Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-12-07

all of the States civil authority has superseded
the coercion of arms and the people, by theI
voluntary action, are maintaining their govern
men,s in full activity and complete opera
ton The enforcement Of the laws is no Ion
ger Constructed in any state by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial plcceedinrs;" and the ami
mosities engendered by the war are rapidly
yielding to the benefcent influences of our free
institutions, and TO the kindly effects of unre-
stricted social and commercial intercourse. An
entire restoration of fraternal feeling must be
the earnest wish of every patriotic heart; and
we will have accomplished our grandest nation
al achievement when, forgetting the sad events
Of the past, and remembering only their in
structive lessons, we resume our onward career
as free, prosperous and-united people.
CoYMTIoN OF THE COUNTRY.
In nv message of the 4th of December, 1865
Congress was informed OF the measures which
had been instituted by the Executive with a
view to the gradual restoration of the States in
which the insurrection occurred TO their .rela-
tions with the General Government. Provis-
ional Governors had been appointed, OOnven-
tions called. Governors elected, Legislatures as
sembled, and Senators and Representatives
chosen to the Congress of the United States.
Courts had been opened for the enforcement OF
laws long in abeyance. The blockade had been
removed, custom houses established, and the
internal revenue laws put in force, in order that
the people might contribute to the national in
come. Postal operations had been renewed,
and efforts were being made to restore them to
their former condition of efficiency. The States
themselves had been asked TO take part in the
high function of amending the Constitution
andof thus sauctioning the extinction OF AtrI-
can slavery IS one of the legitimate results Of
our internecine struggle.
ADMISSION or CONGRESSMAN FROM THE REBEL
STATES.
Having progressed thus far the Executive
Department found that it had accomplished
nearly all that was within the scope of its con-
stitutional authority. One thing, however, ye
remained to be done before the work of restora
ton could be completed, and that was the ad'
mission to Congress of loyal Senators and Rep
resentatives from the States whose people hac
rebelled against the lawful authority of th,
General Government This questiens devolveC
upon the respective Houses, which, by the con
stitution are madet the judges of the election
returns, and qualifications ct their own mem
| bers: and lis consideration at once engaged th'
attention of Congress.
ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE.
In the meantime, the Executive Department
no other plan having been proposed by Con
| grcss-continued IFS effprts 20 perfect, as far a
practicable, the restoration of the proper reia
| tiops between the tizens of the respective
| S tates. and the Federal Government, extend
| ing, from time 10 time, as the public interes
| seemed TO require, the iud d;cial, revenue ant
postsl system of the country. With the advic
and consent Of the Senate, the necessary officer
were appointed, and appropriations made b.
Congress for the payment of their saleries. Th
propositions TO amend the Federal Constitution
| so as to prevent the existence of slavery within
| the United States or any place subject to thei
| jurisdiction, was allied by the requisite nun
her of States: and on the 18Th day of Decem
ber. 1865, it was offc ally declared to lave be
come valid as part of the Constitution of tn
| United States Allof the States in which tn
| insurrection had existed promptly amende'
| their Constitution, as 10 make them conform
| TO the great char ge thus effected in the orgapi
4 law of the land; declared null and void all ord
| inances and laws of secession; repudiated al
pretended debts and obi cations created for th
revolutionary pmp)ses OF the iDsurrectou; an
/ proceeded in good faith, to the enactment c
| measures for the protection and smelioration {
the condition of the colored race. Congress
however, yet hesitated to admit any of thes
states to representation; and it was not unit
towards The close of the eighth month of tn
session that an exception was made in favor
Tennessee, by the admission of her Senator
and Representatives.
REGRETS THAT CONGRESS REFUSES ADMISSION T
MEMBERS FROM REBEL STATES.
/ deem it a subject of profound regret ths
Congress has thus far failed to admit TO seat
Ioyal Senators and Representatives from th
other States, whose inhabitants, with those
Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion. TIE
States-more than one-fourth of the who
number-remain without representation; th
seats of fifty members of the House of Repre-
sentatives and twenty members in the Senai
are vet yacant-not by their own consent, nC
bv failure of election, but by the refusal
Congress TO accept their credentials. Their aC
mission, it is believed would have accomplishe
much towards the renewal and Strengthening
our relations as one people, and removed ser
Gus cause for discomfort on the part of the il
habitauts of those States. 1t would have al
corded with the great principle enunciated
tie Declaration of American Independence, ,thi
no people ought to bear the burden of taxation
4 and vet be denied the right of representatio
1t wonld have been in consonance with the e.
nress provisions of the Constitution, that @eac
State shall have at least one Representative,
and that no State; without its consent, shall
4 deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate
These provisions were intended TO secure
every State and to th people of every Stat
| the right of representation in each House
Congress; aud so important was it deemed b
the trainers Of the Constitution that the equalii
| of the States in the Senate should be preserve
| thst not even by an amendment of the Const
tuition can any State, without is consent, be d.
MED a voice in that branch of the Legislature,
{ REBEL STATES NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS CO.
QUERED TERRITORIES.
1t is true it has been assumed that the exi
tence of these States was terminated by the r
belious acts of their inhabitants, and that Il
insurrection having been suppressed, they we
, tbenceforward to be considered merely as col
ouered territories The Legislative, Executir
and Judicial Departments of the Goyernme
: have, however, with great distinctness and un
form consistency, refused to sanction an assuml
tioa so incompatible with the nature of our r
| publican system, and with the professsd obiec
| of the war Throughout the recent legislatiC
of Congress, the undeniable fact makes itst
| apparent that these. ten political communist
| are nothing less than states of the Union.
| the very commencement of the rebellion eat
house declared, with uDanimity as remark
bic as it was significant, that the war was D
'Waged, upon cur part in any spirit ofoppre
sion, nor for any purpose OF conquest or subj
! cation. nor purpose Of overthrOwing or inte
1 tefIng WIFI lut VI lusIiJl
tions ofthose States, but to defend and mainta
= the supremacy of the Constitution and all Law
, made in pursuance thereof, and to preserve Il
Union with allthe dignity, equality, and righ
5 of the several States unimpaired; and that
, soon as these objects were accomplished Il
war ought TO cease" In some instances Sel
] ators were permitted TO continue their legisl
, tive functions, while in other instances Repr
sentatives were elected and admitted to sea
after their States had formally declared the
6 right to Withdraw from the Union, and we
endcavoring to maintain that right by force
D arms. All of the States whose people were
insurrection, as States, were included in Il
apportionment of the direct tax of twenty mi
lions of dollars annually laid upon the Unit,
States by the act approved 5th August l86
Congress, by the act of March A, 1862, and |
S the apportionmeHt OF representation thereundt
, also recognized their presence as States in Il
Union; and they have, for judicial purpose
C been divided into districts, as States alone c.
be divided. The same recognition appears
the recent legislation in reference to TenDesse
: which evidently rests upon the fact that t
I