North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-12-12

! ,States. , 1t wonid have accorded with the
great principle enunclated in the Declara-
tIon Of American independence, that no
people ought to bear the burden OF taxation,
and yet be deDied the right of representa-
ton, II would have been in consonance
/. withthe express provisions of The Constitu-
ton, that .'earh State shall have at least
one Representative" and "that no State,
without its CONSENT, shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate These pro-
visions were intended to secure TO every
State, and 10 the people of every State, the
right of representation in each House OF
Congress and so important was It deemed
I bv the trainers Of the Constitution that the
equality of the States in the Senate should
he preserved. that not even by an amend
mcnt Of the Constitution can any State.
without its consent, be denied "A voice IN
THAT branch of the National Legislature.
II IL true, it has been ASSUMED that the
existence of the States was terminated by
the rebeflionS acts of their inhabitants. and
that the iusurrecton having been suppress
ed. they We're thencefDrward to be con-
sidered merely as Conquered territories -
The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Departments OF the Government liav :,
however, with great di<iinctness ard uni-
form consistency, refused to sanction an
Assumption 80 incompatible with the nature
of our republican system. and with tile pro-
| ftssrd Objects of the war Throughout the
recent Legislation of Congress, the unienla-
BILE fact makes itself apparent, that these
| IIsSs
than States of this Union. AT the very
commencement of the rebellion, each House
declared, with aunanlrnity as remarkable
AS it was sitnifirant, that the war was not
waged, up"n orr part, in any spirit OF op :
presslon, nor for any purpose "f conquest
or >ubjugaIion, nor purpose of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or esfab-
lished institutions of those States, but T."
defend and maintain the supremacy Of the
Constitution and all laws made in pursn-
aucc thersof, and TO preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and rights OF
The several States nnimpair'd; and that
aS soon a. these obi -cts were Accomplish
ed the war ought 10 Cease" In some in
Stances Senators were permitted TO contin-
1
Instances Representatives wei elected and
admitted to Seats after their States lls for
maI!y declared their right to withdraw from
;he Union, aud were eudeavorng TO main
tain that right by force of aims. All "fthe
States whose people We're la insurrectiou,
rs States, were included in the apporton-
ment -ot the direct tax of twenty millions
Of dollars annually laid upon the United
States by the act approved 9th August,
1861 Congress, by the art of March 4tf,
1861, and by the apporiionment Ofrepre-
senla,ion hereunder also recognized their
presence a. States in tie Union; aud they
liave, for judicial purposes, been diYid,d
into districts, AS States alone can be divided.
The same recognition APPEARS in the recent
legislation in reference 10 Tennessee, which
pvidentl, rests upon the factthat the func-
lions Of the state we've not destroyed By
rl,e rebellion. but merely suspended; and
that principle is of course applicable to
those States, which, like Tennessee,
tempted to renounce their places in the
Union. - l...a....
The action Of the Executive Department
the Government upon this snblect has
: heen equally d finite and uniform, and tn
purpose of the war was specifically stated in
the Proclamation issued by my predecessor
: on the 22d day Of September 1862. 1t was
then solen My proclaimed and declared that
thereafter, as heretofore, the war will be
prosecuted for the Object of practically re-
storing the constitutional relation between
the United States and each If the States aud
the people thereof, in which States that re-
Iaton is or may be suspended or disturb
ed"
The recognition If the States by the Ju-
dical Department of the Government has
also been clear and conclusive in all pro-
ceedings affecting them a. States, had il
the Supreme, Cncu.t aud District Courts
In the admission of fSeuators and Repre-
sentatiyesfrom ary and all of the States
there can be no just ground of apprehen
sion that persons who are disl"yAl will ht
, clothed with the powers Of legislation fol-
This could not happen WHEN the Constitu
ZION aud the jaws are enforced BY v'gi
tant aud faithful Congress. q Each house /;
male the Judge of the elections, returns
and qualifications of its own m mbers," anc
NAV, with the concurrence of two-lhirds
expel member" When Senator o.
: Representative presents his certificate Of
election, he may at once be admitted or re
,rctrd: or should there BE- any question a
ID lis eligibility, his credentials may be re
: t,rr.d for investigation to the appropriate
committee. IfaGm;;::ied to seat, 1t mus
= be npon evidence satisfactory TO tue slous
of which he thus becomes member, tha
he possesses the requisite constitutional
! aud legal qualifications. If refused admas
I sion as member for want of due allegian
to the Government, and returned to hi
!, constituents, they are aimnnished tha
i none but persons loyal to the United State
9 will be allowed voice in the Legslatlv
Councils of the nation, and the politics
i | ,,,~r and moral influence nf GnnureSS ar