The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-02-22

| to command almost his own terms
He also possesses a perfect right to
change his place of abode, and if
therefore, lie does not find in one
, community or State a mode of life
suited to his desires, or proper re.
} muneration for his labor, he can
move to another, where labor is
more esteemed and better rewar-
ded.
In truth, however, each State in
duced by its own wants and inter-
ests, will do what is necessary and
proper to retain within its borders
all the labor that is needed for the
development. of its resources. The
laws that regulate supply and de-
I mand will maintain their force, and
the wages of laborers will be regu-
lated thereby. There is no danger
that the great demand for labor
will not operate in favor of the lab
orer; neither is sufficient consider
alton given to the ability of the
| freedmen to protect and take care
ofthemselves.
+ 1t is no more than justice to them
to believe that as they have receiv-
their freedom with moderation and
forbearance, so they will distinguish
themselves by their industry; and
they feel and will soon show the
| world that in a condition of freedom
4 they are self-sustaining and capa-
bic Of selecting their own employ
ment and their own places of abode;
of insisting for themselves on a
| proper remuneration and of estab-
fishing and maintaining their own
asylums and schools. 1t is earnest
! ly hoped that instead of wasting
away they will by their own efforts
establish for themselves a condition
of respect ability and prosperity.
I 1t is certain they can attain to
that condition only through their
own merits and exerti9n. In this
connection the query presents it.
self, whether the system proposed
by the bill viii not, when put into
complete operation practically,
transfer the entire care, support
and control of -four millions of en-
ancipated slaves to agents, over
seers or taskmasters, who, appoint.
ed at Washington, are to be locat-
ed in every country and parish
throughout the United States, con-
tanning freedmen and refugees,
such a system would inevitably
tend to such a concentration of
power in the Executive which would
enable him, if so disposed, to con-
troll the action of q numerous class
and use them for the attainment of
his own political ends. L can not
but add another grave objection to
this bill. The Constitution imper-
atively declares, in connection with
taxation, that each State shall have
at least one Representative, and
fixes the rule for the number to
which in furture times, each State
shall be entitled.
1t also provides that the Senate of the
United States shall be composed Of two
Senators form each State without its pecu-
liar force that no State without its consent
shall be deprived Ofits suffrage in the Sem
ate. The original act was necessarily pass
ed in the absence of the States chiefly to be
affected because theirpeople were then con-
tumaciously engaged in the rebellion
Now the case is changed, and some, at1east
of the States are attending Congress by the
loyal representative. soliciting the allow
ance of the constitutional right of represen-
tatiOn. At the time, however of the con-
sideratiOn and passing of the bill, there was
10 Senator or Representative in Congress
from the eleven States which are to be
mainly affected by its provisions.
The very fact that reports were and are
made against the good disposition Ofthe
country, is an additional reason why they
need and should have representatives of
their own in Congress to explain their con-
dition. especially as to accusations, and as
sist by their local knowledge in the per-
fecting Of measures Immediately affecting
themselves, while the liberty of delibera-
ton would then be free and Congress
would have full power to decide according
to its Judgment, There could then be no
objection urged that the States most inter-
ested had not been permitted to be heard. |
The opinion is firmly fixed in the minds |
of the American people that there could be |
no taxation without representation. Great |
burdens are now to be borne by all the |
country, and we may best demand that |
they shall be born without murmur when
they are voted by majority of the repre-
sentatives of all the people, would not |
interfere with the unquestionable right of |
Congress to judge, each House for itself of
the elections, returns and qualifications of
its members; but that authority can not be |
construed as including the right to put out, |
in time of peace, any State from the repre-
sentatiOn to which it is entitled to by the
Constitution.
Atpresent all the people of eleven States
are excluded, those who were most faithful
during the war not less then others; the
State of Tennessee for instance, whose au-
thorities engaged in the rebellion, was re-
stored to all he Constitutional relations to
the Union by the patriotism and energy of
hpr ipinraI NJ fnU hnf -nI bae 4l.