Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-04
The PresIdehl's second Annual
NlaannRe.

reader the Second Annual Message of Presi-
d,nt JOHNSON. 1t is worthy OF the man
and the occasion. In language, 1t Is deco
rous; in argument, touching the non-rep-
resented States, It is unanswerable! The
non-represented States are members of the
Union, by Constitutional right-so recog-.
nized by every department Of the Federal
Government since the overthrow aud sur
render Of the Rebellion Most fool-hardy
would 1t be, then, to put those States intoa
territorial condition and to hold them in
definitely in that relation. For such
course there is absolutely no need, were
there In the Constitution even an implied
right (Which there is nOt) under GER
tain circumstances to so deal with them.
With great proprlety have the people of
those States conducted themselves since
the surrender of the Confederate armies.
Dispassionate men who will sit down and
deliberately take into account the obsti-
macy aud persistency with which they,
70 lght to take themselves out Of the Union
for the purpose of establishing, an inde-
pendent Republie-the great sacrifices they
made to this end-can not otherwise than
admit that the order they haYe maintained
since they abandoned all hostility to the
Federal Government has been immeasur-
ably in excess of the expectation that
was generally entertained at the time OF
such abandonment by the Confederate
armies. Nineteen months ago they sur
rendered. And how well they have kept
faith is illustrated by the Presidents as
surance that peace prevails everywhere
throughout the limits of the United States,
and no where more profoundly than In the
lately insurgent States. Nothing Of con-
tumacy to the Federal authority is there
exhibited nothing of discomfort at the
supremacy of the Federal power is there
shown. AS -dutifully do they perform their
duties as do the people Of Ohio perform
theirs. Natural it is, in view of this, that
the President should assert, with an air of
proud satisfaction, that time has but
strengthened his conviction in the beneh-
cence of the policy he has thus far carried
out, and the views he urged upon the con-
sideration of Congress in his first Annual
Message. as
The Presidents argument is precisely
what it was one year ago. Save in one par
ticular, the work of restoration is complete.
With everything that could rightfully be
demanded, as an attestation of sincerity in
future to behave themselves in the Union,
;nenrnanf Ctofoo hat,a onnnplia1 Clav-
cry they have abolished forever, and they
have made provision that the Slaves thus
set free shall be protected in life, person and
property; Secession they have renounced
for all time, the Confederate or Rebel debt
they have repudiated. Does this furnish
ground on which to bottom surprise that
the President cannot see the propriety of
longer denying to those States their right
of representation in both branches of
Congress? He don't undertake to say who
shall and who shall not be Senators and
r representatives.. That is "a question,
the determination of which he leaves
precisely where the Constitution leayesit
with Congress and the people of the re-
spective States; but he does ask, in the
name of the Constitution-in the name of
Republican governmentAthat the now ex-
cluded States shall Immediately be adj
mitted to full Statehood. He asks that this
shall be done that the material interests of
the country may be promoted. Rightfully
does he believe that as long as Congress
shall arbitrarily exclude ten States from
their constitutional rights in the Union,
that just 80 long must the business inter-
ests of the country necessarily suffer.
Further amendments to the Constitution
he evidently does not think should be taken
into consideration until the now ex-
cluded States are admitted to voice
in the Federal Congress. Hence, he
makes no allusion to the pending Constitu-
tional Amendment; hence, he makes no
reference to Universal or Impartial Suf-
frage. Steadfast and true, without change
or variation, he adheres to the policy he
has thus far pursued, and which has been
SO salutary I'm paeifying the South, and
causing love for the old Union to grow up
In the hearts of those who lately were SO
implacably bent on fighting their way out
of it, t.as e1 rsrf 4sriio g,r y gai79G
The President calls the attention Of Cop-
gress TO the necessity of carryingintO every
department of Government a system of
rigid accountability, thorough retrench-
meht and wise economy. He urges the les
fsening OF taxation and the modification of
the revenue laws. Although there has been
retrenchment in the Military department,
yet "sufficient war material to meet any
emergency has been retalned.n The Naval
armis sufficiently strong and so disposed
as to "best promote American commerce.,
and protect the rights and interests of oar
coHntfymen abroad.n The Postal service
Is inamost satisfactory condition. In re-
gard to the early development Of our agri-
cultilral resources The President makes
very just suggestIons, as wen as 10 regard
to Congressional land grants to corpora
tions. He thinks the District of Columbia
h should Do favored withH Delegate in Con-
gress, the same as Territories. =
Our relations with France, in regard 10
the Mexican business, and our relations
with Great Britain, arising out of the dep
relations upon our national nommerce and
other trespasses committed during our civil
war by citizens Of Great Britain, In viola
tion Of international law and treaty obliga-
&to.. 49, ,,,f a., na x.o,.faf,f a ~ a.