The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-12-07

persone loyalt the to UuitcI States vii
Be allowed hvoice in I legislativ
Councils of the Nation, NJ the politi
cal power. are moral ip1u ee Of Con
gress are thus effectively rted init
interests of loyalty to the overnmen
and fidelity to the Union. Upon thi
question, so yitally affecting the resto
ration Of tho Union and tho pefmancy
of our present form of government
tiny convictions, heretoforg expressed
have undergone no changes but, on tn
contrary, their correctness has beef
confirmed by reflection and time. /
the admissions of loyal members t,
seats in the respective Houses of Con
gress was wise and expedient a yea
ago, il is no less wise and expedien.
now. If this anomalous condition il
right now--if in the exact condition
of these States at the present time, it /,
lawful TO exclude them from represcn
%tation, / do not see that the question
will be changed by the efiux of time
Ten years hence, IL these States remain
as they are, tho right Of representation
will bo no stronger-the right of ex.
clusion, will be no weaker.
The Constitutionofthe United States
makes it the duty Of the President &c
recommend to the consideration OF
Congress asuch measures as he shall
Judge necessary or expedient." i know
of no measure moro ~imperativcly do
manded by every consideration of ma
tional interest, sound policy and equal
justice than the admission of loyal
members from the now unreprcsented
States. This would consummate the
work of restoration, and exert a most
salutary influence in the re-establish-
ment Of peace, harmony, and traternal
feeling. 1t would tend greatly to re-
new the confidence of the American
people in the vigor and stability of
their institutions. 1t would bind us
more closely as a nation, and enable us
to show to the world the Inherent and
recuperativo power of a Government
founded upon the will of the people,
and'established upon the principles of
liberty, justice and intelligence. Our
increased strength and enhanced pros
perity would irrefragably demonstrate
the iallacy of the arguments against
free institutions drawn from our recent
national disorders by the enemies of
republican government. The admjs-
sion of loyal members from the States
now excluded from Congress, BY aIlay-
lining doubt and apprehension, would
turn capital, now awaiting an opportu-
nifty for Investment, into the channels
Of trade and industry. Ii would allie
viate the present troubled condition of
those States, aud, by inducing emigra-
ton, aid in the settlement of fertile re-
gions now u%ncultivated, and lead to an
increased production of those staples
which have added SO greatly 10 the
wealth of thenation and thecommerce
of the world. New fields of enterprise
would be opened 70 our progressive
people, and soon the deyastations OF
war would be repaired, and all traces
of our domestic differences effaced from
the minds Of our countrymen.
In our efforts TO preserve "the unity
of Govcrnment which constitutes us
one people" by restoring the States 60
the condition which they held prior 10
the rebellion we should be cautious,
lest, having rescued our nation from
perils ofthrcatened disintegration, we
resort TO consolidation, and in the end
absolute desp6tism, as a remedy for
the recurrence Of similar troubles
The war having terminated, and with
all its occasion Tor the exercise of.pow
ers of doubtful constitutiondlity, we
should hasten 10 bring legislation with
in the boundaries prescribed 4 by the
Constitution, and TO return TO tile AN
cicnt landmarks established by our
fathers for'the guidance of succeeding
generations, Tine Constitution which
at any time exists, until changed by
an explicit and authentic act, of the
whole people, is . .eiedly obligatory
uron allr .l,If, in opinion Of the peo-
pie, the distribution or modification OF
the constitutional powers be, Jnp any
particular, wrong, let it be corrected
by an amendment in the way in which
the Constitution designatos, But jet
there be no change by usurpatiouH for
'Ht IS n customary weapon by which
free Governments are destroyed. -
Washington spoke these words to his
countrymen, when, followed by theil
love and gratitude he voluntarily re.
tired FRONT the cares ofppblic life. erTC
keep in all things. within tho pale o.
our. constitutional powers, and cherisl
the Federal Union as tho only, rock O
safety We're prescribed by Jefferson
as rules Of action lob endear to hi
Scountrymen the true principles o
their Constitution and prontOts aupior
Of sentiment and action. n equally au
spicious to their happiness and safety.
lackspnh .4that the action Of In,
General Government SHOULD always b,
strictly confined TO the sphere Of il
aPProplate duties, and justly and forci
bly, urged that our Government is no
| To ha mointuinad nor na, ITn.nu -