The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-06

cOrdlng to law, and take upon our
selves no share of the odum which
they should bear alone.
1t is part of our public history
which can never be forgotten, that
both Houses of Congress, in July,
1861, declared, in the form of Il So
lemn resolution, that the war was and
should be carried on for no purpose
of subiugation, but solely to enforce
the Constitution and laws; and that,
when this was yielded by the parties
in rebellion, the contest should cease,
with the constitutional rights of the
States and of individuals unimpaircd.
This resolution was adopted and sent
forth to the world unanimously by the
Senate, and with only two dissenting
voices Ill the House. 1t was accepted
by the friends of the Union in the
South, as well us in the North, as ex-
pressing honestly and truly the object
of the war. On the faith of it, many
thousands of persons in both sections
gave their lives ana their fortunes to
the cause. To repudiatc it now bv
refusing to the States and to the in
tivid'lals within them the rights
which the Constitution and laws of
the Union would secure to them, is Il
breach OF our plighted honor, for
which | can imagine no excuse, and
to which | cannot voluntarily become
4 party.
The evils which spring from the
unsettled state of our Government
will be acknowledged by all Com
merclal intercourse is impeded, capi-
tai is IN constant peril, public securi-
ties huctuate III value, peace itself is
not secure, and the sense of moral
and political duty is impaired. To
avert these calamities from our coun-
try, it is imperatively required that
we should Immediately decide upon
some course of administration which
can be steadfastly adhered to- | am
thoroughly convinced that any set
tlement, Or compromise, or plan of
action which is inconsistent with the
principles of the Constitution, will
not only be unavailing, but mis-
chievous; that it will but multiply
the present evils instead of removing
them. The Constitution, in its whole
integrity and vigor, throughout the
length and breadth of the land, is the
best of all compromises. Besides,
our duty does not, in my Judgment.
leave us q choice between that and
any other. | believe that il contains
the remedy that is SO much needed,
and that if the coordinate branches
Of the Government would unite upon
its provisions, they would be found
broad enough and trong enough to
sustain, III time of peace, the nation
which they bore safely through the
ordeal Of a protracted civil war.
Among the most sacred guarantees of
that instrument are those which de-
clare that leach State shall have at
least one Representative. and that
mo State. without its consent, shall
be deprived of its equal suffrage in
the Senate. Each House is made
the ''judge of the elections, returns
and qualifications of its own mem
bers, and may, with the concur
renee Of two-thirds, expel mem
Der. Thus, as heretofore urged,
Sin the admission of Senators and
Representative 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 legislation; for this
could not happen when the Constitu-
ton and the laws are enforced by a
vigilant and faithful Congress. )"
"When n Senator or Representative
presents his certificate of election, he
may at once be admitted or rejected;
or, should there be any question as
to his eligibility, his credentials may
be referred for investigation to the
appropriate committee. If admitted
to seat, it must be upon evidence
satisfactory to the House of which he
thus becomes a member, that he pos
sesses the requisite constitutional and
legal qualifications.
Ii refused admission as a member
for want of due allegiance to the Go
verDment, and returned to his con-
stltuents, they are admonishcd that
none but persons loyal to the United
States will be allowed il voice in the
Legislative councils of the nation, and
the political power and moral inhu-
ence of Congress are thus effectively
exerted in the interests of loyalty to
the Government and fidelity to the
Union. And is it not far better that
the work of restoration should be
accomplished by simple compliance
with the plain requirements of the
Constitution, than by recourse to
measures which in effect destroy the