The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-12-07

the night " representation IA CAch hvust on
Congress; and 80 important was it deemed by
the frnmcrs of the Constitution, that the cqulli-
~ of the States in the Senate should be prcseff-
ed that not even by an amendment OF the Con- .
stitution can any state, without It's consent be
denied a vote ia that branch OF the National f
Legislature.
Ii is true, it has been assumed that the exist
once of the states was terminated by the rcbel- F
lous acts of their inhabitants, and that the in-
surrcction having boon suppressed, tAcy were f
thonccforward 10 be considered merely as con-
qucrod territories. The Legislative, Executive, .
aud Judicial Departments of the Government /
have, however, with great distinctucss and ami /
form consistency, refused o. sanction am as-
sumption so incompatible with the nature of our
republican system, aud with the profcsscd OBJ
jccts of the war. Throughout the recent Log
isiation of Congress, the undeniab'c fact makes
itself apparent, that these ten political commu-
mites are nothing less than States of this Union.
At the very commencement OF the rebellion, each
House declared, with n unanimity as rcinarka-
bic as il was significant, that the war was not
''wagcd upon oar part, IN any spirit Of oppres
sion, nor for any purpose of conquest or suhiu-
CATION nor for the purpose OF ovefthrowing or
interfering with the rights or established insti-
buttons Of those States but % defend and main-
tain the supremacy of the Cons tuition. and all
the laws made IN pursuance thereof, and to pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity, equality.
and rights Of the several States unimpaircd
and That as soon these objects were " ac-
complishcd the war ought TO cease In some
instances, Senators were permitted TO continue
their legislative functions, while in other IN /
stances representatives were elected and adj
mittcd TO scata after their states mad formally
declared then right to withdraw from the Union.
and were endcaVoiing to maintain that right 10y
force OF arms. Al of the States whose people
were in insurTcctOu. as states, ,roro included in
the appoitionmont OF the direct tax VI twenty
millions Of dollars annually land upon me Oil,-
ed states. by the act approved 9th OF August,
1861. Congress by the act Of March f. 1862,
and by the apportionmeut hereunder, also re-
coguizod their presence as States in the Union,
and they have. for judicial purposes, been divid-
ed into Districts as States alone can bee divided,
The same recognition appears In the recent lcg-
islation inrcferoncc to Tennessee, which evil
IDENTIFY rests upon the fact that Che functions of
the state were not destroyed by the rebellion,
but merely suspended; and that principle is Of
course applicable TO those States, which, like
Tennessee, attempted to ronounce their places
in the Union.
Tho action Of the Executive Department. of
the Government upon this subject, has been
equa lly definite ana uniform and the purpose
OF the war was specifically stated in the Proc
lamation issued hy my predecessor on the 22d
day OF September, 1862, 1t was then solemnly
proclaimed and declared that hereafter, as
heretofore the war viii be prosecuted for the
object Of practically restoring the constitutional
relation between the United States and each of
the States and the people thereof, in which
States that relation If or may be suspended or
disturbed
T.
Department of the Government has also been
clear and conclusive in al proceedings affecting
them as States. had III the supreme, Circuit and
District Courts
In the admission Of Senators and Representa-
tiycs from any and all of the States there can be
no just ground of apprehension that persons
who are disOyal Will be clothed with the pow
ers OF legislation; for this could not happen
when the Constitution and the laws are entoi C.
ed hv "A Vigilaui and faithful Congress- Each
7 81 Ha no md pf Ia. III
turns aud qualifications of its own members
and may, with the concurrence OF twu-thirds,
cxpel n member" When a Senator or Repre-
sentative presents his certificate of election, be
may at once be admitted or rejected: or
should there be any question az TO his ehgibili
ty, his credentials may be referred for nyestiga-
ton to the appropriate committee. Ii admitted
, to q scat, II must be upon evidence satisfactory
to the House of which he thus becomes a mem
Der, that he possesses the requisite constitution
al and legal qualifications. Urefuscd admission
MS 4 member, for want Of due allegiance to tho
Government, and returned TO his constituents
they are admonishcd that none but persons
loval to the United states will be allowed voice
in the Legislative Councils of the Nation, ano
the political power and moral influence of Con
gross are thus effectively cXorted in the interests
of loyalty to the Government and fidelity 10 tho
Union and the pCrmancncy of our present form
OF Government, my convictions. heretofore cX.
pressed, have undergone no change; but OF
the cOitrary, their correctness has been confirm
E 1
loyal members 70 seats III the respective House
1 of Congress was wise and cxpedient wear ago
II Is no less wise and oXpedient now 1t this an
omalous condition is right nav it, in the oXac
condition of THESE States at the present time. i
Is lawful to exclude them from representation
do not see that the question will De changed By
the citiuX of time. Ten years hence. il the9
States ROMAN as they are, the right ofreprosen
tation viii be no stronger tho right of exclusion
will be no weaker.
-. CO.
it the duty of the President to recommend t.
the consideration of Congress ''such measure
as lac shall judge necessary or cIpedcrt.H
know Ofno measure more inlperatlYcly demand
ed by every consideration Of national interest
sound policy, and equal Justice, than the admis
sion of loyal members from the now nrcprC
scented States. This would consummatc tn
work OF restoration, and exert most saiutar
! influence in the re-establishment o. peace, hal
mony and fraternal feeling. IL would ten
greatly TO renew the confidence Of the America
people IN the Vigor and stability OF their ius.ltr
tons. lt would bind us more closely togctlC
/, as nation, and enable us to show to the worl
the inherent and rccuperatye power of Coy
eminent founded upon the will of the poopl,
and established upon tho principles of liberty
: justice, and intelligence. Our increased strengt
and enhanced prosperity would irrefragabiy de
mopstrate the fallacy IF the arguments again
: free institutions drawn from our recent nation;
. disorders by the enemies of republican govern
ment The admission of loyal members froi
the states, now excluded from Congress, by a
! laying doubt and apprehension, would turn cal
ltal, now awaiting an opportunity for inyestmeI
. into the channels of trade and industry. Ii woul
alleviate the present troubled condition of thos
States. and by inducing emigration, and in III
settlement of fertile regions now uncultvatc,
:; and load to an increased production of thos
: staples which have added so greatly to ii
wealth of the nation and the commerce of I'll
y world New fields Of enterprise would be opcno
to our progressive people, and soon the deyai
. tatlons OF war would be repaired, and all trace
. OF our domestic differences cffaccd from Oh
: minds OF Onr countIymon.
In our efforts 10 preserve the unity of til
Government which constitutes MS one people
. by restoring the States to the condition whc
: they held prior to the rebellion, we should I
1 cautious. lest having rescued our nation frol
2 consolidation. and in tine end absolute dospotisi
rs remedy for the recurrence of similar trout
. les. The war having terminated, and with il a
: occasion for the exercise of powers of doubtfl
cOnstitutionality, we should hasten to bring lea
. lslatiOn within the boundaries prescribed bv III
Constitution, and return TO the ancient Ian,
!, marks established by our fathers for our gui,
I, ance OF succeeding generations. The Constitl
! ton when az any time exists, until changed |
- m explicit and authentic act of the whole PEI
!, PIE, Is sacrodly obligatory to all. If, in IL
~ opinion OF the people, the distribution or mod
a heatlon of the constitutional powerH be- in al
i particular, wrong, let II be corrected by a
W amendment IN tho way in which the Constiti
- ton deslgnates. But let there be no change |
" usnrpaton; for II Is the customary weapon |
N winch iree governments are destroyed. Wesl
- ington spoke these words to his countrymo
y when, followed by their love and gratitude,
~ voluntarily retired nom the cares of pubic If
- TO keep in All things within tho pale of OF
!, constitutional powers and cherish the FEEDER
:, Union NJ the only rock of safety" were Or