The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-12-14

consent of the Senate, tho necessary
officers were appointed, and aprro.
priatiOns made by Co., gress for the
pay yment of their salaries. The pro-
position TO amend the Federal Consti.
tuition so as to prevent tho existence
Of slavery within the United States
or any place subject 10 their jurisdic-
tion, was ratified by the requisi 6
number Of States; and on the 18th
day of December, 1865, it was off
cially declared to have become valid
as n part of the Constitution Of the
United States. All of the States in
which tho insurrection had existed
promptly amended their Constitu-
tiOns, so IA TO make them conform to
rthe great change thus affected in the
organic law of the landj declared
null and void all ordinances and laws
of secession; repudiated all pretend
ed debts and obligations created for
the revolutionary purposes Of the in
surTeetion; proceeded, in good faith,
7 to the enactment Of measures for the
protection aud ameliOration Of the
condition Of the colored race. Con
gress, however, yet besitated TO ad.
nit any Of these States to represen-
tation; and it was not until toward
the close Of the eighth month Of the
session that nm exception was made
in favor Of Tennessee, by the admis-
Rioh of her Senator'S and Representa-
.ivea
deem it.a subject Of profound re-
greet that Congress has thns far failed
to admit 20 seats loval Senators and
Representatives 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-rcmain without
representation the seats Of fifty
members in the House Of Represen-
taliyes, and of twenty members in
the Senate, are yet vacant--not by
their own consent, not by failure of
election, but by the refusal Of Con-
gresS to accept their crcdentials-
Their admission, it is believed, wonld
have accomplished much towards the
renewal and strengthening OF onr re-
lalions ~ one people, and removed
serious cause for discomfort on the
part Of the ihhaNitanls Of those States.
Il would have accorded with thegrcat
principle euupeiated in the DeGlar
lion Of American Independence, that
hopeopIe ought 10 bear the burden Of
taxalion, and yet DO denied the right
of representation. IL would have
been in eonsonanee with the express
provisions Of the Constitution, that
:. each State shall at least have one
Representative" and "that no State,
without its consent, shall DO deprived
of its equal suffrage in the SENATE"
These provisions were intended to Sc
cure TO every State, and TO the Pco-
pie OF every State, the right Of rep
resentalion in each House OF Congress;
and so important was il deemed hJ
the framors of the & ~astitution that
the equality of the States iu the Sen
ate should be preserved, that not even
by an amendment of tue Constitution
can any State, without it's oobsent, be
denied a.voice in that branch of the
National Legislature. a r''' 'f'
THE OBJECTS or Tt1E WAR.
Il is true, it has been assumed that
the existence OF tho States WAS ter
minated by the rebelliOus acts OF heir
inhabltahts, and that the insureciipn
having been suppressed, they were
lhencef0rward 10 be considered mere.
I ly az conquered terTitories. The Leg
islatiye, executive and judicial de-
par.ments Of tho Government have,
however, with great distinclness a d
uniform consistency, refused to sane
lion an assumption so. Incompatible
with the nature Of our republican
system, and with the professed Oh
ieets Of the war. Throughoutthc re-
cent legislation Of Congress, the uh'
deniable fact makes itself apparent
| that these ten political commupitie'
arc nothing lsss than States OF thi'
Union. Az tho very commencement
of the rebellion, each House declared
with a uuanimily as remarkable as U
was significant, that the. war Was pot
a waged, upon our part, Ia any spirit
Of oppression, nor fir any purpose q
conquest or suhiugatioh, nor pirrpos'
of overthrowibg or interfering whl
the rights or established institution
of those States, but TO defend an'
maintain the supremacy Of the Con
slitution and all laws made IN purHu
ance thereof, aud to preserve III,
| Union with all tho dignity, equality
ani rights Of the several States M
impaired and that a. soon "a thes
ohjectst' swere accomplished ID
twar ought 10 eoaso," In some in
stances, Senator'S were permitted :
continue their Legislative funrtiou'
-whIlein otlibF instances Representa-
ftives were elected and admitted I
seats amer their States had formall.
declared fieif right 10 withdraw frQr
,ths Union, and were endeayoripg I
maintaii that right by force OF arni
. a -. $780,. - 80 s.naftIa - =