Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-04


1861. Congress, by the act of March 4, 1862, |
and by the apportionment of representation
also recognized their presence
as States in the Union; and they have, Tor
judicial purposes, been divided into districts,
as States alone can be divided. The same
recognition appears in the recent Legislation
in references to Tennessee, which evidently
rests upon the fact that the functions OF the
State were not destroyed by the rebellion,
but merely suspended; and that principle
Is Of course applicable to those States when,
like Tennessee, attempted to renounce their
places in the Union. "a
The action of the Executive Department.
of the Government upon this subject mas
been equally definite and uniform, and the
purpose of the war was speclhcally stated
in the Proclamation issued by my predeces-
sor on the 22d day of September, le62 "
was then solemnly proclaimed and declared
that hereafter, as heretofore, the war VIII
be prosecuted for the object Of practically
restoring the constitutional relation between
the United States and each Of the states and
the people thereof, in which States that re;
latien is or may be suspended or disturbed
The recognition of the States by the Ju-
dicial Department Of the Government has
also been clear and conclusive in all pro
ceedinGs affecting them, as States, had IN
the Supreme, Circuit, and District Courts.
In the admission of Senator'S and Repre-
sentatiyes from any and all Of the States,
there can be no just ground of apprehension
that persons who are disloyal will be clothed
with the powers of legisationi for tliis
could not happen when the Constitution
and the laws are enforced by a vig1lant and
faithful Congress, Each House is made the
Judge. of the elections, returns, and
=. cf 70 mn
NAV, with the concurrence of two-thirds,s
expel O. memberp When Senator or-Rep-
resentatiye presents his certificate OF cleo
ton, he may at once be admitted or rejectedi
or, should there be any question as to his
eligibility, his credentials may be referred
for investigation to the appropriate commit
tee. If admitted to scat it must be
upon evidence satisfactory to the House
OF which he thus becomes member,
that no possesses the requisite eOhsti-
tutional and legal qualifications III re-
fused admission as o member Tor want
of due allegiance to the Government,
and returned to his constituents, they are
admOnished that none but persons loyal TO
the United States will be allowed avoiee In
the Legislative Councils of the, Nation, and
She political power and moral influence Of
Congress are Tins effectively exerted in the,
interests of loyalty. to the Government and
fidelity to the Union. Upon this ques-
ton, so vitality affecting the restoration
of the Union and the permanency OF our
present form of Government, my COM
victions, heretofore expressed, have under-
gone no change; but on the contrary, their
correctness has been confirmed by reflection
and time. If the admission of loyal mem
bers to seats in the respective Houses of
Congress was wise and expedient year ago,
it is no less wise and expedlent now. III
this anomalous condition is right now-lf,
in the exact condition of these States at the
present time, it is lawful to exclude them
from representation, do not see that the
question will be changed by the effiux OF
time. Ten years hence, if these States re-
main as they are, the right of representa-
tion will be no ostronger-the right of exclu-
sion will be no weaker H'
The Constitution of the United States
makes it the duty of the President to recL
ommend to the consideration of Congress
''such measures as he shall judge necessary
or expedient." | know of no measure more
imperatively demanded by every consider
alton of national interest, sound policy,
and equal justice, than the admis-
sion of loyal members from the
now unrepresentedl States. This
would consummate the work of restora-
ton, and exert a most salutary influence in
the re-establishment of peace, harmony,
and fraternal feeling. 1t would tend great
ly to renew the confidence of the American
people in the vigor and stability of their
institutions. 1t would bind us more close
ly together as nation, and enable us to
show to the world the inherent and recu-
peratiye power of Government founded
upon the will of the people, and establish
ed upon the principles OF liberty, justice
and intelligence. Our increased strength
and enhanced prosperity would
irrefragably demonstrate the fallaey
of the arguments against free
institutions drawn from our recent nation
al disorders by the enemies of republican
government. The admissionof loyal mem
bersi from, the States now excluded from
! Congress, by allaying doubt aid appfe-,
hension, would turn capital, now awaiting
an opportunity tor investment, into the
channels oftrade and Industry 1t would
alleviate the present troubled condition of
those States and, by inducing emigration,
aid in the settlement OF fertile re-
gions now uncultivated, and lead
to an increased production of those staples
which have added so greatly to the wealth
of the nation and the commerce of the
world. New fields of enterprise wouldIbe
the deVastations of war would be repaired,
and all traces Of our domestic differences
effaced from the minds ofOurFcountrymen.
In our efforts to preserve "the, unity of
Government which constitutes us one peo-
ple," by restoring the States to the eondi-
tion which they held prior to the rebel
lion, we should be cautious, lest haying
rescued our nation from perils of threaten
ed dsintegration, we resort to, eonsollda-'
tiou. and in the end absolute despotism,
as remedy1utor the recurrence
of similar troubles. The war dhaYing
terminatHd, y and with it all occasioh
doru theo9 exercise 4 otft powers OF
doubtful constitutiOpalitye should hast
en- to bring Legislation within the boqnda-
ries pfeseribediby the Constitutions, aud 20
return to the ancient landmarks established
by our fathers for the guidanceOf succeed
ing Generations. "The Constitution which
at any time exists, until changed by an ex-
pIicit and authentic act of the, whole peo-
Die, is sacredly obligatory upon ALL" 1T,
| i'm the opinion of the people,
the distribution or modification OF
the constitutional powers be, in any par
ticular, wrong, Lett it be corrected by an
amendment in the way in which the Con
stitution designates, But let there be no
change by usurpation; for'' lit Is the GUS
| tomary weapon by which free Govern
ments are destroyed" WASHINGTON spoke
these words to his countrglnen, when, fol-
lowed by their love and gratitude, he vol
UNFAIRLY retired from the cares Of public
life. ITO keep in all things within the
] pale OF our Constitutional powers, and
cherish the Federal Union as the onlyrOck
of safety" were prescribed by Jefferson as
rules of action to endear to his "country-
men the true principles of their Constitt-