The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-24

weighing svidsnss. and deciding the question o
membership. What testimony has been tsksp, OF
what evidence has been presented on the question
70 either branch Of Congress, what Judgment vii
/. be given, 10 not known TO me- nor have the right
q ioquirinsi for neither y. right nor the duty o
deciding Il devolved upon me. But the course o.
the President In thus referring the question Of IL
own members TO the Judgment Of each House O
oongre" received, and continues 10 receive, my
cordial support.
Besides tho steps taken BY the Executive 10 70
store the constitutional relations Of the States BIZ
annual message called the attention Of Congress tS
the necessity Of ensuring the security Of the freed
msni reminding CONGRESS that while he had nc
doubt that the General Government could not ex.
tend the elective franchise, at Is equally clear thai
good faith requires the security Of the freedmen in
their liberty and prosperity, their right to labor,
and their right to claim the Just return Of thsii
laborin and observing further that "Ths country
IL In need Of labor, and the freedmen are In need
Of employment, eHifHre, and protection" In con.
nection with this subject, the President further 70.
marks: ny
| Slavery was essentially monopoly Of labor
and as such locked the States where Il prevailed
against the incoming Of free industry Where labor
was the property Of the capitalist, the white man
was excluded from employment, or had but the
second-best chance Of Ending IT. and the foreign
emigrant turned away from the region where his
condition would be so preoarious. With the de.
struction OF the monopoly, free labor will hasten
/ from all parts Of tho civilized world TO as.
sist In developing various and immeasurable re.
sources which have hitherto lain dormant The
eight or nine States nearest the Gufo Mexico have
soil Of oxuberant fertility, Eolimate friendly TO
long life, and sustain denser population than
s found a. yet In any part Of country; and the
future influx Of population to them will be mainly
from the North, or from the most cultivated ma
tions In Europe"
These views Of the President In relation to the
freedmen received and continue to receive my
hearty concurrence. They have guided the action
Of the War Department, and were substantially
advocated In It's annual report In what I believed
an honest desire to conform TO them, q bill was
passed BY Congress regulating the Freedmen's
Bureau But the provisions Of the bill did not
meet the Presidspts approval, because he believed
the powers conferred upon him, and upon the
agents to be appointed by him, to be unwise and
unconstitutional. Cohcurring In tho object Of the
bill, and regarding the power as temporary, and
safe In his hands, advised its approval. But
having been returned TO Congress with the Presi.
dents objections, and having Jailed the needfu
support, It 10 no longer living measure nor the
subject Of debate or difference Of opinion.
Another congressional measure, called the Civil
Rights BILL has been the subject Of conflict. That
bill, now law. has for it's object the security Of
civil right In the insurrectionary States. It was
we'll observed by the President In his annual mes-
sage that peaceful emigration TO and from that
PORTION Of the country the Southern States) is one
Of The best 1leans that eau be thought Of for tie res
tordfioM Of harmony" It's possible interference
with such emigration was one Of the chief ohec-
tions to military rule. And by some it Is thought
that the influence Of class legislation, in favor of
the slaveholding monopoly heretofore existing in
the Southern States, would still be strongly exerted
to prevent peaceful emigration into those States,
and would exclude the iaboring population Of the
North from that soil Of sxubsrant fertility and
friendly climate that productive region embracing
the eight or nine States nearest the Gulf Of Mexco
And that hence civil rights In those States should be
vigilautly protected by Federal laws and Federal
tribunals. Although the measures enacted by Con-
gess for this purpose failed to receive tho executive
sanction, yet having been adhered TO by two.
thirds vote In each House. they have now passed TO
the statute book and ceased to be the subject Of
debate. ''I ~
Another measure or series Of measures Of prime
importance, now pending before Congress, merits
briefremark, namely: the plan Of restoration or re-
construction, as s sometimes called To the plan
reported by the Joint committee I have not been
able to give my assent. II eontemplates an amend
ment to the Federal Constitution the third section
Of the proposed article being in these terms:
Sec. 8. Until the fourth day Of July, In the
year Que thousand eight hundred ard serenity, all
persons who voluntarily adhered to the late insur.
rection giving II aid and comfort, shaH Be ercindsd
from the right to vote for representatives in Con-
gress and for electors for President and Vice Pres
Amt Of the United States" ..'
Ir Is urged by the advocates Of this plan that this
third section Ia the vital one. without which the
others are Of no value It's exclusive action will no
doubt commend II to the feelings Of many as a wise
and just provision but unable SO to regard it.
because for four years II binds Congress to exclude
iom voting for representatives or presidential
electors call persons who voluntarily adhered to
the late insurrection, giving 1t aid and comfort "
No matter what may be the condition Of the
country, nor what proofs Of present and future
loyalty may be given, an absolute constitutional
bar Is to be erected for four years against large
class Of persons. Change Of circumstances and
condition often work rapid change in party orpolit
ical sentimentsj and nowhere with more parked
result than In the South. II Is believed that Gle.
ments Of change are now at work there, stimulating
on one side to loyalty and the other tending TO
continued hostile feelings. In my judgment, every
proper Indictment TO union should be fostered and
cherished, and for Congress to limit its own power,
by constitutional amendment for the period Of four
years, might be deplorable in It's result. To those
who differ accord the same honesty, and perhaps
greater wisdom than can claim for myself As
the proposed plan now stands, am unable to per-
ceive the necessity justice or wisdom OF the meas.
ure. But, having no place or voice in the body
before which the measure Is pending, discaim
any purRQse to interfere beyond he expression Of
my OWN pinion.
Having thus declared my views, as they have
heretofqJe been declared to those who had a right
to know them, on the material questions that have
lately arisen or are now pending trust that your
purpose on this occasion Is answered; and shall
be glad II their expression may have any beneficial
influence on questions the right disposition whereof
Is matter Of solicitude to every patriotic man,
and Is deeply important to tho peace and tranquil
lity OF the country Recognizing the constitutional
power Of all the coordinate branches of govern. |
me"t-legislstive judicial, and eiecutive-and en-
tertaining for each the respect which is due from
every loyal citizen, they are entitled to and shah
receive, according to my best Judgment, the sup
port which Is required by that Constitution which,
after unexampled conflict, has been upheld and |