The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-08-25


,ranchc. of Congress, ten States of the
'nion, denying them all share in the
,nactment of laws by which they are
o be governed, and all participation in
he election of the rulers by whom those |
avs arc to BE enforced. in other words,
l Congress in which only twenty-siN
StatC4 arc represented asserts the right
to govern, absolutely and In its own dis
crction, all the thirty-siN states which
compose the Union-to make their laws
and choose their rulers, and to exclude
the other ten from all share in their
own Government until it sees fit to adj
init them thereto. What is there to
distinguish the power thus asserted and
exercised from the most absolute and
tyranny?
~. NOrdo these CXtravagant and un-
Just claims on the part of Congress to
powers and authority never conferred
upon the Government by the Constitu-
ton find any warrant in the arguments
or excuses urged on their behalf. 1t is
alleged, p
First. That these States, by the act of
rebellion and by voluntarily withdraw
ing their members from Congress, for
icitcd their right Of representation, and
that they can only receive it again at
the hands of the supreme legislative
authority Of the Government, on its
own terms and at its own discretion. If
representation in Congress and partici-
patton in the Government were simply
privileges conferred and held by favor,
this statement might have the merit OF
pau,ibility. But representation Is under
tllr Constitution not only expressly rec
onnizcd a. a right, but it is imposed a-
duty; and it is essential in bothaspect'
TO the existence of the Government ano
to tho maintenance of its authority. Ii
freo Governments fundamental and CS
scntiM right, cannot be forfeited, cNccp
against individuals by due process OF
law; nor can constitutional duties anC
OBLIGATIONS be discarded or laid aside
The enjoyment of rights may be for
timc suspended by the failure to claim
them, and duties may he eNadeu by IN
refusal to perform them. The with
lrnwal Of their members from Congress
bv the States whichresisted the Genera
Government was among tilo'f"''7 ol III
SuTcction-WaS one OF tA' 'l''li' an
aucncic, by which they sought to impai
the authority and defeat the ACTON
the Government; and that act was "'
: nullod and rendered N9 Whrh l''v II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS N''I'',
, the right OF rcpre'ch'a'io''' '''i wv '"'
TO be represented was III '''' i.',,' - -
paired hy the l:'cI ol lh'''' ''''o'' ~, ~.
: it may have pvch '''"t y! ''''>"'' W -
| inSufrcctl"h lhe e'"i",'''.'0 va 80,
: The rnj"Nmoht o. ''"' IN '''"
performance OF t'''' u"'H '"r '',' ,,,' ~,
dcpended could not De '"'''''!'' II
= was, in fact, the case All l''9"' s''
. power, in the exercise VI "'"' l'r" 60
!; unlawful authority, h'" Proi''Oi''
, within the territory uh"cr us 'o''''
= that allegiance to the constitution Il"
law oi '',' ''''''' ,',',,', , ,' .,','' aart
by that lo''uahieh'"' '''W VI, ~ ','' |,u.
condition oI I'i''''~''''''',.'' 80 ~ ,,,
'rhhlrht' NO i''',, ,,i ,'i'',' u. '' 4o,.n =, ~
gent '''"''9 was '''"" 1,''..;.,',ia,, y" ~ n
oa'h 10 support '',' >'''''' '''''''o,, w. ,,.,
h United States, ana, asa necessary '"''S
quehce, no man cou''' III" '"',I ',l',o
h those states III .I'' '"u'''l's y. '''' '','
ljut lhls was "!' an o,',''''r ~ -, i;, ,1 a.
! hleh' I'll '''r 'H',' ''','' ~ -,
ni tll,fN-ll (lltl IlNl ullllill NV WV ~