Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-29
CLEARFIELD, PA. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST %, 1866.


conditions and means of political pro
gress, are merged into the conflicts of
arms, 10 which they directly and inevi-
tably tend
1t was against this peril so con
spicuouB and fatal to all free govern
ments that our Constitution was in
tender @especially TO provide Not
only the stability but the very exis-
tence of the Government is made by
its provisions to depend upon the
right and the fact of representation.
RIGHT OF REPRESENTATION.
The Congress, upon which is con
ferred all the legislative power Of the
National Government, consists Of two
branches, the Senate and House Of
Representatives, whose joint concur
ence or assent is essential to the va
lidity of any law. Ofthese the House
of Representatives, says the Constitu-
ton, (article i, section 2 "shall be
composed Of members chosen every
second year by the people Of the sew
eral States" Not only is the right
of representation thus recognized as
possessed by all the States and by
every State without restriction, quail
fcation or condition OF any kind,
but the duty Of choosing representa-
tives is imposed upon the people Of
each and every State alike, without
distinction, or the authority to make
distinctions among them, for any
reason, or upon any grounds what
ever. And in the Senate, SO careful
is the Constitution TO secure to every
State this right of representation, it
is expressly provided that mo State
shall, without its consent, be deprived
of its equal suffrage in that body,
even by an amendment of the Consti-
tuition itself
When, therefore, any State is eX-
cluded from such representation, not
only is right ef the State denied, but
the Constitutional integrity Of the
Senate is impaired, and the validity
Of the Government itself is brought in
question: But Congress at The pres
ent moment thus excludes from rep
resentation, in both branches Of Con
gress, ten States Of the Union, deny
ing them all share in the enactment
of laws by which they are to be gov
erned, and all participation in the
election of the rulers by which those
laws are to be enforced In Other
words, a Congress in which only
twenty six States are represented
asserts the right to govern, absolutely
and in It's own discretion, all the thirty
six States which compose tho Union
to make their laws and choose theil
rulers, and to exclude the other tel
from all share in their own Govern
ment until il sees fit to admit then
thereto. What is there to distinguish
the power thus asserted and exercise
from the most absolute and intolera
bic tyranny
PRIVILEGE OF CITIZENSHIP RESTORED
Nor do the extravagant and unjus
claims on the part OF Congress t
powers and authority never conterrc,
upon the Government by the Consti
tuition find any warrant in the argu
ments or excuses urged on their be
half. 1t is alleged;
First. That these States, by the &C
Of rebellion and by voluntarily viii
drawing their members from Congress
forfeited their right Of representation
and that they can only receive
again at the hands of the suprem
. Legislative authority of the govern
, ment, onits own terms and at its ow
, discretion If representation in Con
gress and participation in the Cover
ment were simple privileges contcire
, and held by favor, tins statemer
r might have the merit of plausibility
But representation is, under the Coz
r stitution, not only expressly recoI
, nized as a right, but is imposed as
duty and it is essential IN both q
! pectsto the existence Of the Cover
Y ment and to the maintenance of
!. luulhVllN9. III ilNN SONNi hiANhN' A"i'N
G mental and essential rights cannot
a forfeited, except against individual
: by due process Of law; nor can const
{ tutional duties and obligations be Ia
: aside The enjoyment Of rights ma
r be for a time suspended by the iailnl
G to claim them, and duties may
= evadcd by theretusal to perform the
q The withdrawal of their membc
r from Congress by the States viii
resisted the General Government W
n among their acts of insurrection-w
lo one of the means and agencies
" which they sought TO impair the
il authority and defeat the action Of
$. Government, and that act was ann
,e cd and rendered void when the insl
l. rection itself was suppressed.
H. Neither the right of representa-
ID nor the duty to be represented was
" the least impaired by the fact of ins
r. rcction but it may have been u
is by reason Of the instruction the G.
irl ditions on which the enjoyment