The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-24


The principle Is firmly liked in the minds
Of the American people that there can be
no taxation without representation. Great
burdens are now to be borne by all tho
country, and we may hest demand that
tiley. shall be borne without q mrrn err,
when they IRE voted by u majority of all
the representatives Of the people. Iwould
not interfere witithe UNREASONABLE riaht
of Congress. to Judge, each House for 1t
self, of tlie elections, returns, aud qualiti-
cations and members; but that authority
cannot be construed as including the right
TO mt ont, In time of peace, any State from
representatives to which 1t Is entitled by
The Constitution. At present all the peo-
nile of the United States nre included
those who are most faithful during tho
war. not less than others. The State Of
Tennessee, for instance, whore authorities
engaged IN the rebellion, was restored 10
all'her Constitutional relations to the In
ion by the patriotism and energy OF her
injured and outraged people before the
war was brought to o termination; they
had place themselves IN relations with the
General Government; mid had also estab-
lisled a State Government of their own;
and. as they were not Included in the O.
INAUGURATION proclamation, they, by their
own action, have amended their Constitn-
ton SO as to abolish slavery within the
limits of their State. L know no reason
WHY the State of Tennessee, for example,
should not fully enjoy her Constitutional
relations to the United States The Pres
idcnt of the United States stands towards
The country in n somewhat different atti-
tude from That Of any members of Con-
orpss chosen from n single district or state.
The President Is chosen by the people OF
ali the States; eleven States are not now
represented in Congress, and 1t would seem
TO be his duty on all proper occasions 10
prescnt their Just claims to Congress-
There always will be difference Of opinion
In the community, and individuals may
he guilty of transgrcssiOn of the law, but
these do not constitute valid objections a.
gainst the right ola State to representa-
I would in nowisc interfere with the
discretion of Congress with regard to the
qualification of members, but / hold it my
duty to recommend to you, in the interests
of peace and in the interests Of the Union.
the admission of every State to its share OF
the public Legislature, when, however IN
subordinate, insurgent or rebellious lts
people may have been, it presents itself,
not only in an attitude Of loyalty and har-
mony, but in the persons of representa-
tiyes, whose loyalty cannot be questioned:
Under the existing constituted or legal
test, it is plain that an indefinite or per-
manent exclusion of any part of the coun.
try from representation, must be attended
by u spirit of disquiet and complaint. it
Is unwise and dangerous to pursue acourse
of measure which will unite any large Sec
ton of the country against another Sec
ts,, rn ,nottn, how pNIInIl thn IntfprT NAV
predominant.
The course of immigration, the develop
ment of industry and business, and natu-
raj causes will raise up at the South, rs de-
voted to the Union as those of any part OF
the land but If they are all excluded from
Congress il, in q permanent statute. they
are declared not to be In full Constitution
al relations to the country, they may
think they have cause to become o unit In
feeling and sentiments against the Sow
eminent under the political educae ON Of
tile American people. The idea isAdQhe-
rent and ineradlcablc, that the cOnscat OF
the majority Of the whole people is neces-
sary to insure u willing acquiescence in
legislation. The bill under consideration
refers to certain Of the States as though
they had not been fully restored to the
United States, and, ifthey have not, let us
at once act together to insure that desira-
BILE end at the earliest possible moment,
1t is hardly necessary for me to inform
Congress that. in my own Judgment, most
of these States-so far at least as depends
upon their own actions, have alreadyabeen
fully restored and are entitled to enjoy
their Constitutional rights as members Of
the Union. Reasoning from the COnstitu-
ton itself and from the actual situation Of
the country, l feel not only entitled but
bound to assume that with the Federal
Courts restored in the several States and
in the full exercise of their functions, the
rights and interests of all classes of peO-
pie, with the aid Of military in case of re-
sistance to the law, will DE essentially pro-
tected against unconstitutiona fringe
ments and violation.
Should this expectation unhappily fail,
which | do not anticipate, then the EXccu-
tive is armed with the power conferred by
the act of March, 1865, establishing a Freed
mems Bureau; and hereafter, as hereto
fore, he Gun employ the land and naval
forces Of the country to suppress insurrec-
ton, and to overcome distractions to the
laws. ''' i"
I return the bill to the Senate, in earnest
hope that a measure involving questions
and interests so important to the country.
will not become a law, unless upon DELHI
crate consideration Of the people it shall
receive the sanction Of an enlightened pub
lie Judgment. , l.
[Signed.l A. JOHNSON.