Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-12-07


stitution and the laws are enforced by q vigi-
liant and faithful Congress. Each house is
made the Judge of the elections, returns, and
qualifications OF its own MEMBERS" and may,
"wth the concurrence of two-thirds, expel
member" When senator or representative
presents his certificate of election, he may at
once be admitted or rejected or, should there
be any question as TO his eligibility, his creden-
tials may be referred for investigation to the APP
propriate committee. If admitted to a seat, it
must be upon evidence satisfactory to the house
of which he thus becomes a member, that he
possesses the requisite constitutional and legal
qualifications. If refused admission as mem
Der for want of due allegiance to the govern
ment, and returned to his constituents, they are
admonishcd that none but persons loyal to the
United States will be allowed a voice in the leg
islative councils Of the nation, and the political
power and moral influence of Congress are thus
effectively exerted in the interests of loyalty to
the Union. Upon this question. so vitality af
lecting the restoration Of the Union and the
permanency of our present form of govern
mcnt, my convictions, heretofore expressed
have undergone no change; but on the contra
ry, their correctness has been confirmed by re-
Election and time. If the admission of loyal
members to seats in the respective houses of
Congress was wise and cXpedient a year ago
it is no less wise and eXpedient now. If this
anomalous conditions right now--if in the ex-
act condition of these states at the present time
it is lawful to exclude them from representa-
tion, | do not see that the question will be
changed by the eilux of time. Ten years
hence if those states remain as they are, the
right of representation will be no stronger-the
right Of exclusion will be no weaker.
The constitution of The United States makes it the
duty Of the President to recommend to the considera
tion of Congress 'such measures rs he shall Judge
necessary or expedient" know of no measure more
| m demanded of M
tiona interest," sound policy, and equal justice than
the admission Of loyal members from the now unrep-
resented states This would consummate the work
of restoration, and exert most salutarY influence in
the reestabshmcnt of peace, harmony and frnternal
feeling. 1t would tend greatly to renew the conf
dence Of he American people in the vgor and sta
bilitv of their institutions. 1t would bind us more
closely together II nation, and enable Us to show to
| the world the inherent and recuperaive power of a
government founded upon the will of the people, and
established upon the principles of liberty, justice and
| intelligence. Our increased strength and enhanced
prosperity would irreiagaby demonstrate the allacy
Of the arguments Iainst fee institutions drawn from
recent national disorders by the enemies Of repub-
| lcan government The admission Of loyal members
from the states now excluded from Congress, bv al.
| laying doubt and apprehension, would turn capital,
now awaiting mn opportunity for Investment, into the
channels OF trade and industry. 1t would alleviate
the present troubled condition of those states and bv
| inducing emigration, aid In the settlement of fertile
| regions uncultiyated, and lead to an increased
| production of those staples which have added so
greatly to the wealth of the nation and the commerce
| of the world. New fields OF enterprise would be
opened to progressive people, and the devns-
taons Of war would be repaired aud all traces Of our
domestic differences cliuced from the minds Of our
| countrymen.
In our effort, to preserve "the unity of government
| which constitutes us people, by restoring the
states to the condition which they held prior to the
rebellion, should be cautious lest, having rescued
our nation from perls Of threatened dstegration we
resort to constellation and in the end absolute des-
| pOtism, rs Il remedy for the recurrence of similar
troubles. The war having terminated, and with it all
occasion for the exercise Of powers Of doubtful con
sttuunalitv, should hasten to bring legislation
within the boundaries prescribed by the constitution
and to return to the ancient landmarks established 10y
our fathers for the guidance Of succeeding genera
| tons. "rhe constitution which at any time exists
until changed by explicit and authentic act of the
whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon ALL" aft
in the opinion Of the people, the distribution mod
icatiun Of the constitutional powers be- in any par
ticular wrong, let it be corrected by amendment
in the way in which the constitution desenates. But
let there be change by usurpation; or' it is the
| customary weapon by which free governments arc
destroyed" Washington spoke these words to hi:
| countrymen when, followed by their love and graft
tude he voluntarily retired from the of public
life "ro keep in all things within the pale of oul
constitutional powers, and cherish the federal Union
rs the only rock of safety" were prescribed by jeff
rs rules of action to endear to his 'countrymer
the true principles Of their constitution and promote
Il union of sentiment and action equally auspcious tC
their happiness and safety" jackson held that the
action OF the general government should always be
strictly confined to the sphere of its appropriate du
ties, and justly and lorcbly urged that our govern
meut is not to be maintained our Union preserved
"by nvnsions Of the rights and lowers Of the
states. In thus attempting to make our general gov
ernment strong, make it weak. Its true strength
consists in leaving individuals and states much us
possible TO themselves; in making itself felt not in
its power but in its benecence; not IN its control
but in its protection; not in binding the states more
closely to the CENTRE but leaving each to move unob
structcd in its proper constitutional orbit" These
are the teachings of men whose deeds and services
have made them illusrious, and who long since with
drawn from the scenes Of life have lett to their coun
try the rich legacy of their example, their wisdom
and their patriotism. Drawing fresh inspiration from
their lessons, let us emulate them in love Of country
and respect for the constitution and laws.
TIE FINANCES.
The report Of the secretary of tie treasury affords
much information respecting the revenue and com
merce of the country. His views upon the currency
and with reference to proper adjustment of our
enue system, internal as well as impost, commend
cd to the careful consideration of Congress. In my
last annual message | expressed my general views
upon these subjects. need now only to call atten
ton to the necessity of carrying into every de
partment Of the government II system Of rigid nc
countability. thorough retrenchment and wise econ
omy With no exceptional nor unusual eXpendi
lures, the oppressive burdens Of taxation can b,
essened by such Il modification of our revenue
laws MS will be consistent with the public faith
and the legitimate and necessary wants Of the gov
eminent. The report presents IL much more salts
factory condition Of our finances than one year agt
the most sanguine could have anticipated. Durn;
t fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1865, the las
ear Of the war, the public debt increased SEAL,
902 537, and the 3lst Of October, 1865, it amoune,
to S2740 s54750. On the 3lst day of October, 1866
it had been reduced to S2i5l $1,000 the diminutol
during period of fourteen months, commencing Is
Sept, 1865, and ending Oct. 81 1866 having beei
S206 379 5U5. In the last annual report on the stat
of the finances, it estimated that during the three
quarters of the fiscal year ending the Both June last
the debt would be increased SIP, l94,9i7. Durin,
that PERIOD however, it reduced S3l l9G, 3s7 TIN
receipts OF the year having been Ss0,505 800 more
and the expenditures $500, 529,235 less than the est
mates. Nothing could more clearly Indicate than
these statements the extent and availability Of tn
national resources and the npidiy and safety witt
which, under form OF government, great military
and naval establishments can be disbanded, and eX
penses reduced from war to peace footing
During the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1866
the receipts sos 0S2 $50, and the expenditure
S52O75O940 leaving an available surplus OF S3T PSI,
$50. 1t is estimated that the receipts for the fscn
year ending the 30th June 1867 will be SAB $3.50
420,07s, leaving in the treasury surplus of Sl5s
,30S For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1868,
is estimated that the receipts will amount to S436
000,0O0 and that the expenditures will be S350247,
G4l-showng excess Of SS5752 $50 in favor OF tn
government. These estimated receipts may be d
minshed by reduction Of excise and import duties
but infer all necessary reductions shall have bee
made, the revenues Of the present and following year
will doubtless be sufficient to cover all legitimat
charges upon the treasury, and leave large annua
surplus to be applied to the payment OF the principa
OF the debt. There seems now to be no good reaso
vances in population and wealth. and yet the debt b
eXtingushed within the next quarter OF II century
I THE WAR DEPARTMENT
The report of the secretary of war furnishes vnlua