Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-09
ISON. ~~~-- ABBEVIILE S. G.. FRIDAY MARCH g. 1866

time represented in either branch of Con-
gress, it would seem to be bis duty on all
proper occasions to present their just claims
to Congress. There always will be differ
ences of opinion in the community, and
individuals may be guilty Of trausgressions
OF the law; but these do rot constitute
valid objections against the right of State
to representation. would in no wise in.
tertere with the discretion Of Congress with
regard to the qualifications Of members,
but l hold it my duty to recommend to
you, in the interests of peace and in the in
terests of Union, the admission of eyery
State to its share in public legislation, when,
however insubordinase, insurgent, or rebel.
lious its people may have been, it presents
itself not only in an attitude of loyalty and
harmony, but in the persons Of representa-
tives, whose loyalty cannot be questioned
under any existing constitutional or legal
| test.
1t is plain that an indefinite or perma-
nent exclusion Of any part Of the country
from representation must be attended BY
spirit ofdisquiet and complaint. 1t is uuwise
| and dangerous to pursue course of meas
ures which will unite very large section Of
the country against another large section of
the country, however much tho latter NAV
preponderate. The course of emigration,
the developments of industry and business,
and natural causes, will raise up at the
South men rs devoted to the Union AS those
Of any other part of the land. But If they
are all excluded from Congress-if, in a
permanent statue, they are declared to be
not in full constitutional relations to the
country, they may think they have cause to
become unit in feeling and sentiment
against the Government. Under the poll
tieal education Of the American people, the
idea is Inherent and ineradicabls that the
consent Of the majority of the whole people
is necessary to secure willing acquiescence
in legislation.
The bill under consideration refers to GER
tain of the States as though they had not
"been fully restored in all their Constitu-
tional relations TO the United States" II
they lave not, let us at once act together
10 secure that desirable end at the earliest
possible moment. 1t is hardly necessary
for me to inform Congress that, in my own
judgment, most Of those States, so far at
least as depends upon their own action,
have already been fully restored, and are to
be deemed as entitled to enjoy their Con-
stitutional rights as members of the Union.
Reasoning from the Constitution itself. and
from the actual situation Of The country, I
feel not only entitled, but bound, to assume
that, with the Feiesal Courts restored, and
those of the several States in the full exer-
else OF sheir functions, the rights and inter-
esls of all classes of the people will, with
the aid Of the military in cases of resistance
to the law, be essentially protected against
unconstitutional Infringement and violation.
Should this expectation unhappily fail
which do not anticipate--then the Execu.
tive is already fully armed with the power.
conferred by the Act Of March, 1852, estab.
fishing the Freedmen's Bureau, and here
after, as heretofore, he can employ the land
and naval forces Of the country to suppress
insurrection or 10 overcome distractions to
the laws.
10 accordance with the Constitution, re-.
turn the bill to the Senate, in the earnest
! hope thata measure involving questions and
interests SO important to the country will
not become law unless, upon deliberate
consideration by the people, it shall receive
the sanction of an enlightened public judg.
ment. ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAsHrSaToN, February 10, 1865.