Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-24
returns, and qualifications Of your own mem.

and qualific ations OF its members belong TO
each House OF Congress may have his doubt
removed by the Federal Constitution. which
declares in the fifth section OF the first article
that "each House shall be the Judge of the cleo
Yons. returns. and qualifications OF Its own
members" In thus distinctly recognizing the
constitutional right ofeach House of Congress TO
Judge OF the elections, returns, and QualiAca-
tons of its own members, the President has
conformed to the plain letter of the Constitu-
ton. 1t being the function of each House 10
Judge of the election returns and qualifications
OF its own members, the obligation implied
OF taking testimony, weighing evidence and
deciding the question OF membsrship. What
testimony has been taken. or what evidence
has been presented on the question 10 either
branch Of Congress, or what judgment will be
given, IL not known 10 me; nor have the
right OF inquiring for neither the right nor the
duty OF deciding Is devolved upon me. But
the course of the President in thus referring
the question ofit own members 10 the Judgment
Of each House of Congress receives and con-
tinues 10 receive my cordial support.
Besides the steps taken by the Executive 20
restore the constitutions al relations of the States
his annual message called the attention Of { on
gress 10 the necessity of insurlnE the security
OF the freedmen; reminding Congress that
while he had no doubt that the General Gov
ernment could extend the elective franchise
''lt rs equally clear thar good falth require he
security of the freedmen in their liberty and
their property, their right 70 labor. and their
right 10 claim the inst return Of their labor
and observing further that 1.-The country y in
neeG OF labor and the freedmen are an need of
employment. culture. and protection In con-
necilon with this snbiect rh" Prcsid-l, further
remarks.
.'Slave-y was essentially q monopoly OF Ia
hor. and a such, locKed tie ~tat.- where IL
reNailed against rhe incOmin. OF free indus
Try. W here labor was TIE proper = q. tLn capi-
fdllst the white man WAS excluded from en-
p!oyment, or had bur the second brsu caan 20
Of finding II, and the foreign rmigrant Turned
away from the region where his condition
would be 30 precalIOus. With rhe destructlon
OF the monopoly. free LABOR viii hasten from
all parts Of the civilized world 10 assist in de-
yeloping various and immeasurable resources
which have hitherto lain dormant. The eight
or nine States nearest the Gulf Of Mexico have
soil Of eXubeTanI fertility. a climate friendly
10 long life. and can sustain denspr popuia-
uOn han is found vet IG any part of our
country. And the future influx of population
To them will b. mainly from the Norm. or from
the most cultivated nations Ia Europe
These views OF the President in relation 10
the freedmen received. and continue TO receive.
my hearty concurrence. They have guided
the action OF the War Department. and were
substantially advocated in its annual report
In what believed an honest desire TO conform
20 them, bill was passed by Congress regr-
latIng the Frredmen's Bureau: but the proyi-
sions OF the bill die not meet the Presidents
approval, because he believed the powers con-
fe-red upon him and upCu he agents 70 be an
pointed 10y him 20 be unwIse aud uncoastlru-
uonal. Concurring in the object Of the bill.
and regarding the power temporary, and
safe IN his hands. ad iSPd lis approval But
having been returned 20 Congress with the
Presidents objections. and having failed the
u -
uIe. nor the subject Of debate or difference of
opinion.
Another Congressional measure. called the
civil rights bull, has been the subject of con-
hiCt. That bill, now law. has for its oblect
the security OF civil rights in the insurrec.
tlopary States. II WAS well observed by the
President, In his annual message, that s.Dsrcc-
JUt em'9rdten 10 and ! rom thdt portion of the
country THE Southern .StdteS) IS one Of tL; beS,
means that can be thought OF for the restoration
OF harmony" Its possible Interference with
such emigration was one of the chief objections
10 military ruiz: and bv some Il was thought
that the influence of class legislation in favor
OF the slayeholding monopoly heretofore exist
ing in the southern States would stilI no
strongly eXerted 10 prevent peaceful emig-a-
non into those States, and would exclude the
~ RSRna6n .S Of shs na Nsra .TSn shss sa.l
that productive region embracing the eight or
nine States nearest the Gulf of Mexico, and
that hence civil rights IN those States should
he vlgIlantly protected by Federal laws and
FEDERAL tribunals. Although the measures
enacted by Congress for this purpose failed 10
receive the Executive sanction. vet hayInr
been adhered 10 by two thirds vote in each
house, they have now passed TO the statute
book ard ceased to be the subject of debate
Another measure or series of measures of
prime importance. now pending before Con-
gress, merits brief remark, viz: The plan of
restoration or reconstruction. as IL is some-
times called. To the plan reported by the
JOINT Committee have not been able 10 give
my assent. II contemplates an amendment TO
the Federal Constitution, the third section of
the proposed article being in these terms:
'Sec. 3. Until the fourth day Of July, i'm the
year one thousand eight hundred and serenity, all
persons who voluntarily adhered to the late
lnsurrection, giving il aid and comfort, shall be
erctuded from the right to vote for representa-
tlves in Congress, and for electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United Staies'
1t is urged by the advocates OF this plan that
this third section is the vital one, without
winch the others are of no value. Its exclu-
slve action will no doubt commend il to the
feelings Of many as a wise and Just provision
But am unable so TO regard il, because for
four years il binds Congress to exclude from
voting for representatives for Presidential cleo
tors ''all persons who voluntarily adhered TO
the late insurrecton, giving il aud and COM
fort" No matter what may be the condition
OF the country, nor what proofs OF present and
future loyalty may be given, an absolute con-
stitutonal bar is to be erected for four wears
against large class of persons. Change of
circumstances and condition often work rapid
ehange in party or political sentiment and
nowhere with more marked results than in the
South. Ii Is believed that elements Of change
are now at work there, stimulating on one side
10 loyalty, and on the other tending 10 con-
unued hostile feelings. In my Judgment every
proper incitement to Union should be fostered
and cherished; and for Congress to limit it's
own power, by constitutional amendment, for
ihe period OF four years, might be deplorable
In its result To those who differ, accord the
same honesty, and perhaps greater wisdom
than can claim for myself As the proposed
plan now stands 1 am unable 10 perceive the
necessity, justice or wisdom of the measure:
but baving no place or voice in the body before
which the measure is pending, L disclaim any
purpose to interfere beyond the expression Of
my own opinion.
Having thus declared my views, as they
have heretofore been declared 10 those who
had a right 70 know them, on the material
questions that have lately arisen, or are now
pending, trust that your purpose on this oc-
casion 10 answered, and shall he glad IL their
expression may have any beneficial influence
on questions the right disposition whereof is n
matter Of solicitude 10 every patriotic man
and is deeply important 10 the peace and tran.
guilty Of the Union. RECOGNIZING the con-
stituuonai power OF all the Coordinate
diciaI, and executive-and entertaining Tor
each the respect which is due from every loyal
citizen, they are entitled to and shall receive.
according 10 my beet judgement the support
which Is required by that Constitution which,
afer an nDexampled conflict, has been upheld
and sanciifed by Divine favor and through
the sacrifice Of so much blood and treasure.
The serenadiag party next proceeded 70 the
residence OF Postmaster General Denpison,
who. after repeated calls, appeared, aud spoke
as follows: