The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-03-02

FIRE with the discretion Of Congress with
regard to the qualification Of members, but
l hold it my duty to recommend TO you in
tho interest Of peace and in tho Interest OF
the Union, the admission Of every State to
its full share Of public legislation, when,
however insubordinaie, insurgent OF rebel
lious its people may have been, il presents
itself, not only in an attitude OF loyalty and
harmony, but IN TIE persons Of Republicans
whose loyalty cannot be questioned under
the existing constitutional or legal test. II
is plain that an indefinite or permanent
exclusion Of any part Of the country from
representation, must be attended by spirit
Of disgust and complaint. II is unwise and
dangerous to pursue course Of measures
which will unite any large section OF the
country against another section Of the
country, no matter how much the latter
may preduminale.
The course Of immigration. development
of industry, business and natural causes will
raise mp at the South men as devoted to tho
Union as those of any other part of the land;
but IL they are all excluded from Congress,
II in permanent statute they are declared
not to be 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 polit-
ical education of the American people the
idea is inherent and ineradicable that tho
consent of the majority of the whole people
is necessary TO secure o willing acquies-
cence in legislation.
The bill under consideration refers TO Ger.
tain of the States an though they had not
been fully restored to the United States.
Ii they had not let us at once act together
to secure that desirable end at the earliest
possible moment. II is hardly necessary
for me to inform Congress that in my own
| Judgment most Of these States, so far, at
| least, as depends upon .heir own action,
have already been fully restored, and are
TO be deemed to be entitled TO enjoy their
constitutional rights as members of the
Union. Reasoning from the Constitution
itself, and from the actual situation of the
country, feel not only entitled. but bound
to assume that, with the Federal Courts re-
stored in the several States, and in the full
exercise Of thoir functions. the rights and
interests Of all classes of the people will,
with the aid of the military in cases of re-
sistance to the law, be essentially protected
against unconstitutional infringement and
violation.
Should this expectation nnhappily fail,
which do not anticipate, then the Execu-
tive is already armed with the powers con-
ferred by the act Of March, 1865, establish
ing the Freedmen's Bureau, and hereafter,
as heretofore, he can employ the land and
naval forces of the country to suppress in
surrection and to overcome obstruotions to
the laws.
return the bill to the Senate, in the earn
est hope that measure involving questions
and interests so important to the country
will not become law, unless upon deiber-
alto consideration by the people, it shall re-
ceive the sanction Of an enlightened pub
lie Judgment
[Signed1 ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAsuINGToN, d. c., Feb. 10, 1866.