Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-07-03
PUBLIC MEETING IN AUGUSTA.
IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS.

At a meeting of the people of Augusta, held
at the Court House of the County, on June Goth
Court day )-on motion of Hon. Alex. Fl. III.
Stuart, j. Marshall McCue Esq, was called to
the Chair, and VIM. Withrow, Jr., appointed
Secretary.
The Hon. A. f. Fl. Stuart, in a speech of
great ability, explained the object of the meet
Ing.
Mr.. Stuart moved the appointment of a COM
mlttee, and submitted some remarks which
were substantially as follows:
1t having been made known to the public,
through official channels, that the body Of men
now assembled In Washington, and which claims
to be the Congress Of the United States, has
adopted an article, proposing several important
amendments to the Constitution of the United
States, which they have caused to be communi-
Gated to the authorities of the several States,
for ratification and adoption, as part Of the
organic law, we, the people of Augusta county,
Virginia, feel that it is alike our right and our
duty to assemble, at our Court House, in pub
lie meeting, and express our earnest and delibe-
rate protest against this action of the so-called
Congress-
We maintain that the body to which we re-
fer is not organized in conformity to the letter
! or spirit of the Constitution, but in derogation
OF both, and Is, In no just sense. a Congress Of
the United States.
The Constitution, Art. I, Sec. lst, provides,
| that ''All Legislative powers herein granted,
shall be vested in Congress of the United
| States, which shall consist Of Senate and
House Of Representatives.
| The Constitution then prescribes the mode in
which these two bodies shall be organized.
1.-The House of Representatives shall be COM
posed OF members chosen, every second year,
| by the people Of the several State" Art l,
| Sec. 2, Clause l.
! The Senate of the United States shall be
composed of two Senators from each State,
chosen by the Legislatures thereof-Art l,
| Sec. 8, Clause l.
The fifth article of the Constitution, which
prescribes the mode of altering and amending
! the Constitution, provides that it shall not be
| competent, even by an amendment to the Con-
stitution; to deprive State of its equal repre-
sentation in the Senate. The clause is in these
words, mo State, without its consent. shall be
deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate
In view OF these plain requirements Of the
| Constitution, we have no hesitation in express
ing our conviction that the body now assembled
in Washington, and from which the representa-
tives of eleven States of the Union are excluded,
and by which those eleven States are deprived,
not only of equal but of all suffrage In the SEN
ate has no just claim to be recognized as the
Congress Of the United States.
| We maintain, further, that the unworthy de-
vice to which that body has resorted, under the
name Of a concurrent resolution" is a mere
subterfuge, to evade plain provision of the
| Constitution which requires, Cart |, Sec. I,
Clause 81 that every order, resolution OF vote,
to which the concurrence of the Senate and
House of Representatives, may be necessary
| Except on question of adjounment,) shall be
presented to the President of the United States,
and before the same shall take effect, shall be
! anDrOVed hv him or beip0 diSannroyed hv him
shall be repassed by twothirds of the Senate
and House of Representatives, according to the
rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a
bill.
Notwithstanding this imperative mandate Of
the Constitution, the President, in his recent
message, has informed the Country that the
resolution of Congress, above referred to, was
not submitted to him for his approval.
! If an evasion ike this be tolerated, an impor-