The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-12-08

inhabitants of those States. 1t would
have accorded with the great principle
enunciated in the Declaration Of Amer
lean independence, that no people ought
to bear the burden of taxation, and yet
be denied the right OF Representation.
1t would have been In consonance with
the express provisions Of the Constitu-
tion, that each state Shall have at least
one Representative" and that "no
State, without its consent, shall be de-
prited IF its equal duffrage in the Sen
ate" These provisions were Intended
to secure to every State, arid to the peo-
pie of every State, the right of representa-
tion in each House of Congress; and so
important was it deemed by the trainers
of the Constitution that the equality of
the States in the Senate should be pre-
served, that not even by an amendment
of the Constitution can any State, with
out its consent, be denied voice in that
branch of the National teF'slature.
STATES ARE NOT CONQUERED TERRI
TORIES.
1t is true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated
by the rebellious acts of their inhabi-
tants, and that the insurrection having
been suppressed, they were thencefor-
ward to be considered merely rs conquer
edTerritories. Thelegislative, executive,
and judicial departments of the Govern
ment have, however, with great dis
tinctness and uniform consistency, re-
fused to sanction an assumption SO in
compatible with the nature of our re-
publican system, and with the professe5
objects of the war. Throughout the re-
cent legislation Of Congress, the unde-
niable fact makes itself apparent that
these ten political communities are moth
ing less than States of this Union. AT
the very commencement of the Rebel.
lion each House declared, with unan.
unity as remarkable as it was signif-
cant, that the war was not waged upon
our part in spirit of oppression, nor
for any purpose Of conquest or subjuga-
ton, nor for any purpose of overthrowing
or interfering with therights or establish-
ed institutions of those States, but to de.
fend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution and all laws made in pur'
suance thereof, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and rights
of the several States upimpaired and
that as soon as these Ubjects' were "ac
complished the war ought to cease" In
some instances Senators were permitted
to continue their legislative functions
while in other Instances Representa-
tives were elected and admitted tC
seats after their States had formally de
clared their right to withdraw from the
Union, and were endeavoring to main.
tain that right by force of arms. AL
of the States whose people were in in
surrection, rs States, were included il
the apportionment of the direct tax OF
twenty millions of dollars annually lait
upon the United Safes by the act approx
ed August fifth, 1861. Congress, by th'
act of March fourth, 1862, and by the ap
portionment.o representation thereun
der, also recognized their presence IL
States in the Union; and they have, TO
judicial purposes, been divided into dis
tricts, as States alone can be divided
The game recognition appears in the re
cent legislation ir reference to Tennessee
which evidently rests upon the fact tha
the functions of the State were not de
stroyed by the Rebellion, but merely sus
pended; and that principle is, of course
applicable to those States which, lik'
Tennessee, attempted to renounce theil
places in the Union. .... ....,
The action of the Executive Depart
ment of the Government upon this sub
ject has been equally definite and uni
form, and the purpose of the war wa
specifically stated in the proclamation
issued by my predecessor Oh the twenty
second day of September, 1862. 1t wa
then solemnly proclaimed and declared
that hereafter, as heretofore, the wal
will be prosecuted for the object of prac
tically restoring the constitutional re
lation between the United States an,
each of the States and the people there
of, in which States that relation is o
may lie suspended or disturbed"
The recognition of the States by tn
Judicial Department of the Govern
ment has also been clear and conclusiv,
in all proceedings affecting them ~
States, had in the Supreme, Circuit
and District Courts.
NO DANGER IN ADMITTING REPRE
sENTATIYES.
In the admission of Senators ant
Representative ffom any and all Of th'
States, there can be no just ground of mp
prehension that persons who are disloy
al will be clothed with the powers OF
legislation; for this could not happel
when the Constitution and the laws ar
enforced by vigilant and faithful Con
gres5. Each House is made the "jtids
of the elections, returns, and qualiiica
tions of its own members" and may
(" With the concurrence of two thirds
expel a MEMBER" When Senate
6r Representative presents his certif
cate of election, he may at once b
admitted or rejected; or, should ther
be any question as to his eligibility, hi
credentials may be referred for inveSti
CATION to the appropriate committee. |
admitted to seat, it must be upon evi
dence satisfactory to the House o
which he thus becomes meInber, tina
| he POSSESSES the REQUISITE constitutions