The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-24

In this connection, the ouery presents
itself, whether the system proposed by this
Dill viii not, when put into complete ope-
ration, practically transfer the entire care.
support and control Of 600, 000O of eman-
clPated slaves to agents, overseers or task
masters, who, appointed at Washington,
are to be located in every County and Pa
rlsh throughout the United States contain
ing freedmen and refugees. Such system
would inevitably tend to concentration
OF power III the Executive, which would
enable him, II so disposed, to control the
action OF this numerous class, and use
ends. =
cannot but add another grave objection
to this bill. The Constitution imperatively
declares, In connection with taxation, that
each State shall have at least one repre-
sentative, and fixes the rule for the num-
per TO which, in future times, each State
shan be entitled. It also provides that the
Senate OF the United States shall be com
posed of two Senators from each State,
ana adds, with peculiar force that no
State, without its consent, shall be de-
Rr1ved OF its equal suffrage in the Senate.
Inc original act was necessarily passed in
the absence of the States chiefly to be az
fected, because their people we're contu-
naclously engaged in the rebellion Now,
the case Is changed, and some, at leest. OF
nose States, are attending Congress by
.oyal representatives, soliciting the allow
ance OF the Constitutional right of repre-
sentatlon. At the time, however, of the
consideration and the passing of this bill,
'here was no Senator pr Representative
N Congress from the eleven States which
are to be mainly affected by its provisions.
The very fact that reports were and are
mace against the good disposition of the
people OF that portion of the country, is an
additional 'eason why they need and
should ha' Representatives of their own
in Congress to explain their condition, re-
ply to accusations, and assist, by their
local knowledge, in the perfecting Of mea-
sures immediately affecting themselves.
While the liberty of deliberation would
then be free, and Congress would have full
power to decide according to its judgment,
there could be no objection urged that the
States most interested had not been per.
mltted to be heard.
The principle is firmly fixed in the minds
OF the American people that there should
be no taxation without representation.
Great burdens have now to be borne by all
the country, and we may best demand
that they shall be borne without murmur
when they are voted by majority of the
representatives of the people. would
not interfere with the unquestionable
right of Congress to Judge, each House
for itself, 'sof the elections, returns and
qualifications of its own Members But
that authority cannot be construed as
excluding the right to shut out, in time of
peace, any State from the representation
to which it is entitled by the Constitution.
At present, all the people of eleven States
are e1cluded-those who were most faith
full during the war not less than the others.
The State OF Tennessee, for instance, whose
authorities engaged in rebellion, was re-
stored to all her constitutional relations to
the Union by the patriotism and energy of
nd hnfro
the war was brought to termination, they
had placed themselves in relations with the
General Government, had established a
State Government of their own, and, as
they were not included in the emancipa-
tlon proclamation. they, by their own act,
had amended their Constitution so as to
abolish slavery within the limits of their
State. know no reason why the State Of
Tennessee, for example, should not fully
enjoy ''au her constitutional relations to
the United States
The President of the United States
stands towards the country in somewhat
different attitude from that of any member
of Congress. Each member of Congress
is chosen from u single District or State;
the President is chosen by the people Of
all the States. AS eleven States are not at
this time represented in either branch of
Congress, 1t would seem to be his duty on
all proper occasions to present their just
claims to Congress. There always will be
differences of opinion in the community,
and individuals may be guilty of trans
gressions of the law; but these do not con-
stitute valid objections against the right
OF a State to representation. I would in
no wise interfere with the discretion of
Congress with regard to the qualifications
of members, but 1 hold it my duty to re-
commend to you, in the interests Of peace
and in the interests of Union, the admis-
sion of every State to its share in public
legislation, when however insubordinate,
lnsurgent, or rebellious its people may
have been, it presents itself not only in an
| attitude of loyalty and harmony, but in
the persons of representatives, whose 10y
atty cannot be questioned under any ex-
istlhS constitutional or legal test.
1t is plain that an indefinite or permanent
exclusion of any part of the country from
OF dIsqulet and complaint 1t is unwlse and
dangerous to pursue course of measures
which will unite very large section of the
country against another large section OF
the country, however much the latter may
preponderate. The course of emigration,
the developments Of industry and business
and natural causes, will raise up at the
South men as devoted to the Union as those
of any other part Of the land But if they
are all excluded from Congress-if, in a
| permanent statute, they are declared to be
not in full constitutional relations to the
country, they may think they have cause tC
/ become u"it in feeling and sentiment
against the Government. Under the poll
teal education of the American people, the
idea is inherent and ineradicable that the
consent of the majority Of the whole people
is necessary to secure willing acquiescenct
In legislation.
The bill under consideration refers tt
certain of the States as though they hao
not ''been fully restored in all their Con
stitutional relations to the United States
If they have not. let us at once act to
gether to secure that desirable end at th
earliest possible moment. It is hardly ne
cessary for mo to inform Congress that, il