The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-15

by the trainers of the Constitution, that
the equality Of the States should be pre-.
served, that not even by an amendment
of the Constitution canany STATE withou'
its consent, bc denied voice in thal
branch Of the National Legislature. J.
is true, it has been assumed that the ex
istenne of the States was terminated "
rebellion and the acts OF their inhabitants.
aud that the insurrection having been
suppressed they were thenoeiorward 10
be considered merely as conquered terri
tory. The Legislative, Executive and
Judicial Departments Of the Government
have, however, with great distinctness
refused to sanction M assumption so in
compatible with the nature Of our Re
publican system aud the proiossed object
Of the war.
i Throughout the recent session OF Con
gress the undcniable fact makes itself ap-
parent that The ten political communities
are nothing less than States Of this tnion.
! At the very commencement Of the rebel
lion, each House declared, with Il unan-
| unity IA remarkable as il was significant.
that the war was not waged upon our side
in partisan spirit Of oppression, nor for
any purpose Of conquest or suhJugation.
nor fur the purpose Of oyerthrowing or
interfering with the rights or established
institutions If these States. but TO defend
, and hnin'ain the supremacy OF the Con
: stituiion aud all laws made in pursuanc
thereof aud 10 preserve the Union with
, all tile dignity. equality and rights Of the
.la.Var.,t &s,t..- Z fsf
snou as these objects were accmupii.he J
the war ought to cease In some instan-
ccs Senators were permitted to continue
/ their legislative functions. while in other
o instances Representatives were elected
/ aud admitted to seats after their States
had formally declared their right to with.
e draw from the Union. aud were cudcay-
: oring to maintain that right by force OF
. arms.
{ All Of The States whose people were in
- insursection a States. were included in
! the appor:ioument Of n direct tax oi
. twenty millions Of dollars annually laid
. upon the United States byan act arproy
% ed on the 9TH of August. 1861. Congress
J. by the act Of March 4'h. 1862 and by
= the apportionmcut oi representation there
under. also recognized their presence Il,
r States IN the Union aud thoy have for
Judicial purposes been divided into dis
ircts, as States alone can he divided
i The same recognition appears in the re
: cent legislation in relation to Tennessee
Z, which evidently rests upon the fact thai
c the functions Of the State wcra not de.
j stroyed by the rebellion. but merely sas
4 pended and that principle is Of course 4,
II applicable to those States which. Ike
j Tennessee attempted to rcnouncc thcii
place in the Union.
j The action Of the Executive Depart
y mcnt Of the Government upon this sub
+ icct has been equally definite and uni
II form, and the purpose Of the war wa
u stated in the proclamation issued by ml
;. predecessor on the 22d dar of September
!. 1862. II was then solemuly declared an,
i proclaimed that hereafter. a. heretofore
: the war will be prosecuted f,r the obicc
r Of practically restoring the Constitu'iona
= relations between the United States an,
/ each Of the States and the people thereof
q in which States that relation is or may b,
o susrcndcd "r disturbed
: The recognition Of the States bv tn,
+ Judicial department of the Govcrnmcn
: has also been clear and conclusive in nj
, it's proceedings affecting them as States
e and in the Supreme, Circuit and Distric
Courts. In the admission of Senator
II and Representatives from any aud all o
: the States, there can be no ju-t ground
d Of apprehension that persons who ar
= disloyal will be clothed with the powers @
! legislation; for this could not happier
II when the Constitution and the laws ar,
d controlled by n vigilant aud faithful Con
e @rcss. Each House il made he Judge O
II the election returns and qualifications o
n its own members. and may with the con
/ currcnce Of two-thirds expcl member
o When a Senator or Repreeentative pre-
r sGEts his certificate Of election. he may n
d once be admitted or rejected. or shout,
If there be any question as to his eligibilit.
Is his credentials may be referred for inves
/ tigation to the appropriate committee, an'
Il If admitted to a seat, il must be upon cvi
1t dence satisfactory to the House Of whicl
J. he thus becomes a member. that he pos
d scss the right Constitutional and lcga
qualifications. If refused admission "A
l. member for want OF due allegiance to th
D, Government, and returned to his constitu
Jf ents, they are adm0nished that none bu
< persons loyal to the United States will b
c, allowed voice in the legislative council
I'd Of the nation, and the political power an
moral influence Of Congress arc thus 81
ct fectiveIy exerted in the interests of loya
it ty to the Government and fidelity to tn
es Union.
:. Upon this question, so vitally affectin
IN the restoration OF the Union and the PEI
IN manency of our present form of Govern
e ment, my convictions heretofore expresse
ne have undergone no change, but on tn
OF contrary their correctness has been cor
rs frIned by reflection and time. If the aC
'y mission of loyal members to seats in tn
Of respective Houses of Congress was wis
IS and expedient year ago, it is no les
IS wise and expcdient now. IF this anon;
H. lous condition is right now, and if, in tn
I'd exact condition Of these States at tn
ne present time it is lawful to exclude ther
or from representation, / do not see that tn
ts question will be changed by the efTiux {
I'd time ten years hence.
in Ii these States remain as they are, tn
d. right of representation will Je no longer
le the right of exclusion will be no weake
le The Constitution of the United State
We makes it the duty of the President to RI