The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-12-12
r. WAYNESBURG, PA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER II 12ee

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Congress to accept their credentials -
| Their admission, it is believed, would
have accomplished much toward lht
rene Hal and strengthening Of our rela'
tions as one people, and removed striou,
cause for discomfort on the part OF tho
people of those states. 1t would have
accorded with the great prlnciple epun
ca,ed in the declaration Of American
independence, that no people ought
TO bear the burden Of taxation and
yet be denied the right of representation.
1t v ould have been in consonince with
the express provisions of the ConSritu-
ton that each State shall Lave at least
one representative, and that no State
without ls consent shall be deprived OF
equal suffrage in the Senate These
provisions were intended to secure to
every State tie right Of representation
IN Congress, and SO important was it
deemed 10y the trainers OF the constilu-
ton that the equality of the States shall
be preserved in the Senate; that not even
by AZ amendment oflhe constitution can
any State without its consent be denied
voice in that branch OF the National
legislatures Ii has been assumed that
these States, by rebellion, became ter
ritories; but all departments Of the Gov,
ernment, wi|h great distlnc,ness, rctus-
ed TO sanction an assumption so irc0m-
patib'e with the nature OF our Repub~
ican system AID the proicssed objects
Of the war Throughout the recent
legislation of Congress, the undeniable
fact makes itself apparent that these ten
political communities are nothing less
than States of this Union. AT the very
commencement Of the rebellion, each
house declared with an unanimlly as res
markablc as it was significant, that the
war was not "waged, upon part, in
any spirit Of oppression, nor fnr any
purpose OF conquest or suhjugation, nor
purpose of olerlhrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
of those S aIes, bnt to defend and main.
tain the supremacy Of the Constitution
and all laws made in pursuance thereof
and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality, and rights of the sey
eraI States unlmpaired ard that as soon
~ these objects were accomplished
the war ought to cease In some in-
stances. Senators were permitted to con'
tinue their legislative function, while
in other instances Representatives. were
elected and admitted 10 seats after their
States had rmally declared their rights
to withdraw trom the Uuion, and were
cndeavoriug to. MAINTAIN that right by
force Of arms. All OF the States whose
people were III inSurrertion, as States,
were included in the apportIonae eLt OF
the direct tax of twenty millions ot dol
lars annually laid upon the United States
by he Act approved 5th August, 1851
Congress, by the Act of March 5 1862,
and by the appointment OF represents
don hereunder, also recognized their
presence as States in the Union and
they have. for judicial purposes, been di
VI led into Districts, as States alone can
be divided. The same recognition ap-
pears in the recent legislation In refer
encr to Tennessee, winch evidently rests
upon the fact that the functions of the
States were not destroyed by the rebels
lion, but mercy suspended and that
principle is of course applicable to those
State which, like Tennessee, attempted
to renounce their place in the Union,
The action of the Executive depart.
ment of the Government upon this sub
jec, has been equally definite and uniform
and the purpose Of tho war was speci-
tically stated in the Proclamation issued
by my predecessor on the 22d day of
Septcmber, 1862 1t vas then solem l.
ly proclaimed and declared that "here.
after, as heretofore. the war will be
prosecuted for the o. ject Of practically
restoring the constitutional relations be~
tween the United States and each o. the
States aud the people thereof, in which
States that relation is or may be sus.
pended or disturbed
The recognition OF the States by the
Judicial Department OF the Govcrnn ent
has alSe been clear and conclusive IN all
proceedings affecting them as States,
had in the S preme, Circuit and Dstrlc,
Courts.
CONGRESS THE JUDGE or THE QUALTEICA
TIoNs or IT'S MEMBERS.
In the admission Of Senators and
Representative from all OF the States
there can ue no just grounds OF appre.
henslon that personswho are disloyal will
he clothed with ihe powers Of Legislation
t3r this could not happen when the
Constitution and the laws are cutorcct
by v,gllant and faithful Congress -
Each House is the judgc of its owr
members. A Senator or member ma,
be admitted. or rejected, or his creden,
tials referred to proper committee. II
admitted to a seat it must be on evidenc,
satisfactory to the House OF which h,
becomes member, that he possesse
the requisite loyal aud Constitutions
qualifications. lfrefnsed admission anC
sent to his constituents Tor ~ hit of du
allegiance, they are admo7fshed tha
none but persons loyal to the Unite,
States will be allowed in the councils o
the nation, and the political power an
moral Influence OF Congress are thus et
feclively exerled in the inter eSts OF loyal
ty to the Government ard 6lelty to tn
Union Upon this question, so vital
, affecting he restoration of the Union
and the permanency of our form OF Gov
, ernment, my convictions heletotorr. ex