Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-03-03

on the 22nd ulr., 10 support President
Johnson in his policy of restoring the
Union and Ia sustain him in his late veto
of the Frcedmen's Bureau BIZ. Many
speeches were made and a long series OF
Resolutions adopted y hich we're present
ed - hjm al the W White House, to which
he replied in part in the following em-
phatc and signiiean speech
Tie rebellion is put down by the strong
arm of the Government, in the field. Bui
is lals the ouly way in which we can
have rcbtlIi.ns? This was struggle
against change and revolution oG the
Gnyernment and before we fully get
from the bajtIe,irld,-when our brave
men have scarcely returned TO their
homes and renewed the lies OF affection
Iaud love to their wives and their children
we are now almost inaugurated into
another rebellion. Cheers One re-
bclon was the elIou Of States 10 secede,
land the var on the part Of the Govern
ment vas To prevent them from accom-
Iplshing thai. and thereby changing the
.charaTi of our Government and weaken
hog lis power. When the Government
as succeeded, There is an attempt now TO
tcoucenirale I'll power IN the hands of
itw al the Federal head. and thereby tring
sboul consolidation of the Republic
whlch is eqpAliy Objectionable with lis
dissolution. Cheers. We fad pow
er assumed and attempted to be exercised
Of most eXtraNrdInaEy character. We
see now that governments Can be revoiu-
ionlz"d without going iuto the bat!Ir.
field; aud someIl.ues the revolutions most
distressing to a people are effected with
out the ehrddins Of blood. That is, the
substance of your Government may be
taken away while there is held oul to you
the form and the shadow. And now,
what are the attempts and what is being
IproposeU We find that by an rrespon.
si5le cpntral directory nearly all the pow.
egs Of Congress are assumed without even
) consulting Ihe legislative aud executive
departments OF the Government. BY
lr,soiulun reported by committee upon
whom and i'll whom ;he legislative power
: Of the Government has been lodged, that
great principle in the Constitution which
authorizes and empowers the legislative
! department, the Senate and House Of Rep.
? reseulatlves, 10 be The judges Of elections,
J returns, and qualifications of lis own mem
bers, has been virtual taken away from
The two respective branches of The Na-
rional Legislature, and conferred upon
committee, who most report before The
body can act on the question Of the ad
mission OF members in their seats. By
tbIs rule they aasuDc a Sale Is out OF
the Union, and to have lis practical rela
lions restored by tina, rule, before the
House can Judge Of the qualifications Of
its own members. What position is that!
You have been struggling Tor four years
10 yul down rebellion. You contendel
at tie beginning of that struggle that a
State had not a hight to go out. You said
il had neither the right nor the power,
and it has been settled that the States had
neither tie light nor the power 10 90 out
Of tie Union. And when YOU determine
by the executive, by the military, and by
the public judgment, that these States
cannot have any right 10 90 out, this CON.
mittee turns around and assumes that they
are out, and that they shall no, come in.
am :ree to say 10 you as your EXecu-
tive that am not prepared TO take any
such position. Great cheering said
in the Senate, in the very inception Of
this rebellion, that the States had no right |
to secede. That question has been set
lied, thus determined, | cannot torn round
and give the lie direct TO sll tha, proleas
TO have done during the last four years. | |
say that when the States that atte pied to
secede comply with the Constitution, and
give sufficient evidence of loyalty, shall
extend to them the right hand of fellow
ship, and let peace and union be restored.
| am opposed 10 the Davises, the
Toombses, the SIidels, and the long list
such. But when | perceive on the
other hand men A voice, Call them
off," | care not by what name you call
lhem-slil opposed to the Union, | am
free 10 say TO you that | am still with the
people. | am still for the preservation
of these Slales-Tor the preservation OF
this Union, and in favor Of his grea! Gov
ernmen: accomplishing lis destiny.
Here the President was called upon
to give the names Of three Of the members
OF Congress TO whom he had alluded as
being opposed TO the Union