The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-06

sentatives.
deem it a subject of profound re-
pret that Congress has thus tar tailed to
admit to seats loyal Senators and Rep
resentativcs from the other States,
whose inhabitants, with those of Ten
nessee, had engaged in the rebeliton.-
Ten States more than one-tOurth OF
the whole numbar-remain without rep
resentation; the seats Of fifty members
in the House of Representatives and
of twenty members in the Senate are
vet vacant-not by their own consent,
not by a failure Of election, but by the
refusal of Congress to accept their ere
dentials. Their admission, it Is belleV-
ed. would have accomplished much TO-
wards the renewal and Strengthening
of our relations rs one people, and re-
moved serious cause for discomfort on
the part of the Inhabitants of those
States. 1t would have accorded with
the great principle enunciated III the
Declaration of American independence,
that no people ought to bear the bur
den of taxation, and yet be denied the
right of representation. 1t would have
been in consonance with the express
provisions of the Constitution, that
resentative," and "that no State with
out it's consent, shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate" These
provisions were intended to secure t"
every State, and to the people OF every
State, the right ofrepresentation IN each
House of Congress and SO important
was it deemed by the trainers of the
Constitution that the equality Of the
A. ,ho,,ll In
ed, that not even by All amendment of
the Constitution can any State, without
its consent, he denied 4 voice IN that
branch OF the National Legislature.
1t is true, it has been assumed that
the existence of the States was ternin-
ated by the rebellious acts of their in
habitants, and that the instruction
having been suppressed, they were
thenceforward to be considered merely
as conquered territories. The Legisla-
lative, Executive, and judicial Depart
ments OF the government have, how
ever, with great distinctness and uni
form consistency, refused to sanction an
assumption so incompatible with the
nature of our republican system, and
with the protested objects of the war.
Throughout the recent Legislation Of
Congress, the undeniable fact makes it
self apparent, that these ten political
communities are nothing less than
States of this Union. AT the very com
mencement OF the rebellion, each House
declared, with unanimity rs remarka-
BILE as it was significant, that the war
was not I" waged, upon our part, III any
spirit Of oppression. nor for any pur-
pose of conquest or subiugation, nor
purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institu-
lions of those States, but to defend and !
maintain the supremacy Of the COnstl- ,
tuition and all laws made in pursuance !
thereof, and to preserve the Union with
all the dignity, equality, and rights of
as soon as these Objects were " ac- |
compliShed the war ought to cease."-
In some instances, Senators were per- !
mitted to continue their legislative func- /
lions, while in other instances Repre- /
sentatives were elected and admitted to !
seats after their States had formally de- !
clared their right to withdraw from the !
Union, and were endeavoring to main I
tain that right by force of arms. All .
of the States whose people were i'll in
surrection, as States, were included in /
the apportionment of the direct tax of !
twenty millions of dollars annually
laid upon the United States by the act /
approved 9Th August, 1861. Congress,
by the act of March 4, 1862, and by
the apportionment Of representation
Hereunder, also recognized their pres
ence as States in the Union; and they
have, for judicial purposes, been divi-
ded into districts, as States alone can
be divided. The same recognition ap-
pers in the recent legislation in refer
ence to Tennessee, which evidently rests
upon the fact that the functions of the
State were not DESTROYED by the REBEL
ion, but merely suspended; and that
principle is of course applicable to those
States which, like Tennessee, attempted
to renounce their places III the Union.
The action of the Executive Department
OF the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite and uniform, and the
purpose OF the war was specifically stated in
the Proclamation issued by my predecessor
on the 22d day of September, 1862 1t was
then soemnly proclaimed and declared that
hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be
prosecuted for the object of practically re-
storing the constitutional relation between
the United States and each of the States and
the people thereof, in which States that rea-
ton is or may be suspended or disturbed.'
The recognition of the States by the Judi
cial Department of the Government has also
been clear and conclusive in all proceedings
affecting them as States, had in the Su-
preme, Circuit, and District Courts.
In the admission of Senators and Represen-
tatlves from any and all of. tn States, there
can be no just ground of apprehension that
persons who are disloyal will be clothed with
the powers of legislation for this could not
happen when the Constitution and the laws
are enforced by vigilant and faithful Con
gress. Each House is made the Judge of
the elections, returns, and qualifications OF
its own members" and may, with the con-
currence of two-thirds, expel member
When a Senator or Representative presents
his certificate of election, he may at once be
admitted or rejected; or, should there be any
question as to his eligibility, his credentials
may be referred for investigation to the APP
proprlate committee. If admitted to a seat
It must be upon evidence satisfactory to the
House of which he thus becomes a member.
that ne possesses the requisite constitutional
and legal qualifications IF roG,eo5 ,J,,;.