecting
themselves, while the liberty of
deliberation would then be free
and Congress would have full pow
er to decide according to its judy
ment.
There could be no objection
urged that the States most inter-
ested had not been permitted to be
heard. The principle is firmly
fixed in the minds of the Ameri-
can people that there could be no
taxation without representation.
Great burthens are now to be borne
by all the country, and We may
best demand that they shall be
borne without murmur when they
are voted by a majority of the
representatives of all the people.
! / would not interfere with the
unquestlonable right Of Congress
to judge, each house Tor itself, of
the election returns and qualifiea-
tons ofits own members, but that
authority cannot be construed as
including the right to put out III
time of peace any State from the
Representatives to which it is eli
titled by the constitution. At
present all the people Of the elev-
en- States are excluded, those who
were most faithful during the war,
not less than others.
The State of Tennessee, for in
stance, whose authorities engaged
in the rebellion, was restored to
all her constitutional relations to
the Union by the patriotism and
energy Of her injured and betrayed
people before the war was brought
to a determination. They had
placed themselves in relations
with the General Government,
had established a State Govern
ment of their own, and as they
were not included in the emanci-
patton proclamation, they, by their
own act, have amended their con-
stitution so as to abolish slavery
within the limits of their State.
! | know no reason why tile State
of Tennessee, for example, should
not fully enjoy her constitutional
relations to the United States. The
President of the United States
stands towards the country in q
somewhat different attitude from
that of any member of Congress cho-
sen from a single District or State.
The President is chosen by the
people of all the States. Eleven
States are not at this time repre-
scented III either branch of Congress.
1t would seem to be his duty. on
all proper occasions, to present
their just claims to Congress.
There always will be differences
of opinion in the country, and in
dividuals may be guilty of trans.
gressions of the law. but these do
not constitute valid objections
against the right of q State to Rep
resentatives, and would, in no wise,
interfere with the discretion of
Congress with regard to the quail
ifications Of members; but / hold
it my duty to recommend to You,
In the interest Of peace, and in the
interest of the Union, the admis-
sion of every State to its share of
public legislation, which, however
insubordinate, insurgent or rebel
lious its people may have been, it
presents itself not only in an atti-
tude of loyalty and harmony, but
IN the persons of Representatives.
whose loyalty cannot bequestioned
under the existing constitution or
legal test. 1t is plain that an in
definite or permanent exclusion of |
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