North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-02-28

TO decide according to its ju gmcnt.-
F! There could be no objection urged that
| the States most interested had not been
permitted to be heard. The principle is
firmly fixed in the minds of the American
people that there would be no taxation
without representation. Great burdens
are now to be borne by all the country,
and we may best demand that they shall
be borne without murmur, when they ar
voted by majority of the representatives
of all the people. | would not interfere
with the unquestionabe light of Congress
to Judge, each House for itself, of the cleo
tIons, returns and qualifications of its own
members. But that authority cannot be
construed as including the right to shut out
in time of peace, any State from the repro
sen,ation 10y which it is entitled by the
Constitution. At present all the people
of eleven States are excluded. Those who
were most faithful during the war not less
than Others. The State of Tennessee, for
instance, whose authorities engaged in re
bcllion. Was restored TO all her Conotitu-
tional relations TO the Union, by the patri-
otism and energy of her injured and be
traycd people. Before the war was bro't
to termination they had placed theL selves
in relations with the General Government,
had established State Government of
their own, and as they were not included
in the Emancipation Proclamation they,
by their own act, had ame..ded their Cou-
stitution so as to abolish slavery within the
limits of their State. | know no reason
why the State of Tennessee, for example,
should not fully enjoy all her Constitution
al relations to the United State.
The President OF the United States
stands toward the country IN somewhat
different attitude from that of any member
Of Congress chosen from a single district
State The President is chosen by the
people of all the States, eleven States are
not. at this time, represented in either
branch of Congress. 1t would seem to be
his duty, on all proper occasions, to pre-
sent their just claims to Congress. There
always will be differences ofopinion in the
community and individuals may be guilty
of tran<gLes<ions of the law. But these
do not constitute valid objections against
the right ola State to representation. 1t
woull in no wise interfere with the discre-
ton of Congress with regard TO the guaifi-
cations of members; but hold it my duty
to recommend to you in the interests of
peace, and in the interest of the Uuion, tire
admission of every State to its share of
public legislation, when, however insubor-
dinate, insurgent or rebclous its people
may have been, it presents itself not only
III an attitude of loyalty and harmony, but
in the persons Of representatives whose 10y
atty cannot be questioned under existing
Constitutional or legal test. 1t is plain
that an indefinite or permanent exclusion
of any. part of the country from represent
tation must be attended by spirit of dis
quiet and complaint. 1t is dangerous and
unwise to pursue course of measures
which vii. unite any large section of the
county against another So ctIon of the coun-
try, no matter how much the other may
predominate. The course of immigration,
the development of industry and business
and natural courses will raise up at the
South men as devoted to the Union as those
of any other part of the land. But if they
are all excluded from Congress; if in
permanent statute they are declared not to
be in full Constitutional relations to the
country, they may think they h we cause to
become a unit in feelings and sentiments
against the Government Under the po-
litical clncation of the American people,
the idea is inherent and ineradcable that
the consent OF the majority of the who e
p oplr is necessary to secure a willing &C
quieScence in legislation. The bill under
consideration refers to certain of the States
AS though they had not been fully restored
in all their Constitutional relations to the
United States If they have not let us at
once act together to secure that desirable
end at the earliest possible moment. 1t is
hardly necessary for me to inform Congress
that, ill my own Judgment, most of those
States, so far, at least, AS depends upon
their own action, have already been fully
restored, and are TO be deemed To he enti-
tied to enjoy their constitutional rights as
members OF the Union. Reasoning from
the Constitution itsc.f, and from the actual
situation of the country. ] feel not only
entitled but bound to ASSUME, that with the
Federal Courts restored III the several
States and interests OF all classes of the peo-
pie will, with the aid Of the military in cases
Of resistance to the law, he essentially pro-
tccted against unconstitutional Infringement
and violation. Should this expectation
unhappily fail which | do not anticipate,
then the Executive is already armed with
the powers conferred by the Act of March
1865, establishing the Freedmen's Bureau
and hereafter, AS heretofore, he can employ
the land and naval forces of the country
to suppress insurrection and to overcome
distractions to the laws.
return the bill, to- the Senate in the ear
nest hope that measure involving qu"s-
iions and interest SO importantto the coun-
try, will not become law unless upon de-
liberate consideration by the people it
il shall receive the sanction OF an enIight-
4 ,,AD,uanf