The Van Buren press., 1866-03-10


Such n system would inevitably tend to sucha
concentration, of rower 10 the Executive
which would enable him. If 80 disposed, to
control the action of numerous class and use
them for the attainment Of his own political
ends.
eannet but add another grave ohjectonto
this bill. Tic Constitution 'ihperasive!y ae-
cares, in connection with taxation. that each
State shall have at least one Representa-
tive and fixes the rule for the number to whlcl,
i'm future times each State shall be entitled.
IL also provides that the Senate of the Uni
ted States shall be composed OF two Senators
from each State, and adds with peculiar force
that no State, without its consent, shalt he de-
priyed OF its suffrage in the Senate. The orig
inal act was necessarily passed in the absence
of States chiefly to be affected, because their
people were then e0ntumaciGtisiy engaged IN
the rebellion. Now the ease is changed, and
some of the States are attending Congress by
loyal Representative, soliciting the allowance
of the Constitutional right OF representation.
At the time, however, of the consideration AMI
passing OF the bin, there was no Senator or
Representative in Congress from the eleven
States which are TO be mainly affected by itS
provisions. The very fact that reports were
and are made against the good disposition of
the country. is an additional reason why they
need and should have Representatives ofthcir
own in Congress to explain their condition,
especially To answer accusations and assist by
their local knowledge in the perfection of
measures Immediately affecting themselves.
While the liberty of delibcration would then
be free and Congress would have full power
to decide according to its judgment. 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
should be no taxation without representation.
Great burdens are now to he borne by the
country, and we may best demand that they
shall be borne without murmur when they are
voted by majority of the representatives of
the people. | would not interfere with the
unuuestionablc right OF Congress to judge,
eucn house for Itself, of the election returns
and qualifications of its own members, but
that authority cannot be construed a. includ-
ing the right to put out in time OF peace, any
State from the representation to which it Il
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-
belion, was restored to all her constitutional
relations to the Union by the patriotism and
energy of her injured and betrayed people
! before the war was brought to n termination
| They had placed themselves in relations with
the General Government; had established II
State Government of their own; and as they
were not included In the emancipation pro-
clamatiOn they, by their own act have amen
ded their Constitution so as to abolish slavery
within the limits of their State. | know no
reason why the State of Tennessee, for exam
| pie, should not fully enjoy her constitutional
relations with the United States.
| The President of the United States stands
towards the country in somewhat different
attitude from that of any member Of
Congress. chosen from single district
of the 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 present their just
claims to Congress. There will always be diff
terences of opinion in the community. and in
dividuals may be guilty of transgressing the
law. but these do not constitute valid objec-
| tions against the right of State to represen-
taton. | would in no wise interfere with
the discretion of Congress with regard to the
qualifications of members. But hold it my
duty TO recommend to yon, in the interests of
| peace and the interests OF the Union, the ad-
mission Of every State to its share of public
legislation, when, however inordinate, inSlir-
gent or rebelious its people may have been. it
presents itself not only in an attitude of 10y
atty and harmony, but in the persons of Rep
resentatives whose loyalty cannot be question:
ed under the existence of constitutional or lc-
gal tests. 1t Is plain that an indefinite or per-
manent exclusion of any part of the cOun-
try from representation, must be attended by
spirit of disquet and complaint.
1t is unwise and dangerous to pursue
course of measures which will unite any large
section OF the country, against another
section of country no matter how much
unc latter may pftIorutiraoo. IT,,
Immigration. development Of industry and
business and national causes, will raise up at
South men as devoted to the Union as those
Of any part of the land. But If they are all
excluded from tongress-if, in permanent
statute they are declared not to be in fun
constitutional relations to the cOuntry-they
then may think they have cause to become Il
unit in feeling and sentiment against the gov
ernment Under the political education OF the
American people, the idea is inherent and ine
| radcable that the consent OF the majority Of
the whole people Is necessary to secure ~ will
! ing acuuiesence i'm legislation. The bill un-
der consideration refers TO certain of the
States as though they had not been fnlly re-
stored to the Cnited States. IL they have not
let ,ls at once act together to secure that desi-
rablc end at the earliest possible moment.
| IA Is hardly necessary lorme tn inform Con-
grcss that in my own Judgment most of those
States. 50 far at least as depends upon their own
action, have already been fully restored. and
are to be dccmedto be entitled to enjoy their
constitutional rights as members of the Union.
| Reasoning from the Constitution itself and
from the actual state OF the country feel not
only entitled but bound to assume that with
the Federal Courts restored in the several