Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-09


to the ability Of the freedmen to protect
and take care Of themselves. It is no more
than justice. to them to believe that, as they
have received their freedom with modera-
ton and forbearance, so they will distin-
guish themselves by their industry and
thrift, and soon show the world that in a
condition of freedom they are self-sus.ain-
ing, capable of selecting their own employ
ment and their own place of abode, of in
sisting for themselves on proper remuner.
ton, and of establishing and maintaining
their own asylums and schools. It is ear
nestly hoped that instead of wasting away,
they will by their own efforts establish for
themselves condition of respectability
and prosperity. 1t is certain that they can
attain to that condition only through their
own merits and exertions.
In this connection, the query presents
itself, whether the system proposed by this
bill will not, when put into complete ope-
ration, practically transfer the entire care,
support and control of 100000 of eman.
cipated slaves 10 agents, overseers or task
masters, who, appointed at Washington,
are to be located 10 every county and Par
ish throughout the United States contain
ing freedmen and refugees. Such system
would inevitably tend to concentration of
power in the Executive, which would enable
him, If so disposed, to control the action Of
this numerous class, and use them for tho
attainment Of his own political ends.
1cannot but add another grave objection
to this bill. The Constitution imperatively
declares, in connection with taxation. that
each State shall have at least one repre-
sentative, and fixes the rule for the number
TO which, in future times, each State shall
he entitled. It also provides that the Sen
ate of tho United States shall te composed
Of two Senators from each State, and adds,
with peculiar force, that no State, without
its consent, shall be deprived Of its equal
suffrage in the Senate. The original Act
was necessarily passed in tho absence Of the
States chiefly to be affected, because their
people were contumaciously engaged in the
rebellion. Now, the case is changed, and
some, at least, of those States, arc attending
Congress by loyal representatives, soliciting
the allowance Of the constitutional right Of
representation. AT the time, however, of
the consideration and the passing of this
bill. there was no Senator or Representative
in Congress from the eleven States which
are to be mainly affected by ils provisions.
The very fact that reports were and are
made against the good disposition Of the
people Of that portion Of the country, is an
additional reason why they need and should
have Representatives Of their own in Con-
gress to explain their condition, reply to
accusations, and assist, by their loca! know.
ledge, in the perfec,ing of measures im,ne
diately affecting themselves. Willie the
liberty Of delibera,ion would then be free,
and Congress would have full power to
decide according to it's judgment, there
! could be no objection urged that the States
mos: interested had not been permitted to
be hoard.
The principle Is firmly fixed in the minds
of the American people that there should
be no taxation with iiout representation.
Great burdens have now to be borne by all
the country, and we may best demand
that they shall be borne without murn;ur
when they are voted by majority of the
representatives. of the people. I would
not interfere with the unquestionable right
of Congress TO judge, each House for itself,
"of the elections, returns and qualifications
of its own members." But that authority
cannot be construed as excluding the right
| to. shut out in time of peace, any State
from the representation to which it is enti.
tied by the Constitution. At present all
the people Of eleven States are excluded
those who we're most faithful during the
war not less than the others. The State Of
Tennessee, for instance, whose authorities
engaged in rebellion, WAS restored to all
her constitutional relations to the Union
by the patriotism and energy Of her injured
and betrayed people. Before the war was
brought to termination, they had placed
themselves in relations with the General
Government, had established > State Gov.
erun,ent Of their own, and, as they were
not included in the emancipation proola-
nation, they, by their own act, had amend
ed their Constitution 80 as to abolish ala
very within the limits of; their State, !
know no rsasnn why the State Of TenHss-
aeey for example,. should not fully enjoy
! all ber constitutional relations to The