Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-05

members, and may, with the concurrence
of two-thirds, expel member. Thus, as
heretofore urged in the admission of Sena-
tors and Representatives from any and all
of. these States, there can be no just ground
of apprehension that persons who are dis
loyal will be clothed with the powers of
legislation. This could not happen when
the Constitution and the laws are enforced
by Vigilant and faithful Congress. When
a Senator or Representative presents his
certificate of election, he may be at once
admitted or rejected, or should there be
any question of his eligibility, his creden-
tials may be referred for investigation to
the appropriate committee. If admitted to
a seat, lit must be upon evidence satisfactory
to the, House of which he thus becomes a.
member, that, he possesses the requisite
Constitutional and legal qualifications. If
refused admission as member, for. want
ffdue allegiance to the Government, and
returned to his constituents, they are adj
monished- that none but persons loyal
to- the United States will be allowed
q voice in the Legislative councils of the ma
ton, and the political poweriand moral in
huence of Congress are thus effectively eX-
erted in the interests of loyalty to the Gov
ernment and fidelity to the Union "A nd is it
not far better that the work of restoration
should be accomplished by simple compIi-
ance with the plain requirements of the Con-
stitution, than: by a recourse to measures
which in effect destroy the States aud
threaten isubversiona of the General Gov
ernment? All that is necessary to settle
the simple but important question without
further agitation or delay, is a willingness
on the part of all to sustain the Constitu-
tion and carry its provisions into practical
operation. If Tomorrow either House of
Congress would declare that upon the pre-
sentatiOn of their, credentials, members
constitutionally elected and loyal to the
General Government would be admitted to
seats in Congress, while others would be ex-
cluded and their places remain vacant un-
til the selection by the people of a loyaland
assurance were given that this policy would
be continued until all the States were repre-
sented, it would send thrill ofjoy through
out the entire land as Indicating the inau-
guratiOn of system which must speedily
bring tranquility to the public mind. 3sl
While we are legislating upon subjects
which are of great importance to the whole
people, and which must affect all parts OF
the country, not only during the lite of the
we should remember that all men are enti-
tied at least to a hearing in the councils
which decide upon the destiny of them
selves and their. children. At present ten
States are denied representation, and when
the FOrtieth Congress assemblies on the
fourth day of the present month, sixteen
States will be without voice in the House
of Representatives. This grave fact, with
the important questions before us, should
induce US to pause in a course of Legislation
which, looking only to the attainment ot
political ends, fails to consider the rights it
trarsgresses, the laws which it violates, or
the institutions which it imperils. l9Zaa.
H.ida 20 ANDREW JOHNSON. 81
WASHINGTON, March 2, 1867. La ~ l,G.