The Van Buren press., 1866-12-14

. which, Ike tennessee, attempted 10 rcnOuncl
= their places in the Union.
The action of the Executive Department OF
. the Government upon this subject has been
equally definite and uniform. aud the purpos,
: OF the war was specifically stated in the proc
: lamation issued by my predecessor on the 22d
, day OF September 1862. IL WAS then solemn
IL proclaimed and declared that thereafter as
!, heretofore the war will be prosecuted for the
, object of practically restoring the Constitu-
tional relation between the nitcd States and
each of the States and the people thereof In
which that relation is or may De suspended OF
disturbed" The recognition of the States by
the judicial department of the Government
has also been clear and conclusive in all pro-
cecdings affecting them as States had ia the
Supreme, Circuit and District Courts. In the
admission of Senators and Representatives
i from any aud all of the states there can be
Il no just grouna vi apprehension that persons
TnO are dslOyal will be clothed with the pow
ers of station, for this could not happen when
the constitution and laws are enforced by a
yigilant and faithful Congress. Each House
is made the Judge Of the election returns and
| qualification OF its own meIubcrs, and may
! with the concurrence Oftwo thirds eXpcl u
member When a Senator or Representa-
! tive presents lis certificate of election he may
at once be admitted or rejected; or should
! there be any question as To his eligibility. his
/ credentials may be referred for investigation
| to tho appropriate committee. III admitted to
| Il seat it must be upon evidence satisfactory
| to the House of which he thus becomes a
member that he possesses the requisite Con
stitutional and legal qualifications. If refused
admission as a member, for want OF due allie
| glance to the Government, and returned to
his constituents, they are admonished that
none but persons loyal to the United States
will be allowed a voice in the legislative coun-
ellis of the Nation, and the political power
and moral influence of Congress are thus ef-
fectually eXerted in the interests of loyalty to
the Government and fidelity to the UniOB.-
| Upon this question, 50 vitally affecting the
restoration of the Union, and the permanency
of our present form of ofgovernment, my con-
| yictiOns heretofore expressed have undergone
no change, but, on the contrary, their cor
rectneSs has been confirmed by reflection and
time. Ifthe admission of loyal members to
seats in the respective houses ofCongress was
| wise and eXpedient year ago, it is no less
wise and eXpedient now. IL this anomalous
condition is right; If in the exact condition
ofthese States at the present time it is lawful
| to exclude them from representation, | do not
see that the question will be changed by the
eilluX Of time. Ten years hence, if these
States remain as they are, the right of repre-
sentation will be no stronger and the right of
!
| ton of the United States makes it the duty of
| the President to recommend to the consdera-
| ton of Congress such measures as he shall
judge necessary and eXpedient | know of
| no measure more imperatively demanded by
! every consideration of national interest. sound
| policy and equal justice than the admission of
! LOYAL members from the unrepreSested States.
| This would consummate the work of restora-
ton and exert most salutary influence in
| the re-establiShment of peace. harmony and
| fraternal feeling. 1t would tend greatly to
renew the confidence ofthe people in the vig-
or and stability of their institutions. 1t
would bind us more closely together as ma
| ton. and enable Us to show to the world the
inherent and recuperatiye power of Govern
ment founded upon the will of the people and
established upon the principles of liberty,
| justice and intelligence. Our increased
strength and inhanced prosperity would ir-
! reiragably demonstrate the fallacy of the ar
| guments against free institutions drawn from
! our recent national disorders by the enemies
of our Republican Government. The admis-
! sion of loyal members from the States now
| excluded from Congress. by allayin9 doubt
! and auDrphAnsian, -ro,.Ia vapfttI now
awaiting an opening for Investment. into the
| channel Of trade and industry. It would al
| lcyiate the present troubled condition Of these
states, and by inducing emigration, aid in
| settlement ofthe fertile regions now unculti-
| waited, and lead to an increased production of
! those States 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 our progressive people, and soon
the devastations ofwar would be repaired and
all traces ofour domestic differences ellaced
| from the minds OF our cOuntrymCn.
! IN our efforts to preserve the unity of GOV
| ernment which constitutes Us one people, by
restoring the States to the condition which
! they held prior to the rebellion we should be
cautions lest, having rescued our nation from
pcrils of threatened diSintegration we resort
to consolidation, and in the end absolute des-
| potism, as n remedy for the recurrence of sim
liar troubles. The war having terminated
and with it all occasion for the exercise of
powers of doubtful constitutionality. we
! should hasten to bring legislation within the
| boundaries prescribed by the Constitution and
to return to the ancient landmarks established
by our fathers for the guidance of succeeding
| generations. The Constitution which at any
time exists, until changed by an explicit and
authentic act OF the people is sacredly obliga-
tory upon all and it, in the opinion of the
people, distribution or modification ofthe con-
! stitutiona powers be in any particular wrong,
let it be corrected by an amendment, in the
| way in which the Constitution designates.-
| But let there be no change by usurpaton, for
this is the custom by which free governments
are destroyed. Washington spoke these words
to his countrymen when, followed by their
love and gratitude, he voluntarily retired
froa the cares of public life. To keep in all
things within the pale Of our constitutional
powers and cherish the Federal Union as the
only rock of safety were prescribed by jeff
erson as rules of action to endear to his coun-
trymen the true principles of their Constitu-
ton and promote union of sentiment and
action, equally auspcious to their happiness
and safety. Jackson held that the action of
the General Government should always be
strictly confined to the sphere of its appropri-
ate duties, and justly and forcibly urged that
our Government is not to be maintained, nor
our Union preserved by invasions of the
| rights and powers of the several States. In
thus attempting to make our General Govern
ment strong. we make 1t weak Its true
/ strength consists in leaving individuals and
States as much as possible, to themselves: in
making itself felt, not in its power, but in its
benehcence; not in its control, but in its pro-
lection not in binding the States more closely
to the centre, but leaving each to move unmo-
Tested in its proper constitutional orbit.
These are the teaching of men whose deeds