The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-08-29

impaired.
It is only since the war was closed that
other rights have been asserted on behalf
Of one departme mt Of the General Govern
ment. Il has been proclaimed by Congress
that, in addition to the powers conferred
upon it by the Constitution. the Federal
Government may now claim overthe States.
the territory and the people involved in the
insurrect,ion, the rights Of war, the right
of conquest and confscation, the right to
abrogate all governments, institutions and
laws, and TO subject the territory conquer
ed and its inhabitants 10 such laws, rcgu-
lations and deprivations as the legislative
department. Of the Government may see TT
to impose. Under this broad and sweep
ing claim, that clause of the Constitution
which provides that !" no State shall with
out its consent be deprived of its equal suf-
trage in the Senate Of the United States"
has been annulled. and ten States have been
refused, and are still refused, represents.
ton altogether in both branches Of the Fe.
deral Congress. And the Congress in which
only part OF the States and of the people
OF the Union are represented, has asserted
the right thus to exclude the rest from re-
presentation, and from all share in making
their own laws or choosing their own rul-
ers until they shall comply with such CEN
ditIons and perform such acts as this Con-
gress thus composed may itself prescribe.
That right ha, not only been asserted, but
II has been exercised. and is practically
enlorced at the present time. Nor does it
find any support in the theory that the
States thusexclnded are I'M rebellion against
tie Government, and are therefore preclu-
ded from sharing its authority. They are
not thas in rebellion. They are one and
all in an attitude of loyalty toward the Co.
vefnment aud Of sworn allegiance to the
Constitution of the United States. In no
one Of them is there the slightest indication
OF resistance to this authority, or the slight
est protest against its just and binding OBJ.
legation. THIS condition Of renewed loy-
atty has been officially recognized by So
lenn proclamation Of the Executive De-
partment. The laws of the United States
have been extended by Congress over all
these States and the people thereof. Fed
CT Courts have been reopened, and Fsd-
erai taxes imposed and levied. And in ey-
er, respect, except that lhey are denied
representation in Congress and the Elec-
toral College. the States once in'rebell:on
are recognized as holding the same posi-
tiou. as owing the same obligations, and
snbjec. TO the same duties as the other States
Of our common Union.
II Canmc ~. - ,,, ha M cha
calmest and most candid judgment we car
bring to the subject. that such a claim, 81
enforced, involves as lsal an overthrow o.
the authority of the Constitution, and a:
complete destruction of the government
and Union, rs that which was sought to bs
Effected BY the States and people in armed
insurrectinn against them both. II cannot
escape observation that the power thus as.
serted 10 exclude certain States from rep
resentation, is made t0 rest wholly in the
will and discretion of the Congress tha
asserts il. Ii is nnt made to depend upnf
any specified conditions or circumstances
nor TO be subject TO any rules or regula
tions 1hare,rr. The right asserted ant
exercised il absolute, without qualification
or restriction, not confined 70 States in re
bellion, nor tU States that have rebelled
il is the right Of any Congress IN torma
possession Of Legislative authority. to ex'
clude any State or States, and any portion
OF the people thereof, 1t any time, from
representation in Congress and in the Elec.
toral College. Al its own discretion and un'
Ill they shall perform such acts and eompl,
with such conditions as II may dictate
Obviously, the reasons ior such exclusion
being wholly within the discretion OF Con
gress, may change as the Congress itsel
shall change. One Congress may exclud,
State from all share in the government
for one reason and, that reason removed
the next. Congress may exclude ii for anoth
er. One State may be excluded on on
ground to-day. and another may bysexclu