The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-04

the Constitution Of the United States.
All Of the States in which the insur-
rectiop had existed, promptly amend
ed their Constitutions so as to make
them conform to the great change
thus effected in the organic law of
the land; declared null and void all
ordinances and laws of secession. re-
pudiatcd all pretended debts and OBJ
legations created for the revolutiona-
Iy purposes of the insurrection, and
proceeded in good faith to the enact
men5 of measures for the protection
aud amelioration Of the condition of
the colored race. Congress, however,
yet hesitated to admit any of these
States to representation, and it was
not until towards the close of the
eighth month of the session that an
exception was made in favor of Ten
nessee, by the admission of her Sen
ators and Representatives [ deem
1t subject of profound regret that
Congress has thus far failed to admit
to seats, loyal Senators and Repre-
sentatives from the other States.
whose inhabitants, with those of Ten
nessee, had engaged in the rebellion.
Ten States, more than one-fourth Of
the whole number, remain without
representation. The seats of fftv
members in the House Of Represent
tatlves, and Of twenty members in the
Senate, are yet vacant. Not by their
own consent; not by failure of cleo
ton; but by the refusal of Congress
to accept their credentials. Their
admission, it is believed, would have
accomplished much towards the re-
moval and strengthening of our rela-
tlons as one people, and removed Sc
rious cause for discomfort on the part
of the inhabitants Of those States.
1t would have accorded with the
great principles enunciated in the
declaration of American independ-
cncc-that no people ought to bear
the burden Of taxation, and vet be
denied the right of representation.
1t wonld have been in consonance
with the express provisions of the
Constitution-that each State should
have at least one representative, and
that no State, without its consent,
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage
IN the Senate. These provisions were
intended to secure to every State, and
to the people Of every State, the
right of representation in each House
of Congress; and so important was it
deemed by the trainers of the Con-
stltutlon, athat the equality of the
States in the Senate should be pre-
served, that not even by an amend
mcnt OF the Constitution can any
State, without its consent, be denied
Il voice in that branch of the National
Legislature. 1t is true, it has been
assumed that the existence of the
States was terminated by the rebel
ious acts OF their inhabitants, and
that the insurrection having been
suppressed, they were thenceforward
to be considered merely as conquered
territories. The legislative, execu-
tive, and Judicial departments of the
Government have, however, with
great dlstlnctness and uniform con-
sistency. refused to sanction an
assumption so incompatible with
the nature OF our Republican system,
and with the professed objects of the
war, throughout the recent legislation
OF Congress, the undeniable fact
makes itself apparent, that these ten
political communities are nothing
less than States OF this Union. At
the very commencement of the rebel
lion, each House declared, with a
unanimlty rs remarkable as it was
significant, that the war was not
waged upon our part in any spirit of
oppression, nor Tor any purpose of
conquest or subjugation, nor purpose
OF oyerthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions
Of those States. but to defend and
maintain the supremacy of the Con
stitution, and all laws made in pur-
suance thereof, and to preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality
and rights of the several States unim-
paired; and that a. soon as these OBJ
jects were accon. ,)lished, the war
ought to cease. In some instances,
Senators We're permitted to continue
their Legislative functions, while in
other Instances, representative were
elected and admitted to their seats
after their States had formally de-
clared their right to withdraw from
the Union, and were endeavoring to
maintain that right by force of arms.
All Of the States whose people were
in insurrection as States, were in
cluded in the apportionment of the
direct tax of S20,O00,000 annually
laid upon the United States by the