The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-12-13

ernment, and returned to his constituents,
they are admonished that none but per-
sons loyal to the United States will be al
lowed voice in the Legislative Councils
of the nation, and the political power and
moral influence of Congress are thus eff
fectively exerted iu the interests of loyal
ty to the Government and fidelity to the
Union. Upon this question, so vitally
affecting the restoration of the Union and
permanency of our present form of gov
ernment, my convictions, heretofore ex-
pressed, have undergone no change; but,
on the contrary, their correctness has been
confirmed by reflections and time. IF
the admission of loyal members to seats
in the respective Houses of Congress was
wise and expedient year ago, it is no
less wise, and expedient now. If this
anomalous condition is right now-if, in
the exact condition of these States at the
present time, it is lawful to exclude them
from presentation, [ do not see that the
question will be changed by the eff1ux of
time. Ten years hence, if these States
remain as they are, the right of represen-
tatlon will be no stronger-the right of
exclusion VIII be no weaker.
The Constitution of the United States
makes it the duty of the President to re-
commended to the consideration of Con-.
gress such measures as he shall Judge
necessary or expedient" / know of no
measure more imperatively demanded by
every consideration of national interest,
sound policy, and equal justice, than the ad.
mission of loyal members from the now un-
represented States. This would consum-
mate the work of restoration, and exert
most salutary influence in the establish
ment of peace, harmony and fraternal
feeling 1t would tend greatly to renew
the confidence of the American people in
the vigor and stability of their institu-
tions. 1t would bind US more closely to-
gether as nation, and enable US to show
to the world the inherent and recupera-
tive power of Government founded up
on the will of the people, and established
upon the principles of liberty, justice and
intelligence. Our increased strength and
enhanced prosperity would irrefragably
demonstrate the fallacy of the arguments
against free institutions drawn from our
recent national disorders by the enemies
of our republican government. The ad-
mission of loyal members from the States
now excluded from Congress, by allaying
doubt and apprehension, would turn cap
ital, now awaiting an opportunity for in
vestment, into the channels of trade and
industry. 1t would alleviate the present
condition of those States, and, by Undue
ing emigration, aid in the settlement of
fertile regions now uncultivated, aud lead
to an increased production of those sta
Piles which have added so greatly to the
wealth of the nation and the commerce of
the world. New fields of enterprise would
be opened to our progressive people, and
soon the devastations of war would be re-
paired and all traces of our domestic diff
ferences effaced from the minds of our
countrymen.
He next warns the people against the
danger of Capitalization of power, in the
following language:
In our efforts to preserve "the unity Of
Government which constitutes us one peo-
pie" by restoring the States to the con-
dition which they held prior to the rebel
lion, we should be cautious, lest, having
rescued our nation, from perils of threat
ened disintegration, we resort to consoli-
dation, and in the end absolute despotism,
as remedy for the recurrence of similar
troubles. The war having terminated,
and with it all occasion for the exercise of
doubtful constitutionality, we should has
ten to bring Legislation within the bound
aries prescribed by the Constitution, and
to return to the ancient landmarks estab-
lished by our fathers for the guidance of
succeeding generations "The Constitu-
tion which at any time exists, until chang
ed by an explicit and authentic act of the
whole people, is saeredly obligatory upon
all" &c If, in the opinion of the people,
the distribution or modification of the
constitutional powers be, in any particu-
lar wrong, let it be corrected by an amend
ment in the way in which the Constitu-
ton designates. But let there be no
change by usurpation, for it is the custo-
mary weapon by which free Governments
are destroyed" Washington spoke these
words to his countrymen when, followed
by their love and gratitude, he volunta-
rily retired from the cares of public life.
+" To keep in all things within the pale OF
our constitutional powers, and cherish the
Federal Union as the only rock of safety,
were prescribed by Jefferson as rules of
action to endear to his countrymen the
true principles of their Constitution, and
promote a union of sentiment and action
equally auspicious to their happiness and
safety" Jackson held that the action of
the General Government should always
be strictly confined to the sphere of its
appropriate duties, and justly and forci-
bly, urged that our Government is not to
be maintained nor our Unien preserved
by invasions of the rights and powers of
the several States. In thus attempting
to make our General Government strong,
we make it weak. It's true strength con-
sists in leaving individuals and States as
much as possible to themselves; in max