The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-26

! victories to slip away or turn to asnes.
| In many speeches to delegations from
loyal States; in, dispatchest 10 Provision
al Governors, acting under his authors
ty, and in declarations made to the pub
| lie for their information, there was no
disguise of his purpose to secure the
peace and tranquility Off the country on
| tust and sure foundations. These
measures received the cordial support
OF every mem ber OF the Cabinet, ana
were approved by the sentiments de-
clared by Conventions in nearly all OF
the States. =
| One point of difference presented it
self namely;-The basis of representa-
| ton. By some it was thought just and
expedient thatlthe right of suffrage in
the rebel States should be secured IN
some form TO the colored Inhabitants OF
those States, either as universal rule,
or to those qualified by education, only
actual service as soldiers, who ventured
their lives for their Government. My
own mind inclined to this view, but
after calm and full discussion, my
Judgment yielded to the adverse arguA
cuItieS to be encountered in such a
measure, and to the Presidents condl-
tions, that to prescribe the rule of suf-
frage was not within the scope of his
power.
The plan OF Organization embodied
in the. proclamation to the people OF
North Carolina, and the instructions to
| the Provisional Governor of that State,
exhibit the system and principles pre-
scribed by the President. for the snbsti-
tuition of civil authority in the place of
universal military rule in the insur-
rectionary STATES. In this plan two
things were presented by the procla-
nation. and the President's instruc-
tions are worthy, of special notice:s
| Tf,ssfh nj fbsa % n
zfng 11otVer Is Specif fcdtty aud absolutely
restricted to The people 4Uho are loyal 70
the Untted States, and no others. This
| Is in accordance with the views oLten
declared by Mr.-Johnson from the COM
mencement5 of the rebellion, and under
the most impressive circumstances.
Second That the choice of delegates
was not only limited to only loyal people
and no oilers, but constitutional guar
antees were required in respect 10 the
emancipation of slaves, and the repu-
diation of the rebel debt. A sound
reasonfor such guarantees in respect to
slavery is stated by the President In his
evidence gofi sincerity in the future
maintenance of the Union.
These views, expressed by the Presi-
dent in his message received, and con-
tinue to receive, my cordial acqutes-
cence and support. Who are loyal Peo-
pie p is question that ought not to be
difficult Of decision: fr "a
taken by him to restore the constitu-
tional relations of the States, the Pres
| ident, in his annual message proceeds
to state with equal distinctness what
remains to be done and to whom the
authority. and duty of doing it belongs
in the following words: "The samendT nc.
ment to the constitution being adopted,
| it would remain for the States whose
powers have been so long in obeyance
| 10 resume their places in the two
| branches of the National Legislature,
and thereby complete the work of re-
storation. Here it Is for you, fettot0 citt-
Gems OF the Senate, dndIo1' you, JetLotO
citizens Of the House of Representatives.,
10 Judge, each Of you for yourselves, Of
the election iT'etltr1ls. and qualifications Of
| yOuI' 0tU1l members
| Whoever doubts that the authority
and duty of Judging for itself of the
election returns and qualifications of
its members belongs to each House of
Congress, may have his doubts removed
by the Federal Constitution, which de-
ciares, in the fifth section of the FIRST
Article, that each-House shall be the
Judge of the election returns and quail
fications of its own:members. In thus
distinctly recognizing the Constitution
al right of each House of Congress to
| Ol= EGGuEn6
| 1ications of itSlown members, the Prest-
dent has conformed to the plain letter
of the Constitution. aGirl --.E 9 - -
1t being the function of each House
to Judge of the election returns and
| Qualifications of its own members, the
obligation is implied of taking testi-
mony, weighing evidence, and deciding
the question of membership. What
testimony has been taken, or what evil
dence has been presented in the ques-
tion to either branch of Congress, or
what Judgment will be given, is not
known to me, nor have 1 the right Of
inquiring.
Besides, the steps taken by the Exec
utiVe to restore the constitutional re-
| Ihtions aud rights of the States, his an
nual message called the attention of
| Congress TO the necessity of tnsurtng
that security of the freedmen, remind
| ing Congress that while he had no
doubt that the General Government
could not extend the elective franchise,
it is equally clear that good faith re-
| uuires the security ioffthe freedmen In
4 their liberty and their property, their
! right to labor, and their right to claim
the just return OF their labor;- and, OBJ
serving further, that the country Is dn
need of labor, and that the freedmen
are in need of ofemployment, culture and
4 protection. In connection with this
4 subject the President further remarks:
"Slavery was essentially q monopoly
| labor, and as such locked the States
where it prevailed against the tncom-
ing of free industry. Where laoor was
| man was excluded from employment,
or had but the second best chance OF
| finding it, and the foreign emtgrant
turned away from the region where his
condition would be so oprecarious."
With the destruction of the monopo-
ly, free labor will hasten from alliparts
| OF the civilized world to assist in deyel-
i resources which have hitherto taken
! the eight or nine States nearest, the
Gulf Of Mexico-a soil of exhuberant
\ feftihfy--A climate Fproplotiye of loug
| life. and Which can sustain denser
population than is found as yet in any
part of our country, and the future IN
| fiux of population to them Will be
mainly from the North or from the
4 most cultivated nations of Europe.
These views OF the President In rela-
ton to the freedmen, received and con-
/ lTinueTtoFrecefye my hearty concurrence.
They have guided the action OF the
War Department, and were substan-
tihIly advocated in its annual report.
bill was passed by Congress, regu-
lating the Freed mems Bureau, but the
provisions of the bill, did not meet the
lieVed the powers conferred upon him
/ and upon the agents TO be appointed by
him, 70 be unwise aud unconstitutton7
/ al. Concurring In the object OF the
bill and regarding the power as tenn
porary and safe in his hands, 4 advised
its approval, but, having been return
4 ed to Congress with the Presidents obs
fections, and having failed the needful
i support, It Is no longer a living mea-
sure nor the subject OF debate or differ