The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-03-02


what different attitude from that of
any member of Congress, Each mem
Der Of Congress Is chosen from q sin
Gle district or State;t tho r resident is
chosen BY the people Of all the States.
States are not at this time
represented 10 other branch Of Con.
gross, j would seem 10 DO his duty on
all proper occasions to present their
just claims to Congress, There always
will be differences bfiopi6ion) in tho
community, and individuals may DO
guilty Of transgresslohs of law but
these do not constitute valid objec-
tions against ~thoITight ola State to
representation. l would in no wise
interfere with the, discretion of Con-
gross with regard ID the q0Alifca.
tons Of members, bat I'hold il nay du-
ty to recommend to youin the inter
ests of peace and in tho interests Of
Union, the admission of every State
to its share in public legislation,
when, however, insubordinate insur-
gent, 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 loyalty cannot be questioned
under any existing constitutional or
legal test. 1t is plain that an iDdef-
mite or permanent exclusion of any
part of the country from representa-
ton must be attended by a spirit of
disquiet and complaint. 1t is unwise
and dangerous to pursue a course of
measures which will unite q very
large section Of the country against
another section ofthe country, how
eyer much the latter may preponder-
ate. The course Of emigration, the
development ofindustry and business
and natural causes, will raise at the
South men as devoted TO the Union
as those of any other part ofthe land.
But if they are all excluded from
Congress ; If in u permanent statute
they are declared not to be in full
constitutional relations to the coun-
try, they may think they have cause
to become u unit in feeling and senti-
ment against the Government. Under
the political education.ofthe American
people, the idea is inherent and inera-
dicable, that the consent Of the ma
jority of the whole peopleis necessa-
ry to secure a willing acquiesccnce in
legislation.
The bill under consideration refers
to certain nof the States as though
they had not " been fully restored in
all their constitutional relations to the
United States" If they have not, let
US at once act together to secure that
desirable end at tho earliest possible
moment. 1t is hardly necessary for
me to inform Congress that in my
own judgment most Of these States, so
far at least as depends upon their own
action, have already been fully restor.
ed, and are to be deemed as entitled
to enjoy their constitutional rights as
members of the Union, Reasoning
from the Constitution itself, and frem
the actual situation of the country, |
feel not only entitled, but bound to as
sumo that, with tho Federal courts
restored and those ofthe several States
in the full exercise Of their functions,
the rights and interests of all classes
Of tho people will with the aid Of the
IN litary in cases Of resistance to the
law, be essentially protected against
unconstitutional Infringement and vi
olation. Should this expectation fail,
which | do not anticipate, then the
Executive is already fully armed with
the powers conferred by the act Of
March, 1865, establishing the Freed
mems Bureau, and hereafter, as here
tofore, he can employ the land and
naval forces Of the country to sup
press i%nsurrection or to overcome OBJ
structions to the laws.
In accordance with the Constitu-
ton, | return the bill to the Senate,
in the earnest hope that u measure
involving questions and interests SO
important 20 the country viii not be-
come q law, unless upon deliberate
consideration by tho people it shall
receive the sanction of an enlightened
public judgment.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 10, 1866.