Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Telesraphic Cor. Cincinnati COMMERCIAL

idents message will be delivered to-mol
row to both Houses of Congress, at
pm, by Col. Robert ohnson, the Privat
Secretary. Within an hour from tina
time it will be issued in full from tn
Offices of the leading journals of thi
country. There will be, therefore, n
violation of faith nor promise in anticl
pating few hours its salient and impor
tant points in the following correct syn
opsis: :,
The message opens, as usual, will
thanks TO Providence for the peace ant
prosperity, in the abatement Of the pesti
lence and the restoration of civil author
ity throughout the United States.
A review is then had of the facts Sc
forth in the last message, relative to the
measures which the Executive had taker
for the gradual restoration of the South
ern States 10 the Union, such as appoint
ing Provisional Governors, etc. Only
one thing then remained, the message
says, to be done, and that was the ad
mission of the loyal representatives, te
Congress. This question was devolved
solely on Congress In the meantime
the President says, no other plan having
been proposed, he continued his efforts
to perfect restoration through the Ju
dicial, revenue and postal systems of the
country.
The South had also ratified the amend
ment abolishing slavery, conformed their
social laws to the fact, repudiated the
rebel debts, and proceeded in good faith
TO legislate for the amelioration OF the
colored race.
The President then spoke as follows
Congress, however, yet hesitated to
admit any of these States to represent
alton, and it was near the close of the
eighth month of the session that an ex-
ception was made in favor of Tennes-
see.
81 deem it q subject of profound re-
greet that Congress has thus far failed TO
admit to seats the loyal Senators and
Representatives from the other States,
wherein the inhabitants, with those OF
Tennessee, had engaged in rebellion I;
ten States, more than one-fourth of the
whole number, remain without repre-
sentation. The seats of fifty members
of the House and twenty of the Senate
are yet vacant, not by their own con.
sent, not by failure of election, but by
the refusal of Congress to accept their
credentials.
"Their admission, it is believed, would
have accomplished much toward the re-
newal and strengthening of our relations
as one people, and removed serious cause
for discomfort on the part of the people
of those States. Ii would have accorded
with the great principle enunciated in
the Declaration Of Independence, that
no people ought to bear the burden of
taxation and yet be denied representa-
ton. 1t would have been in consonance
with the express provisions of the Con-
stituiion, that each State shall have at
least one Representative, and that no
State, without its consent, shall be de-
prived of equal suffrage in the Senate.
These provisions were intended to
secure to every State the right of repre-.
sentation in Congress, and SO important
was it deemed by the trainers Of the Con-
stitution that the equality of States shall
be preserved in the Senate, that not even
by an amendment Of the Constitution
can any STATE, without its consent. be
denied voice in that branch Of the Ma
tional Legislature.
at has been assumed that these States
by rebellion BECAME Territories, but all
departments Of the Government with
great distinctness refused to sanction an
assumption so incompatible with the
nature Of our republican system, and
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.
The President then quotes the Critten-
den resolutions Of 1861 on the object Of
the war, and reviews the legislation of
Congress wherein the States are recog-
nized, aud also in Lincoln's proclama-
ton. He then proceeds again, as fol-
lows:
"In the admission Of Senators and
Representatives from all the States there
can be no grounds Of apprehension that
persons who are disloyal will be clothed
with the powers Of legislation, for this
could not happen when the Constitution
and laws are enforced by vigilant and
faithful Congress Each House is the
Judge of its own members. A Senator or
member may be adnItiSd or Isjec;sd, or
his credentials referred to a proper com
mittee IL admitted to seat, it must be
on evidence satisfactory that he pos
sesses the requisite loyal and constitu-
tional qualifications If refused admis-
sion, and sent to his constituents for want
of allegiance, they are admonished that
none but persons loyal to the United
States will be allowed in the councils of
the nation, and the power aud moral
influence Of Congress are thus effectively
exeried in the interest Of loyalty to the
Government and fidelity to the Union.
Upon this question 30 vitality affect
ing the restoration Of the Union, and
the permaneney Of our form Of govern
ment, my convictions, heretofore ez-
pressed, have undergone no change, bu.
on the contrary, their correctness has
been confirmed by reflection and time.
IF the admission Of loyal members
10 seats in Congress was wise and expe-
dent year ago, il is no less wise and
expedient now. II this anomalous con
dition is right now-if in the exact con
diiion Of these States at the present
time, il is lawful to exclude them from
representation, / do not see that the
question will be changed by the effect OF
tine. Ten years hence, If these States
remain as they are, the right Of repre-
sentAtion will he no stronger and the
right Of exclusion viii be no weaker.
THE Constitution makes it the dnty
Of the President 10 recommend TO the
consideration Of Congress such measures
as be shall ieen eIpedient ] know o.