The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-08-25

lDll UNUlllSl lllt IN1 'All'' CIV
therefore prccludqd from sharing its au- !
hority. They are not thus in rebellion.
They are one and all in an attitude of {
oyalty toward the Government, and of t
sworn allegiance to the Constitution of I
the United States. In no one of them
Is there the slightest indication of resist
incc to this authority, or the slightest
protest against its just and binding OBJ
LEGATION. This condition of renewed I
loyalty has been officially recognized by
solemn proclamation of the Executive ;
Department. The laws of the United
states have been extended by Congress
over all these States and the people
thereof. Federal courts have been re-
opened, and Federal taxes imposed and
levied. And in every respect, except
that they arc denied representation in
Congress and the Electoral College, the
States once in rebellion arc recognized .
as holding the same position, rs owing /
the samc obligations, and subject to the .
same duties as the other States of our .
common Union.
IL SNlll0 W us, Ill lliN tN'lNi3' VI lli'
calmc.t and most candid Judgment we
can bring to the subject, that such a
claim, 30 enforced, involves ~ fatal an
overthrow of the authority of the Con-
stitution, and as complete Il destruction
OF the Government and Union, a~ that
which was sought to be effected by the
States and people in armed insurrcction
against them both. 1t cannot escape
observation that the power thus assert
| cd to exclude certain States from repre-
Iscntation is made to rest wholly in the
will and discretion of the Congress That
asserts it. It j. not made to depend
| upon any specified conditions Or circum-
stances, nor to bc subject To amy rules or
regulations whatever. The right assert
ed and exercised is absolute, without
qualification or restriction, not confined
to States in rebellion, nor to States that
have rcbcllCd; lis the right of amy Con-
grc1s in formal possession OF legislative
authority, tocXcludC any State or states,
and any portion Of the people thereof,
ut any time, from representation in
Congress and in the Electoral College, at
its own discretion, and until they shall
perform such acts and comply with
such conditions as it may dictate. OBJ
vinusly, the reasons for such exclusion
being wholly within the discretion of
; Congress, may change rs Congress Itself
, shall change. One Congress may eN-
cludc State from all shares in the
Government for one reason, and, that
. reason removed the next Congress may
exclude it for another. one stat" may
, be excluded Oh one ground to-day,
and another may lie excluded on the
| opposite ground tomorrow. Northern
e a~cunduncy may exclude Southern state
4; from one Congress; the aSCcndancY OF
+ Western or of Southern ntcrcS;s, or OF
Q both combined, may exclude the North
g crn or the Eastern States from thcncNt
t nnprobable uS such usurpations may
h seem, the establishment of the principle
now asserted and acted upon by Con
: grcss will render them by no means i'm
@ possible. The character, indeed the very
= existence of Congress and the Union, i
y thus made dependent solely and cntircl.
- upon the party and sectional CNiGCncic
e or forbcarancc of the hour.
e We need not stop to show that sucl
/ an action not only finds no warrant il
:, the Constitution, but is Mt war witt
. every principle Of our Government, an'
with the very existence of free iEstitl
y tiuns. 1t is, indeed, the identical praC