The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-06-21

possess Tue Credentials necessary To enable
them to represent daily qualified constitu
ency, is one for the consideration of each
House separately, after the preliminary
question shall have been finally determined
SUMMARY
We now propose to restate as briefly as
possible the general facts and principles
applicable to the States recently 10 rebel
lion. ,.ras s ~
FIRST: The seats of the Senators and
Representatives from the so called Coufed-
crate States became vacant in the year 1861
during the second session of the XXXVIth
Congress, by the voluntary withdrawal of
their incumbents with the sanction and by
the direction Of the Legislatures OF, couven
tions of their respective states. This was
done as hostile act against the Constita-
ton and Government of the United States
with declared intent to overthrow the
same by forming a Southern Confederacy
which lived aud waged war by sea and
land. against the United States This war
continued more than four years. within
which time the rebel armies besieged the
National Capital, invaded the loyal states
burned their towns and cities robbed their
citizens, destroyed more than $50, 600 loyal
soldiers, and imposed an increased national
burden of not less than So 800. 600 600, of
which seven or eight hundred millions nave
already been Net and paid From the
time that these Confederate. States thus
withdrew their representation in Congress
and levied war against the United States,
the great mass Of their people became and
were insurgents, rebels, traitors; and all Of
them occupied the political. legal, and prac
tical relation Of enemies of the United
States. This position is established by acts
of Congress and judicial decisions, aud it is
recognized repeatedly by the President III.
pnblic proclamations, documents aud
speeches
SECOND: The States thus confederated
prosecuted the war against the United
States to final arbitrament, and did not
cease until all their armies were captured
their military power destroyed, their civil
officers, state and confederate taken prison
ers Or put to fight, every vestge of State
and Confederate Government obliterated
their territory overrun and occupied 10y the
Federal armies, and their people reduced to
the condition of enemies conquered in v ar,
entitled only, by public law, to such rights
privileges, and conditions as might be
vouchsafed by the conqueror The position
is also established by Judicial decisions, aud
is recognized as sound by the President in
public proclamations, documents and
speeches.
THIRD: Having voluntarily dep rived
themselves of representation In Congress,
for the criminal purpose OF destroyin e the
Federal Union; and having reduced them
selves by the act of levying war, to the con
dition OF public enemies, they have no
right to complain of temporary exclusion
from Congress; but, on the contrary hav-
ing voluntarily renouDced the right to rep
resentation, and disqualified themselves by
crime from participating IN the Govern
ment, the burden now rests upon them be
fore claiming to be reinstated in their torrl-
er condition, to show that they qualified
to resume Federal relations. In order to do
this, they must prove. that they have es-
tablished, with the consent of the people
republican forms of government in harmony
with the Constitution and laws Of the United
States, that all hostile PURPOSES have ceased
and should give adequate guarantees
against future treason and rebellion guar
antics which shall prove satisfactory to the
Government against which they reb-Iled
and whose arms they were subiued
FOURTH: Having by this reasonable
withdrawal from Congress, aud by fragrant
rebellion and crime forfeited all civil and
political rights and privileges under the
Federal Constitution, they can only be re-
stored thereto by permission and authority
OF that constitutional power against which
they rebelled, and by which they were sub
dued.
FIFTH: These rebeIious armies were con-
quered by the people of the United States,
acting through all the CO. ordinate branches
of the Government and not by the Execu
tive Department alone, The powers of
Congress are not 50 vested in the President
that he eau Tx and regulate the terms OF
settlement and confer Congressional repre-
sentation upon conquered rebels aud traj
tors, nor can he in any way qualify enemies
OF. the Government to exercise its law-ma-
king power. The authority to restore rebels
to political power III the Federal Govern
ment can be exercised ouly with The con
currence of all the Depart meuts in which
political power IS vested, and hence the sew
eral proclamations of the President to the
people of tie Confederate States cannot he
considered declared, aud can Ouly be re-
DdTuGu dS DIpNtSlOitdi DtllIllSSiOll0 Wy tiiC
Commander in Chief of the army to do GER
tain acts, the effect and validity whereof is
to be determined by the Constitutional Gov
eminent, and not solely by the executive
power.
SIXTH The question before Congress is
then, Whether conquered enemies have the
right, and shall be permitted at then own
pleasure and own terms to participate in
making laws for their conqueroIsf Wheth
er conquered rebels may change their thea
tire of operations from the batte-f-lds, where
they were defeated and overthrowu to the
halls of Congress- and their representatives
seize upon the Government which they
fought to destroy? Whether the N.tioaaI
Treasury, the army Of the nation its navy.
it's forts and arseniis its whole clv, i'd
nhnistratlon. its credit its Pensioners,
its widows and orphans If
those who persisted Ia Tive war :. tae
public h nor, peace ana safety. shalt I'll be-
turned over to the heepIng Gifts recent eue-
nies, without delay, and without requiring
such conditions IN the opinion II Con
gress the security IF tie county aud its ili-
stitntious may demand
SEVENTH: The history Of mankind *
folly. The instinct Of self preservation pro
tests against it The surrender ny Gen.
Grant to Lee and by Sherman To JohusDu.
would have been disasters of less nagni.
tude, for new armies coul / have been rA,s-d
battles fought, aud the Government sa
The nti-coercive policy, under pretext OF
avoiding bloodshed allowed the rebellion to
take form and gather force; bat it would
be surpassed i'll infamy by the m4tci,vos
wickedness that would surrender the bliis
CT Congress to those SO recently in rebellion,
until proper preca utions shall have b-err Ia
ken to secure the National FAITH aud the
National safety.
EIGHTH AS has been
port and in the evideuee suu.nijte'i. 81,
proof has been afforded to Congress Of a
constituency in any one of the so-caIl=d
Confederate States unless we except the