The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-01

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When the rebellion in Massachusetts,
was uttdown, did that put Massaehu-
setts out of the Union and destroy the
State? When the rebellion in Pennsyl-
vania was put down, did that destroy the
State and put it out of the Union? So
when the recent great rebellion was put
down, the Constitution and the laws of
the country restored the States engaged
In it. The rebellion being crushed, the
law restored and the Constitution ac-
knowledged in them, they stand in the
Union constellation part of the glorious
and bright galaxy of the States. Loud
cheers
In passing through this ordeal what
has been done in them under the direc-
ton of my lamented predecessor? We
commenced the work of reparation. We
succeeded, before came here, in rcstor-
ing the relations which had existed be-
tween Tennessee and the rest Of the Union
with one exception, and that was the re-
lation of representation.
came to Washington, and, under ex-
traordinary circumstances, succeeded to
the Presidential chair. The Congress of
the United States had adjourced without
prescribing any plan. then proceeded,
as | had done in my own State, in the
reconstruction of the Government, and 30
restore the other States. And how did
we begin? We found that the people had
no Courts, and we said to the Judges,
District Attorneys and Marshals, 90 down
and hold your Courts, for the people need
the tribunals of justice to be opened. =
Was there anything wrong in that? The
Courts were opened What else? We
looked out and saw that the people down
there had no mails. They had been in
! tsrrnpted and cut off by the operations
of the rebellion. We said to the Post
master General: Let the people have ia
cilities for mail communication, and let
them again begin to understand, what we
all feel and think, that we are one people.
We looked out again and saw that there
was blockade; that the custom houses
were all closed. We said: Open the doors
of the custom houses and remove the
blockade; let the pursuits of peace go on;
and it was DONE. We thus travelled on,
step by step, opening custom houses, ap-
pointing collectors, establishing mail fa-
cilities and restoring all the relations that
had been interrupted by the rebellion.
Was there anything undertaken to be
done here that was not authorized by the
Constitution, that was not justified by the
great necessity of the case, that has not
been clearly consonant with the Constitu-
ton, with the generous spirit of cur Gov
ernment? Cheers What remained to
be done? One other thing remained to
show the civilized world that we had pass
ed successfully through the third ordeal
of our National existence, and prove that
our Government was perpetual. A great
principle was to be restored which was
established in our Revolution
When our fathers were conteneine
against the power of Great Britain, wha,
was one of the principal causes of their
complaint ltwas that they we're denied
presentation. They complained of tax
alton without representation. One Of the
great principles laid down by our fathers
and which fred their hearts, was thai
there should be no taxation without rep
resentation. :
How, then, does the matter stand? WIZ
/ has been usurping power? Who has beel
defeating the operation of the sConstitu
tion, aud what now remains to be done t
complete the restoration of these State
to all their former relations under th
Federal Government and to finish tn
great ordeal through which we have beel
passing2 1t is to admit representation
Tcheers, and when we say admit repre-
sentation what do we mean? We meal
representation in the Constitutional ant
law abiding sense which was united a
the beginning of the Government. Th
Constitution declares in express term
that each House, the Senate and Hous
Of Representatives, each acting for itself
shall be the judge Of the returns ,electlol
disqualification of Its own members. !
is for each House to settle that question
under the Constitution and under the sol
emn sanction of an OATH And can W
; believe that either House would admi
any member into its body, to participat
in the legislation of the country, who wa
!, not qualified? They have the power, ne
the two Houses, but each House for il
SELF Els
The Constitution further declares thi
no State shall be deprived Of its equ'
). suffrage in the Senate of the Unite
!. States without its consent. Where do "
stand? All that is needed to finish Il
4 great work Of restoration is for the tW
! Houses, respectively, to decide the que
!, ton. eeas @ia1s o e.
i Oh, but some one will say, trait,
+ might come in. The answer to that
IS that each House must be judge, and if
|, traitor presents himself [ cannot help Il
House to know that he is traitor, and
/ he is traitor can they not kick him O.
q of the door aud send him back, saying
. the people who sent him: ou must sci
!. US loyal man." [Cheers. Is the
i any difficulty about that2 lNo, no, al
Ye cheers.
I'll IF traitor presents himself to eth
te House, cannot that House say to hi
D. mo, you cannot be admitted into th
l. body; go back; we will not deny your pc
pie the right of representation, but tn
id must send a loyal representative
S? Cheers. aH sa F.
Sc q And when the States do send 10y
l. lrenresentatives can Won have any betl