The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-23


present all the people OF eleven States
are excluded--those who were most
faithful during the war not less than
others. The State of Tennessee, for
instance, whose authorities were en-.
gagged in the rebellion, was restored
to all her constitutional relations to
the Union by the patriotism and en-.
ergy of her injured and betrayed
people. Before the war was brought
to termination, they had placed
themselves in relations with the gen
cral Government, and had establish.
cd State Government of their own
As they were not included in the
emancipation proclamation, they, by
their own acts, have amended their
Constitution so as to abolish slavery
within the limits OF their own State,
| know no reason why the State of
Tennessee, for example, should not
fully enjoy her Constitutional rela-
tions to the United States. The
President of the United States stands
toward the country in q somewhat
different attitude from that of any
member of Congress, chosen from q
single district or State. The Presi.
dent is chosen 10y the people of all
the States. Eleven States are not
at this time represented in either
branch of Congress. 1t would seem
to he his duty on all proper occasions
TO present their just claims to Con
grcss. There always will he diff +
ences Of opinion in the community,
and individuals may he guilty of
Itransgression of the law; but
these do not constitute valid
objections against the right OF q
State to representation.
ltwould in nowise interfere with the
discretion of Congress with regard
to the qualification of members, but
| hold it my duty to recommend to
you in the interest of the Union, the
admission OF every State to its full
share of public legislation, when,
however lnsubordinate, insurgent or
rebcllious its people may have been,
it presents itself, not only in an atti-
tude OF loyalty and harmony, but in
the persons of Republicans whose
loyalty cannot be questioned under
the existing constitutional or legal
test. 1t is PLAIN that an indefinite or
permanent exclusion of any part of
the country from representation,
must be attended by spirit of dis
gust and complaint. 1t is unwise
and dangerous TO pursue n course OF
measures which will unite any large
section of the country against anoth.
el section of the country, no matter
how much the latter may predomi-
mate.
The course of immigration, devol.
opment of industry and business and
natural causes will raise up at the
South men rs devoted to the Union
as those of any other part of the land;
hut ii they are all excluded from
Congress, If in permanent statute
they are declared not to he in full
constitutional relations to the coun-
try, they may think they have cause
to become unit in feeling and sen.
timents against the Government
Under the political education of the
American people the idea is inherent
and ineradicable that the consent OF
tie majority Of the whole people is
! necessary to secure q willing acqui-
escence in legislation.
The bill under consideration re-
refers to certain of the States as tho
they had not been fully restored to
the United States. If they have not,
let us at once act together to secure
that desirable end ut the earliest pos
sible moment 1t is hardly neces.
sary for me to inform Congress that
in my own Judgment most of these
States, so far, at least, as depends
upon their own action, have already
. been fully restored, and are to be
deemed to be entitled to enjoy their
constitutional rights as members OF
the Union. Reasoning from the Con
G stitution itself, and from the actual
D situation of the country, / feel not
Il only entitled, but bound to assume
: that, the rights and interests Of all
classes of the people will, with tho
D aid of the military in cases of rcsis
; tance to the law, be essentially pro
IL tectcd against unconstitutional in
fringemenL and violation.
} Should this expectation unhappily
C fail, which | do not anticipate, ther
;, the Executive is already armed will
IT the powers conferred by the act o
'c March, 1865, establishing the Freed
VI mems Bureau, and hereafter, a.
> heretofore, he can employ the lane
o and naval forces of the country t
J. suppress insurrection and to over
o come Instructions to the laws.
IS return the Lill to the Senate, il
g the earnest hope that measure in
= volving questions and interests 81
C important to the country will not be
Il come n law, unless upon dcliberat,
} consideration by the people, it shal
II receive the sanction Of an enlighten
6 cd public Judgment.
u ANDREW JOHNSON.
c Washington, ID. c., Feb. 10, 1866