Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-17
Letter from Washington
Summers SPECIFICATIONS for
Soldiers Orphans-.-Taxa-
tiOn and Representation.
WASHINGTON. March Z. 1866.


EDITOR JOURNAL Sumner made ansther
strong, logical speech yesterday He claimed
there were tour conditions stated in the Com
stitution and its amendments that made the
present ruling of Congress over the Southern
States perfectly constitutional.
1st. The necessity of the case
I'd. The guaranty on the part of the U. S.
to give every State Republican form of
government.
Sd. The right possessed by the U. S. as
the conquering power, to impose such regnla-
tions as were thought just. and exact such
guarantees as would be a sufficient safeguard
hereafter.
4th. The necessity of keeping our plgh-
ted faith with the blacks TO make him free
in case he bore arms for US, whereas he was
only half free now.
1st. The necessities of the case were such
that strict conf rmity to the letter of the
Constitution. without taking into considera-
very unjust. We should follow the spirit.
closely. And the spirit now plainly says
to Congress: You must legislato 50 IS to
make all American citizens untainted bv
crime. free and equal. ou must allow no
State legislation for the benefit of any class.
I'd. The Constitution imposes upon Con-
gress the imperative duty of guaranteeing
Republican form of government to each State
No government is Republican that disfran-
chises any portion of its citizens, and gives
the power of legislating for such portion into
the hands of others. So Congress is bound
to interfere 10 see the Constitution executed
unconstitutional, if they did not interfere, to
do so.
Sd. All laws relating to conquered terrific
ry give the victor full power to legislate for
the vanquished, to secure the end for which
the war was waged. Thus Congress has full
right to legislate for the South till they are
in such condition as TO answer the wishes of
Congress. which are no more than that they
shall enact laws for themselves forever guar
anteeing equal rights to all, and true loyalty
to the Union.
9TH. As regards our pl lighted faith. when
a. Ll--l- --.p aruax = ,,-os
with the solemn assurance that he ana ms
should be forever free. To now ignore that
pledge, and leave him without means of pro-
lection among those whom he made his en-
emies by his very act of serving our cause.
would be the very height of falseness
Gen. Carey, leading orator from Ohio,
said here last week +" 1t is in vain to talk
of the honor of the South. When men have
added arson to theft. murder to arson, PERU
nv to murder, and treason to perjury. they
have broken the last link that binds them to
honor. henceforward they are to be trusted no
more than the sea-"
Many prominent ladies here. including
Mrs. 1t. Gen Grant, have organized for the
purpose of founding Home for Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans. They design buying
good location, erecting suitable buildings. and
making permanent arrangements for provi-
ding for and educating every such orphan
within their reach. They think by estah-
fishing such an one at the Capitol the NJ. C's
will see IFS workings. and set themselves
about organizing similar ones in the various
States.
Gen. Howard. in advocating the effort says,
as we cannot show our gratitude to the depar-
ted soldiers, we should show it 10 their little
substitutes, or representatives amongst us.
Senator Henderson made very good hit
Yesterday, in a series of resolutions read be-
fore the Ssnate. He says: eve are contin-
ually being reminded by the Democrats, of
the barbarism and tyranny of taxation with
out representation of taxing the South, and
yet forbidding them representation. But at
the same time, they are asking Congress to
recognize their State Constitutions, as now
adopted by them. which are notorious, for
the fact that they are imposing taxation with
out representation, on nearly half their in :
habitants, Just the very thing they denoun-
ced us so unmeasuredly for. Verify, consis-
tency is jewel" s.