Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-12-14


any purpose OF conquest or s1hiugati0n,
nor purpose OF oyerthIowing or interfering
4 with the rights or established institutions
of those States, but to defend and maintain
the supremacy Of the Constitution, and all
laws made in pursuance thereof, and ia
preserve the Union with ali the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
uuimpaiTed, and that as soon as these objects
were accomplished the war would cease -
In some instances Senators we're permitted
to continue their legislative functions, while
in other instances Representatives were
elected and admitted TO seats after their
States had formally declared their right to
withdraw from the Uuion, and were endeav-
oring to maintain that right By force of arms.
| All of the States whose people we're IN
apportionment Of the direct tax Of twenty
millions of dollars annually laid upon the
United States BY the act approved 9TH of
August, 1861. Congress, by the act of
March +, 1862, and by the apporGonment
OF representation Hereunder, also recogni-
zed their presence as States in the Union !;
| and they have for judicial purposes, been
divided into districts, as States alone can be
1 divided. The same recognition appears in
| the recent legislation in reference 10 Tennes-
| see, which evidently rests upon the fact
that the functions Of the State were not
destroyed by the rebellion, but merely sus-
pended and that principle, is of course,
| applicable to those States, which ike
| Tennessee, attempted to renounce their
places in the Union
The action of the executive department
! of the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite aud uniform. and the
] purpose Of the war was specially stated in
! tba tfrTs issrsad l,vr
on the 22d day Of September, 1862 1t
! was then solemnly proclaimed and declared
| that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will
| be prosecuted for the object Of practically
/ restoring the constitutional relation between
! the United States and each of the States
/ and the people thereof in which States that
| relation Is or may be suspended or disturb
ed
The recognition of the States by the
/ Judicial Department Of the Government
| has also been clear and conclusive in all
! proceedings affecting them as States had in
/ the Supreme, Circuit aud District courts.
! In the admission Of the Senators and
| Representatives from any and all Of the
/ States there can be no just ground Of APP
| prehenslOn that persons who are disloyal
will be clothed with the powers OF Legisla-
| ton, Tor tins could not happen when the
Constitution and the laws are enforced By
vigilant and faithful Congress Each house
Is mace the judge Of the elections returns
and qualifications Of Its own members. "
When a Senator or Representative presents
his certificate Of election he may at 0uce be
admitted OF rejected or, should there be
any question as 10 his eligibility, his cTeden-
tials may be referred for investigation to the
appropriate committee III admitted to
s--s. - -r-.l -.--;s}aY,aa satis(aefara-
to the house Of which he thus becomes a
member, that lie possesses the requisite
constitutional and legal qualifications Ii
1 refused admission as a member for want
OF due allegiance to the Government, and
returned TO his constituents, they age adj
monished that none but persons loyal to
the United States viii be allowed voice in
the legislative councils of the nati0n the pO
! Gtical power aud moral influence ofCougress
are thus effectively exerted in the interests
Of loyalty to the Government and fidelity to
the Union. Upon this question so yItally
affecting the restoration of the Union. and
the permanency of our present form OF
government, my convictions heretofore
expressed, have undergone no change but,
! on the contrary. their correctness has been
| confirmed BY rejection and time. If the
admission OF d., , .rrubers to seats in the
respective houses Of Cong! ess was wise and
expedlent a year ago, 1t Is no less wise and
expedient now. lfthis anomalous condition
is right noW-if in the exact condition of
these States at the present time, 1t Is lawful
to exclude them from representation. j do
not see that The question will be changed by
etfiux Of time. Ten years hence, ii these
States remain as they are, the right OF rep
rcsentation will be no stronger-the right
Of exclusion viii be no weaker.
The tiCu1tTtutipn of the / urfeb States
makes 1t the duty of the President to rec
ommend to the consideration Of Congress
such measures as he shall judge necessary
or expedient. | know Of no measure
more impcratively demanded by every con
slderahon Of national interest, sound policy,
and equal justice, than the admission of
loyal members from the now uuTepresented
States This would c0nsummate the work
OF restoration, and exert a most salutaTy in
huence IN the Te-eStabhshment of peace,
harmony and fraternal feeling. 1t would
tend greatly 10 renew the confidence Of the
American people in the yigor and stability
Of their institutions. 1t would bind US
more closely together as nation, and enable
Us TO show 10 the world the inherent and
reeuperatiYe power Of a Government found
ed upon the viii of the people. and estab-
lished upon the principles Of liberty, justice
anu lAtGAl-ttGt. III ltGIGdcGu StIGAEtN
and enhanced osporty would irrefragabIy
demonstrate the ialiacy of the arguments
against free Institutions drawn from our
recent national disorders by the enemies OF
republican government The admission Of
loyal members from the States now excluded
from Congress, by allayipg doubt and appre
hen.l0n, would turn capital BOW awaiting
an opportunity for investment, into the
channels Of trade and industry II would
alleviate the present troubled condition Of
those States, and by inducing emigration
aid in the settlement Of fertile regions now
uucultiyatcd, and lead to an increased pro
ductiou Of those staples which have added
SO greatly to the wealth Of the nation and
the commerce. Of the world. New fields Of
enterprise would be opened to our progress
sive people, and soon the dcyastatons Of
war would be repaired, and all traces Of oar
domestic differences etfaced from the mind
Of our c0untrYmen.
In our efforts to preserve the unity of
government which constitutes us Que peo-
pie, by restoring tie States TO Tire c0udi-
ton which they held prior TO the rebellion,
We should be cautious lest, having rescued
our nation from perils OF threatened disin-
tegratiou, we resort TO consolidation, and IN
the end absolute despotism, as Il remedy
for the recurrence of similar troubles. The
war having terminated ana with it all
occasion for the exercise of powers Of doubt
ful constitutionaity, We should hasten 10
bring legislation within the boundaries