The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-03-07

The principles firmly fixed in the minds
of the Anne ican people that there should be
no taxation without representation. Great
burdens have now to be borne by all the coun-
try, and we may best demand that they shall
be borne without murmur when they are Vo-
ted by ma jority Of the representatives, ofthe
people. [ would not interfere with the un-
questionable right Of Congress to judge, each
House for itself, "ofthe elections, returns and
| qualifications Of its own members" But that
authority cannot be constructed as excluding
| the right to shut out, in time of peace, any
| State from the representation to which it
is entitled by the Constitution. At present,
| all the people of eleven States are excluded
| those who were most faithful duting the war
| not less than the others. The State Of Ten
essee, for instance whose authorities engaged
| in rebellion, was restored to all her constitu-
! tional relations to the Union by the patrio-
! tism aud energy of injured and betrayed peo-
! pie. Before the war was brought to termina-
! ton, they had placed themselves in relations
with the General Government, had established
State Government Of their own, and, as they
were not included in the emancipation procla-
nation, they, by their own act, had amended
their. Constitution so as to abolish slavery
| Nlluu lDG IlIHltSs vi tlICiL S(dLc. L hLIob HO
reason why the State of Tennessee, for exam
pie, should notfully enjoy ''all her constitution
al relations to the United States,n 49, ..-.
+ The President of the United States stands
towards the coutry-in somewhat different
attitude from that ofany member of Congress
Each member of Congress is chosen from a
| single District or State; the President is cho-
sen by the people of all the States. As elev-
en- States are not at this time represented in Ell
ther branch Of Congress- would seem to be bis
|: duty on all proper occasions to present their
I just claims to Congress, There always will be
differences of fopinion in the community, and in
dividuals may be guilty of transgressions of
the law; but these do not constitute valid OBJ
! jections against the right of State to repre-
sentation. l would in no wise interfere with
| the discretion of Congress with the regard to
| the qualifications Of members, but hold it. my
! duty to recommend to you, in the interest of
| peace and in the interest Of Union, the adj
mission Of every State to its. share IN public
! legislation, when, however inspbordlnate,. 10.
surgcnt, or rebellious its people may have
been, it presents itself not only in an attitude
of loyalty and harmony, tutin the persons of
representatives, whose loyalty cannot be ques-
I TONED ander any existing constitutional or
legal test. =. .--s.... .s.... .-< -
1t is plain that an Indefinite or permanent
exclusion of any part of the country from rep
reservation must be attended by asspirit of
disqui2t and complaint. 1t is unwise and
! dangerous to pursue a course of measures
which will unite very large section of the
country against another large section of the
country, however much the latter may pre-
ponderaie. The course of emigration, the de-
velopments Of industry and business, and na-
tura causes, will raise up at the South hmen as
devoted to the Union as those ofany otherpart
| ofthe land But if they are excluded from
CongreSs-if in permanent Statute, they are
declared to be not in full constitutional rela.
tions to the country, they may think they,
have cause to become unit in feeling and
sentiment against the Government. Under
the political education of the American peo-
pie, the idea is inherent and ineradicable that
the consent of the majority Of the whole peo-
I tpleis necessary to secure a. willing acquies-
cence in legislation. ~. .. e....
The bill under consideration refers to GER
tain Of the Statesas though they had 'sbeen
fully restored in all their Constitutional rela-
tons to the United States" Ifthey have not,
let Us at ouce act together to secure that de-
sirale end at the earliest possible moment. II
is hardly necessary for me to inform Congress
that, in my own judgment, most Of those
States, so far at least as depends upon
their own action, have already been fully
restored, and are to be deemed as 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, ! feel not only entitled, but bound,
to assunethat, with the Federal Courts re-
stored, and those ofsthe several States IN: the,
full exercise of their functions, .therrights and
interest all classes of the people will, with
the aid Of the military in cases of resistance
to the law, be essentially protected against un-
constitutional Infringement and violation. -
Should this expectation unhappily fail
which do not anticipate-then the .Execu-
tive is already fully armed with the powers
conferred by the Act of March, 1852, estab-
fishing the Freedmen's Bureau, and hereafter, |
as heretofore, he can employ the land and ma.
val forces of the country4to suppress insurrec-
ton or to, overcome obstructiens to the laws.
In accordance with the Constitution, 1 re-
turn the bill to the Senate in the earnest
hope that measure involving questions and
interests so important to the country will not
become law unless, upon deliberate conside-
ration by the people, it shall receive the sane
tion of an enlightened public judgment.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, February 10, 1866.