Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-12-12

Suffrage IN the Cenabe. 1neSe pIOVLoiOIi
were in ended to secure to every State, ant
to the people of every State, the right
repres entation In each House of Congress
and so important was it deemed by the fra
mers of the Constitution that the equality o
the States in the Senate should be preserv
ed, that not even by an amendment OF the
| Constitution can any State, without Its con
sent, be denied voice in that branch of the
National Legislature.
It is true, it has been assumed that the ex
istence Of the States war terminated by the
rebellious acts of their inhabitants, and that
the insurrection having been suppressed,
they were thenceforward to be considered
merely as conquered territories. The Leg
islatiYe, Executive, and Judicial Depart
ments of the Government have, however,
with great distinctness and uniform consist
ency, refused to sanction an assumption so
incompatible with the nature of our repub-
lean system, and with the professed objects
of the war. Throughout the recent legisla-
ton of Congress, the undeniable fact makes
itself apparent, that these ten political COM
munities are nothing less than States of this
Union. At the very commencement of the
rebellion, each House declared, with una
nimity as remarkable as it was significant
that the war was not, "waged, upon our
part, in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor pur-
pose of overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions Of those
States, but to defend and maintain the su-
premaey of the Constitution and all laws
made In pursuance thereof, and to preserve
the Union with all the dignity, equality, and
rights of the several States unimpaired and
that as soon as these objects" were accom-
plished the war ought to cease In some
instances Senators were permitted to contin-
ue their legislative functions, while in other
instances Representatives were elected and
admitted to seats after their States had for
mally declared their right to withdraw from
the Union, and were endeavoring to main
tain that right by force of arms. All of the
States whose people were in insurrection, as
States, wer' Included In the apportionment
of the direS5 tax of twenty millions of dol
lars annually laid upon the United States BY
the act of March 4th, 1862, and by the ap-
portionment of representation Hereunder
also recognized their presence as States In
the Union and they have, for judicial pur-
poses, been divided into districts, as States
alone can be divided. The same recognition
appears in the recent legislation in reference
to Tennessee, which evidently rests upon the
fact that the functions of the State were not
destroyed by the rebellion, but merely sus-
pended and that principle is of course ap-
plicable to those States which, ike Tennes-
see, attempted to renounce their places in
the Union.
The action of the Executive Department
of the Government upon this subject has
been equally definite and uniform, and the
purpose of the war was specifically stated in
the Proclamation issued by my predecessor
On the 22d day of September, 1862. 1t was
then solemnly proclaimed and declared that
hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be
for the object of practically re-
storing the constitutional relation between
he United States and each of the States
Ind the people thereof, in which States that
relation IS or may be suspended or disturb
ID"
The recognition of the States by the Ju-
licial Department of the Government has |
4lso been clear and conclusive in all proceed
ngs affecting them as States, had In the Su-
IRENE, Circuit and District Courts
In the admission of Senators and Repre- |
entatives from any and all of the States,
here can be no jus. ground for apprehen-
ion that persons who are disloyal will be |
lothed with the powers of legislation for |
his could not happen when the Constitution
nd the laws are enforced by a vigilant and
iithful Congress. Each house is made the
judge of the elections, returns, and quail
cations of its own members, and may,
with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel
member. When Senator or Repre-
sntative presents his certificate of election,
e may at once be admitted or rejected or
hould there be any question as to his eligi-
llity, his credentials may be referred for
lveStigation to the appropriate committee.
admitted to a seat, it must be upon evi-
ence satisfactory to he-House of which he
aus becomes a member, and he possesses
le requisite Constitutional and legal quail
cations. If refused admission as MEM
er for want of due allegiance to the Gov
rnment, and returned to his constituents,
hey are admonished that none but persons
'yal to the United States will be allowed a
oice in the Legislative Councils of the ma
on, and the political power and mo.al in
uence of Congress are thus effectively ex-
rted IN the interests of loyalty to the Gov
rnment and fidelity to the Union. Upon
his question, SO vitally affecting the resto-
1tion of the Union and the permanency
our present form of government, my con-
lotions, heretofore expressed, have under
one no change; but, on the contrary, their
orrectness has been confirmed by reflection
nd time. If the admission of loyal mem
ers to seats in the respective Houses of
ongress was wise and expedient year ago,
is no less wise and expedient now. If this
condition is right now-if, in the
zact condition of these States at the pres
1T time, it is lawful to exclude them from
| do not see that the ques-
on will be changed by the efflux of time.
en- years hence, if these States remain as
ley are, the right of representation will be
, stronger-the right of exclusion will be
} weaker.
The Constitution of the United States
axes it the duty of the President to rec
nmend to the consideration of Congress
such measures as he shall judge necessary
expedient" know of no measure more
aperztively demanded by everv considera-
On of national interest, sound policy. and
Iual justice, than the admission of loyal
embers from the now unrepresented
tates. This would consummate the work
restoration, and exert most salutary in
1ence In the re-establishmeht of peace,
n 4