The Oxford falcon., 1866-12-08

~ pair
heni s|a. ~
sad events fthe PES, and ftmetA-
bering only their instructive les
sons. Civil authority reigned
throughout the' States lately in re-
bcllion; the revenue Of the United
States was collected there. Those
States had been asked to sanction
the extinction Of African slavery,
rs one Of the Legitimate results Of
our intcrnicine struggle, and have
complied with the demand. The
Executive had done nearly all in
the scope Of its Constitutional
authority for the restoration Of the
Union. One thing, however, yet
remained to be done before the
work ofrestoration was completc
and TINT iEaS thvs adaissisf %
Congress of loyal Senators and
Representatives from all the States
lately in rebcllion. All the STATES
in which the insdrrectf6G had ex-
listed had mostly amended their
Constitutions so as to mako them
conform to the great changes that
| had been effected in the organic
| law of the land. Congress, how
ever, hesitatcd to admit any of
these States to representation, and
| it was not until tho close Of the
eight month of last session that
an exccT ton vas made in favor Of
I Tcnnesscs. BY The admission Of her
Senators and Representatives. ]
deem It q subject Of profound re-
grOt that Congress has thus far
failed to admit to seats loyal SEN
ators and Representatives from
other States, whose inhabitants,
| with those of Tennessee, had en-
gagged in the rebellion. The seats
of fifty members Of the House OF
| Representatives, and twenty mem
bers of the Senate are yet vacant.
! The admission of these States
would have accorded with the
great principle enunciated in the
| Declaration of American indie
pendencc, that no people ought to
bear the burden of taxation and
vet be denied the right of repre-
sentation. lie here alludcs to the
resolution Of Congress, and to the
proclamation of his predecessor
that the war was not waged agains
the Southern States for the PURPOSE
of conquest or subjugation, bu
solely for the restoration of thu
? Union. Upon the question s.
vitality effccting the restoration o
the Union, and the permanenc,
ofour present form of Government
my convictions heretofore express
cd have undergone no change
but, on the contrary, they hav
been confirmed by reflection an
time. l do not see that tho ques
ton will be changed by the effcc
of time. Ten years hence if thes
States remain as they arc, tn
right of representation will be n
> stronger, or the right of exclusio
no weaker. I know of no meas
uro more imperatively demande
by every consideration Of Nation:
T interest, sound policy, and equ'
Y Justice, than the admission of loy'
!. members from the now unrepr'
= sented States. This would cor
sumatc the work Of reconstruction
Q "Tho Constitution which at an
c time exists until changed by a
Q explicit and authentic act. of ii
3 whole people is strictly obligator
on all" Washington spoke the:
words TO his countrymen whe
!, followed by their love and graf
L tude ho voluntarily receded fro
. the cares of public life. Jefferso
!, held that the Government shoul
keep all things within the pale
our Constitutional powers. Jacl
K son held that the action Of Il
d general Government should o
:. ways be strictly confined to Il
!, sphere Of its appropriate dutie
and justly and ioFcibly urged Ia
.I