The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-12-05
Presidents Message.

From special Dispatch to the Chicago
Daily Times of Dec. Sd, we clip the main
,ortions of the message. We shall probaa
by print it in full next week. Mr.. John
ION adheres firmly to his restoration poll
", insists upon the admission of the south
,rn members; says Great Britain has
lone nothing in the Alabama pirate case,
Dut things look favorable. France has
not yet removed her troops from Mexico,
put will in the spring. Gen. Sherman
,ocs to Mexico with Minister Campbell
only as a distinguished guest.
The message opens as usual with thanks
to Providence for peace and prosperity, in
the abatement of the pestilence, and the
restoration of civil authority throughout
the United States.
RESTORATION.
A review is then to be had of the facts
set forth in the last message, relative to
the measures which the executive had ia
ken for the gradual restoration of the
southern states to the union, such as APP
pointing provisional governors, etc. Only
one thing then remained, the message says,
to be done, and that was the admission of
loyal representatives to congress. In the
the president, says, no other
plan having been proposed, he continued
his efforts to perfect restoration through
the judicial, revenue and postal system of
the country. The south had also ratified
the amendment abolishing slavery, con-
formed their social laws to the fact; repu-
dated the rebel debt, and proceeded, in
good faith, to lcgislatc for the amelioration
of tho colored race. The president then
speaks as follows: "Congrcss, however,
yet hesitatcd to admit any Of these states to
representation, and it was not until the
close of the eighth month of the session
that an exception was made in favor of
Tennessee. | deem it subject of pro-
found regret that congress has thus far
failed to admit to seats loyal senators and
representatives from the other states,
where the inhabitants, with those of Ten
ncssee, had engaged in rebellion. Ten
states-morc than onc-fourth of the whole
number-remain without representation.
The seats of fifty members of the house,
and twenty Of the senate, are yet vacant
not by their own consent not by fail
urc of election, but by the refusal of con-
gress to accept their credentials. Their
admission, it is believed, would have ac-
comp! sh I'd much towards the renewal and
Strengthening of our relations as one peo-
pie, and removed serious cause for discon-
tent on the part of the people of those
states. 1t would have accorded with the
great principles enunciatcd in the dcclara-
<;o,, oc ,oori,on splopopIo,oo that M
people ought to bear the burden of taxa
ton and yet be denied the right of repre-
sentation. 1t would have been in conso-
nance with the express provisions of the
constitution, that each state shall have at
least one representative, and that no state,
without it's consent, shall be deprived of
equal suffrage in the senate. These pro-
visions were intended to secure to every
state the right of representation in con-
gress, and SO important was it deemed by
the trainers of the constitution that the
equality of the states shall be preserved in
the senate, that not even by an amend
ment of the constitution can any state,
without its consent, be denied voice in
that branch of national legislation. 1t has
been assumed that these states, by rebel
lion, became territories but all depart
ments of the government, with great dis
tinctness, refused to sanction an assump-
ton so incompatible with the nature Of our
republican. system, and the professcd OBJ
.jects of the war. Throughout the recent
legislation OF congress, the undeniable fact
makes itself apparent that these ten politi-
cal communities are nothing less than
states."
The president then quo te' the Crittcn-
den resolution of 1861, on the objects of the
war, and reviews the legislation of con-
gress, wherein the states are recognized !;
and also in Mr.. Lincoln's proclamation
lie then proceeds again, as follows: ''ln
the admission of senators and representa-
tives from all of the states, there are no
just grounds of apprehension that persons
who are disleyal will be clothed with the
powers of egslation.-for this could not
happen when the constitution and the laws
are enforced by vigilant and faithful con-
gress. Each house is the judge of its own
members. n senator, or member, may be
admitted or rejected, or his credentials re-
ferred to n proper committee. If admitted
to scat, it must he on evidence, satisfac-
tory, that he possesses the requisite loyal
and constitutional qualifications. If re-
fused admission, and sent to his constitu-
ents for want of due allegiance, they are
admonished that none but persons loyal to
the United States will be allowed in the
councils of the nation, and the political
power and moral influence of congress are
thus effectively exerted in the interests of
loyalty to the government, and fidelity to
the union. Upon this question SO vitality
-. xN,< >f al
the pcrmanency of our form of govern
ment, my convictions heretofore expressed
have undergone no change, but, on the
contrary, their correctness has been con-
firmed 10y reflection and time. If the ad-
mission of loyal members to seats in con-
gress was wise and expedicnt a year ago,
it is no less wise and expcdient now. If
this anomalous condition is right now-if
in the exact condition Of these states at
the present time, it is lawful to exclude
them from Representations do not see
that the question will be changed by the
effect of time. Ten years hence, if these
states remain as they are, the right ofrep-
rescntation will be no stronger, and the
right of exclusion be no weaker. The con-
stitution makes it the duty of the prcsi-
dent to Recommend to the consideration
of congress such measures as he shall deem
expedient. know of no measure more
imperatively demanded by every consider
alton Of national interest, sound policy and
equal justice, than the admission of loyal
members from the unrepresented states
1t would consummate restoration, renew
vigor and stability, allay doubt, induce
emigration, and open new fields of enter
prise
The president concludes on restoration
by repeating the warnings of others against
a consolidated despotism, and does not
make the slightest reference to the pend
ing constitutional amendment, nor to the
much talked Of amnesty and suffrage
questions. All he says Of reconstruction
have given rerbatim.