Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-06-13
VOL. l2.---NO. 40.

tlon, tney crave the unQlSSemblng leader
ship of Breckenridge and Hunter, Davis and
Ioombs, as much as We can possibly dread
| it?
| As another excuse for opposition to this
plan of restoration it is said there are other
inequalities in representation that ought to
/ be removed as well as this. An honorable
gentleman from Pennsylvania complains
that the SIX eastern States have each two
Senators, while New York and other large
States have no more. 1t is true that some
of the eastern States are small but the
Constitution provides that each State, wheth-
er large or small, shall have two Senators;
and 1t further provides that while that in
strument may be amended In other respects,
with the assent of three fourths of the States,
in this respect it shall not be amended with
out the assent of all the States. But why
point only to the eastern States to illustrate
the inequality of senatorial representation?
The best illustration of it is not to be found
there. The population of these States is
3, 135, 223. In the South you can find a
smaller population with larger representa-
ton in the Senate. The population of Ar
kansas, Texas, Florida, South Carolina,
West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware is
only 1902, 761. Here are seven States with
more than 100000 less population than
the six eastern States, one third of that be-
ing negroes, with fourteen Senators, two
more than New England Why did not the
gentleman make his point on these States?
Was it because the eastern States are free
and loyal and the others were slaveholding.
and in part disloyal? And why, just in
this connection, does he complain that boun-
ties are paid for catching fish? He never
complained when higher bounties were paid
for catching men and women for the south
ern market These are the old complaints
of the South, warmed over, in anticipation of
its return, groundless, no doubt, but if ever
so just, furnishing no good excuse tor allow
ing to the complaints twofold representa-
tion in this House.
Once more we are reminded that taxation
and representation should go together.
True, sir, but that would not entitle them
to a double representation, nor deprive Con-
gress of a reasonable time for deliberation
as to tie extent of the right and the best
mode of securing it. But if is meant that
they are entitled on the score of taxation to
instantaneous, unconditional, and dispro-
portionate representation, | must beg leave
to inquire, where are the immense taxes
paid by them, upon which to base such ex-
traordinary claims The loyal people of
the country have been paying burdensome
taxes, million per day, imposed by their
misconduct, but when and where have they
paid taxes? For the last five years they
have paid none, and the amount they are
just now beginning to pay is too trifing for
argument. If the right of representation
could be acquired by imposing taxes upon
others or by robbery of the Government,
robbed the southern post offices of money,
stamps, and mails; the arsenals and militia
ry and naval depots of ammunition, arms.
and clothing; the custom houses and SUBJ
Treasures of goods, bonds, and money and
the New Orleans mint of 100000 in gold,
and have never made restitution. But they
have paid very few taxes, and long before
they will be called upon to do SO fair and
adequate representation will be accorded
them.
But they have still another argument
the one relied upon when all others fail,
their refuge from discontinue in every 9TH
er field of debate-and that is what they
call the constitutional argument. When
they find themselves unable to maintain in
discussion the propriety of allowing the dis
loyal population a twofold representation,
the half to represent themselves and the
other half to misrepresent the loyal people,
white and black, in their midst when they
can DO longer screen themselves behind the
Presidents policy words OF indefinite
meaning; when their asperslon upon our
motives is rerelled by showing that they
have as strong party interest in forming an
alliance with the rebels as we possibly can
have in trying to prevent it when their
taxation theory is demolished by report
from the Secretary of the Treasury. they
fall back upon the constitutional right of
States to representation. They will retreat
no further. This is their last ditch In de-
bate. And here,
SIN Dixie's land
They take their stand, ~
To live or die for Dixie y s.g.I.fs
Mr. Speaker we are IN an anomalous con-
dition. The Constitution does not especial
" provide for the difficulties with which we
are surrounded. Our fathers could not be-
lieve that so large portion of the American
people could be so barbarized by slavery as
to undertake such stupendous crime. They
did not provide for what they could not
foresee. There are no precedents on file to
guide us. This is the first disunion rebel
lion. Ours will be the first precedent in re
construction, and the last-only if it is just
ly and wisely made. There are objections,
plausible or otherwise, to every theory that
of these States. My colleague Mr.. Ste
vensl said that their present position was very
much like that of California after the Mex
icap war. A score or more Of speeches have
been made to show that there are objections
to this theory. The gentleman from Ohio
| FMr. ShelIabargerl suggested that these
State governments had perished in the re-
bellion, and that nov new ones, republican
in form, should be originated by Congress
Objections were raised % this theory. The
gentleman from New York Mr.. Raymond
suggested that new governments must bs
originated and proper guarantees and con-
| ditions could be imposed. but these things