Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-12-12
GEO, B. GOODLANDER, Proprietor.
VOL. 3S--WH0LE NO. 1898.

VOL. 3S--WH0LE NO.
ate should be preserved, that not even
by an amendment of the Constitution
can any State, without its consent, be
denied voice in that branch of the
National Legislature
1t is true, it has been assumed that
the existence of the States was ter
minated by the rebellious acts of their
inhabitants, and that the insurrection
having been suppressed, they were
thenceiorward to be considered mere
ly as conquered territories. The Leg
islative, Executive, and Judicial De
partments of the Government have
however, with great distinctness and
uniform consistency, refused TO sane
ton an assumption so incompatible
with the nature of our republican sys-
tenn and with the proiessed objects OF
the war. Throughout the recent leg
islation OF Congress, the undeniable
fact nakes itseif apparent, that these
ten political communities are nothing
less than States Of the Union. At
the very commencement of the rebel
lion, each House declared, with a
unanimity as remarkable as it was sig
nfiicant, that the war was not "waged
upon our part, in any spirit Of oppres-
sion, nor for any purpose Of conquest
or subiugation, nor purpose Of over
throwing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of
those States, but to defend and main
tain the supremacy Of the Constitu-
ton and all laws made in pursuance
thereof, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and
rights of the several States unimpair-
ed; and that as soon as these object"
were accomplished the war ought to
cease" In some instances Senators
were permitted to continue their leg
islativo functions, while in other in
stances Representatives were elected
and admitted to seats after their States
had formally declared their right to
withdraw from the Union. and were
endeavoring to maintain that right by
force Of arms All of the States
whose people were in insurrection, as
States, were included IN the appor-
tionmcnt of the direct tax of twenty
millions Of dollars annually laid upon
the United States by the act approved
5th August, 1861. Congress by the
act OF March 4th, 1862, and by the
apportionment of representation
Hereunder, also recognized their
presence as States in the Union; and
they have, for Judicial purposes, been
divided into districts, as States alone
can be divided The same recogni-
tion appears in the recent legislation
in reference TO Tennessee, which evil
IDENTIFY rests upon the fact that the
functions Of the State were not dc
stroyed by the rebellion, but merely
and that principle is OF
course applicable to those states
which, like Tennessee, attempted to
renounce their places in the Union.
The action of the Executive De
partmcnt 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 prede-
cessor OF the 22d day of September,
1862. 1t was then solmnly declared
that thereafter, as heretofore, the war
will be prosecuted for the object Of
practically restoring the constitution
al 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 disturbed -
The recognition Of the States by the
Judicial Department Of the Govern
ment has also been clear and conclu-
sive in all proceedings affecting them
as States, had in the Supreme, Circuit
and District Courts
In the admission Of Senators and
Representatives from any and all Of
the STATES, there can he no Just ground
Of apprehension that persons who are
disloyal will be clothed with the pow
ers Of legislation; for this could not
happen when the Constitution and
the laws arc enforced by vigilant
and faithful Congress Each House
is made the "iudge of the elections,
returns, and qualifications Of its own
and may, "witb the con
currence of two-thirds, expel mem
ber." When a Senator or representa-
tive presents his certificate Of cleo
ton, he may at orce be admitted or
or, should there be any ques.
tion as to his eligibility, his creden-
tials may be referred for investigation
to the appropriate committee If fad-
mitted to a seat, it must be upon evi-
dence satisfactory to the House of
which he becomes member, that he
possesses the requisite constitutional
and legal qualifications If refused
as member for want Of
due allegiance TO the Government, and
returned to his constituents, they are
admonished that none but persons 10y
al TO the United States will be allow
ed a voice in the legislative councils
Of the nation, and the political power
and moral influence Of Congress are
thus effectively oxerted in the interest
Of loyalty to the Government and
fidelity to the Union. Upon thisque
ton, so vitally affecting the restora-
ton Of the Union and the permanen-
cy Of our present form Of government,
my convictions, heretofore expressed,
have undergone no change; but, on
the contrary, their correctness has
been confirmed by reflection and
time. If the admission of loyal mem