Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-21
BLOOMsBURG. COLUMBIA CO.. Pa WEDNESDAY, N

those governments set up under his au-
thority and protection should be recog
nized as lawful and valid governments
for those Stasesin all respects, and tha
the people who adhered to them, should
az a matter of course and oil right, b.
4 represented in both Houses of Congress
and participate in presidential elections.
A doctrine so unreasonable, so mon.
strous, could not pass unchallcnged. II
was resisted in Congress and resisted
with success. On the 29sh of June
1864, FIshback and Baxter, claiming
seats in this Senate as Senator'S from
Arkansas, were rejected by vote of %
10 g. On the Sth day of February, 1865,
Congress BY joint resolution determined
that the electoral votes of Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Tennessee, and Virginia, Gas
we'll as ofs other southern States, should
not be counted Tor President and Vice
President in the joint convention of the
two Houses then about to be held. And
at the last session, claimants 10 seats in
this Senate from Lousianaia, Arkansas,
and Virginia we're not admitted.
Ia all this | concurred most heartily.
| thought it unjust and scandalous that
small part of. the population of q
southern State should WELD the whole
political power of the State in Congress
and in the election Of Presi lent. Be-
sides, the governments set up in those
STATE were military rather than popular;
they were, VIGOROUSLY, not only set up
but conducted under military surveil-
lance. In short, they were military and
provisional, both in origin and character,
and were wholly unfit to wield the for
mer political power of those States in
this Government.
But, as local governments for the pres
ervation of order and in aid OF our mil
itary power, they were, in my opinion,
most proper and useful. Local govern
ment which would otherwise have been
managed exclusively by our military off
GERS, under the President, was, through
them, managed and administered (as far
as could be done with safety by the pco
pie themselves. Those who were friendly
to our cau.e in the hostile section, who
adhered to US in the struggle in WHICH
We were engaged, acted in aid Of US and
in subscrvience 10 our military command
ers, conducted their own affairs. When
our Army was in Mexico under General
Scott, the municipal authorities of cities
and towns who were friendly OF abstain
ed from hostilities against us-were per-
mittcd to carry on their owB local gov
ernments in subordination to our author
iIy. could never see the slightest diff
Guilty in holding that Mr.. Lincolns
provisional governors and local govern
ments were quite regular and lawful
But it was quite absurd to hold, as some
held, that they were State governors
and State governments in the ordinary
sense of tho,e terms, and that the miner
tiles who submitted to them were to be
considered the whole people for purposes
OF representation in Congress and for
participation in presidential elections.
But now, the war being concluded,
the southern armies having surrendered,
the whole southern people having sub
mittcd to the authority Of the United
States, the question of the recognition
of these Lincoln governments recurs
upon uss They are still in existence ,and
ask recognition from the President ands
from Congress as real and complete State
governments for all persons whatsoever.
1t clearly follows, from what 1 have
said, that the argument in their favor
must.be placed upon grounds which did
not exist during the war. Actual indie.
pendence of military control, and the ac-
quiescence Of the people Of the States
interested, must clearly appear to jnstify
the full admission of their claims How
ever imperfect they may have been as
State governments originally. however
local aud provisional in character and
to military domination for
merly, they may become complete and
acceptable State governments by the act
or acquiescence ofthe people concerned,
the military power formerly exercised
over them being Withdrawn. In this
view, neither irregularity of origin nor
an imperfect constitution in their earlier
stages need prevent their present recog
nitioa. | am content to take up each
case and jugdc it upon the particular
facts which pertain to it.
But most of the reorganized State
governments present themselves before US
IN different attitude they form a dis
linct class from those just mentioned.
They have been formed at the instance
Of the President of the United States
since the termination of tho war, aud in
! manner which l. consider to be.perfectly
regular and lawful. The people have,
through selected delegates, formed con-
Of State government, and have,
subsequently,. under regulation of law,
elected Legislatures and Representatives
in Congress. And their Legislatures
have selected Senators for seats in this
body. Tho proceeding Of reorganization
has been popular, although initiated By