Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-03-07

That the measure proposed BY this bill does vio-
iats the constitution in the particulars mentioned,
and in many other ways which forbesr TO epumer-
ate, is too clear to admit of the least doubt 1t on
ly remains to consider whether the ipjunctions Of
that instrument ought to be obeyed or not. think
| they ought to be obeyed, for reasons which will
proceed to give as briefly possible.
In the first place. it is the only syst IN Of free go-
| vernment which we can hope 10 have as nation.
When il CEASES to be the rule OF our conduct, We
may perhaps take our choice between complete an
archy, Consolidated d.spotism, aud total DISCO
luton of the Union; but national liberty. gllated
by law. win have passed beyond our reach
II il the best frame Of government the world ever
saw. No other il, or can b. well adapted To the
genius. habits or wants of the American pcorl..-
Combining the strength OF great empire with un-
speakable bl ssngs of local selfg0yernment. hav-
ing central power 10 defend the general interests,
and rcDgnizing the authority Of the States as the
guardians of industia rights il is the sheet an
Choir of orr safety abroad and our peace at home"
! twas ordained " to form more perfect union. es
tabsh Justice insure domestic tranquility. promote
the general welfare, provide for the common de-
! fence and secure the blessings OF liberty 10 our
selves and to our posterity" These great ends
| have been attained h retOfore and will be again,
by faithful ob ,denc, 10 it, but they certain tp
b. lost il treat with disregard its sacred obga-
tons.
1t was to punish the gross crime Of d,fying the
constitution and 10 vindicate its supreme authori-
| Nv, tnat we carried ON DiOoCy war OF IOuF years
Duration Shall We now acknowledge that we sac
| ri6ced million of lives and expended billions Of
treasure 10 enforce a constitution which is not wor
thy of respect and preservation?
Those who advocated thu right secession alleged
in tn r own Justification that we had no regard 70;
law and that their rights Of property, life ard lib
crtv would not be safe under the constitution as
| administered by MS. If now verify their asser-
ton, prove that they were in truth and in fact
| fighting for their liberty. and instead Of branding
AZ, thoI .bn If
against righteous ard legal government. we ee-
vate them in history tn the rank Of self sacrificing
patriots C ,nsccrate them b. tn, Arbitration OF the
world. and place them by the side of Washington.
Hampdcn and sydney. No. let US leave them to
the infany they deserve, punish them they should
b, punished according to law. and take upon onr-
s,lyes no share OF the odium which they should bear
alone.
tits part of our public history which can never
BE- forgotten that both houses of Congress, In July
1861 declared in the form nf solemn resolution
that the war was and shnEld b. carried ON for no
purpose of subiugaticn. bat solely 10 entorc, the
constitution and laws; and that when this was
Welded by the parties in rebellion, the contest
should cease with the constitutional rights oil the
| States and of individuals unimpai.ed. This rcsoiu-
ton was adontd and sent forth the world unani-
mOuslv bv the Senate, and with only two dissenting
voices in the House. Ii was accepted BY tn" friends
% the Union in the South, as welt rs tn North, as
expressing honestly and truly the object OF Tn :
war; On the faith OF it, many thousands OF pers0ns
in both sections gave their lives and their fortunes 10
The cause To repudiatc it now by refusing to the
Saes and to the individuals within them the rights
which the constitution and laws Of the Union
would secure h. them. is a breach OF our plghte
honor for which can imagine no excuse, aud t.
which cannot voluntarily become party.
The evils which spring from thu IN ettled state o'
government will be acknowledged By all. CONNIE
cial intercourse is mprded. capital is IN constant
peril public securities fnc,uatc in value. peace IT.
self il not secure and the fm0rdl and poiit-
cal duty il impaired To avert these calamit S
from orr country. it is imperatively required thai
W. should Immediately decide upon some cnurs, o
administration which can be sieid.ast.y adhered
to- am thoroughly convinced that any settlement
or compromise or plan Of action which IS ineonsit
cnt with the PRINCIPLES of the constitution VIII no,
ONLY BE- unayaiiing, but mischieyOus; that II VIII
multiply tn. present evils. Instead OF removing
them. The constitution. in its whole integrity and
yigor. throughout the length and breath OF the land
Is the best of all compromises. Besides, opr duty
does not. in my Judgment leave us choice between
that and any other. believe that it contains tn,
remedy that is so much needed and that if the CO
ordinate branches of the government would unit
upon its provisions they would be found broad C.
nough and strong enough to sustain in tlme" peact
tn, IA ion which they bore safely through the or
deal of prutracted civil war.
! Among the most sacred guarantees oil that instr d
ment are those which declare that leach stat
shall have at least one Representative. ana ina
no State without its consent, shall be deprived
its equal suffrage in the Senate" Each House i
made the iudre Of the elections, returns aEdqua!
iticatiOns of its own members" and MAJ, "miti
the concurrence Of two-thirds. expel member. =
Thus rs heretofore urged. "in tn admission
: majors and Representatives from any ana all O
thu States. there can b. no Just ground OF appre
hon sion that persons who d,ioyai viii be clnih
ed with the powers of legislation; for th. could no
bapben when the constitution and The laws are en-
forced BY igilant ard faithful Congress- her
a Senator or Representative presents ms cerlIlcaI
of election. he may at once be admitted or re'cteu
or should there be any question As to his eiiSIbiiy
his credentials NAV b. referred Tor investigation u
the appropriate committees. Ii admitted TO seat
it must BE- upon evidence satisfactory to the ilous
of which he thus becomes member. that hc pos
sesses the requisite constitutional and legal quaiil
cations.
If refused admission rs a member for want OF du
alleriance to the government, and returned 10 IN
constituents they are admonishSd that none bu
persons loyal to the United States will be alioWe
voic. in the legislative councils of the nation an
the political power ard moral influence OF C0nSres
are thus effectively exertrd in the interests OF 10y
atty to the government and fidelity to the Union
And is il not far better that tn work ri restoraiIo
should be accomplished by simple compliance VII
the plain requirements OF thu constitution, than %
recourse to measures which in effect destroy IN
States, and threaten the subycrson OF the genera
government? All that is necessary 10 settle TN
simple but important question. without further az
tation or delay, is Willingness on the part o. all
sustain the constitution and carry ts provisions Ut
to practical operation. lfto-morrow either brane
of Congress would declare that upon the presen,a
ton of their credentials, embers c0nsttutionaii
elected and loyal to the general government woul
be ADMITTED t, seats in c ngr'ss, while all other
. would be exclud and their places remain yacan
until the selection By the people OF loyal and guam
lied person and IT, at the same time, assurance
were given that this oicy would he continued uii
~ all the States were represented IN Congress.
would send 4 thrill of joy throughout the entir
land. as indicating Tie Inauguration OF SYST
which must speedily bring tranquility to tue p"o
lie mind.
While we are legislating upon subjects when ar,
of great Importance the whole people, ana whtci
must affect all parts of the country, n"toniy CUTIE
the life of the present z neiation but Tor agss
come we should remember that all men are entiti
at least to airing in the councils when GscIo'
unon the DESTINY nf themselves and their children
At present ten States denied Representations an,
when the FOrteth Congress assemblies On the onf, u
day of the present month"; sixteen States VIII D.
without a voice in the House OF Representatives
This grave fact with the important questions beior
Us should induce us / pause in a course OF legisia
/ ~, a.af a