The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-11

.-.LOyRl hen 90 Rule the Country
The DIsIOy al TO take Back SeRts.--
speech OF Hon. EbOn e. InEersoII.
During the debate in the House on
Wednesday the Sd on the question of
the admission of the Kentucky delega-
ton, Hon. Ebon C. Ingersoll, of Llli-
nois, said:
Mr.. Speaker, it is alleged specifically
that three members who present their
credentials here for admission as Rep
resentatives for Kentucky are, by rea-
son of their dislOyalty, their acts of
treason against this Government dur
ing the late rebellion, not entitled to
seats here. Their seats are contested by
those who opposed them in the cleo
tiOns, by those who were supported by
the Union party in Kentucky You
have heard read the charges and sPe-
cifications and the affidavits in support
OF them. A PrinId tlcie case has at least
been made ont against them. 1 trust
this Is not assuming too much, for
would not knowingly do an act OF in.
Justice to them.
1t is further alleged that the entire
delegation, with one exception-at
least the resolution of my colleague
(Mr. Logan) is based on that assump-
tion-cannot rightfully take the oath
prescribed by law, and therefore ought
uOL To pH 70 btdlS uGIcs maj
is assumed in the resolution, as un-
derstnnd it; and in order to test the
question of their legal right to admiS-
sion as mem berS, and in order that the
House NAV vote unde: Standingly upon
| 1t, 1t is proposed To refer their creden-
tials to the Committee OF Elections, and
there let the case OF each individual
member be examined and inquired
into, and il any one of the delegation is
found worthy under the law TO sit here,
unQuestionably the report of the com
mittee will be in his favor; but If any OF
them are found to have forfeited their
rights as citizens of the United States
by reason of participation in rebellion,
unquestionnbly the committee will so
report, and without doubt this House
will sustain that report by excluding
the member or members proven TO
have thus been disloynl, from the priv
ileges OF loyal Representatives., and
will either allow the seats to remain
vacant until the people OF Kentucky
send a loyal man here, or award the
seat to the loyal contestant.
Now, sir, for one | am glad we have
met this vital question at the threshold.
Here is the place to test the sincerity of
the Union party. 1t Is undoubtedly
true that the loyal, patriotic, heroic
Union men of this country saved IL on
the field of battle. They crushed the
rebellion, and in consequence, it has
become one OF the cardinal doctrines of
the Union party that loyal men shall
rule the country maintained and per-
petuAted by their heroic and unparall-
eled sacrifices.
repeat, am glad that we have met
this question at the threshold. Now is
the time and here is the place 10 settle
it. The Constitution says each House
shall be the judge OF the elections, re-
turns and qualifications of its own
members" This clause gives us full
and complete jurisdiction over the ques-
ton before US. Let us dispose of II as
becomes the Representatives of a great
and tree people, Let us inqu into
the Qualifications" of these gentlemen.
Loyalty is necessary qualification.
vestigate the question without unneces-
| snry delay, by the proper committee.
We do not propose TO deal with Ken
| lucky as though she were not entitled
to representation on this floor. We say
to her, You are entitled TO representa-
ton, but you have no right to send men
here who aided the rebellion, who
fought against the Union" 1 am not
assuming that a dislOyal representation
has presented itself. l do not presume
| to declare in advance of the testimony
that single gentleman from Kentucky
is disloyal, or ever did give aid, ooun-
tenance or encouragement to the rebel
lion. But am insisting that Congress
has the right to exclude dislOyal mem
men who engaged in the rebellion; men
who committed treason against this
Government. 1 care not whether the
man comes from Kentucky or from any
other State, the principle is the same.
If Rebel from Kentucky dOmicili
ates himself in New York and becomes
citizen of that State. and should the
people of New York see proper to elect
MIN to Congress-, must he be admitted
should he be admitted7 1 say no, new
er. Congress has the prerogative to ex-
clude him, and ought 10 exclude him.
There is no safety for the Republic in
any other course. This is not an in
fraction OF the right of representation;
il goes only to the person OF the repre-
sentative. The representative must be
a friend of the Union, not its enemy;
if he is its enemy he should be denied
seat here. and / hold this to be our
right, and for one, propose to exercise
IL now, If the facts Hre MS they are al
legged in the resolution. Sir, there is
such an organization in this country as
| n Union party, and for one, propose to
/ do all that can legally and constitu-
tionally to maintain that party. 1t
may be said that l am speaking now as
| "a partisan. Perhaps so; but / am
speaking as partisan, as [ understand
| it, in n good cause, In patriotic cause,
| in loyal cause-no less than the per-
! peLuhllOu VI lne ThtpuDllCp huu lOE lne
perpetuation of Just and noble princi-
| plies as the foundation of that republic.
| II we desire to perpetuate the liberty
| and unity of the Republic, can we do IL
better than by maintaining the loyal
! Union party2 / hold that we cannot.
Every blow against the Union party is
| blow against republican and liberal
| institutions. You can strike no more
| direct blow at the Union party or the
| Republic than by giving aid and en-
| couragement TO the enemies of the
| Union; and if you admit here whomso-
ever the late rebels may see tit to send,
do you not thereby encourage the rebel
element in the Southern States, until
mt last, by such encouragement, you
| will have created a power that will
crush you? For one, do not propose
to do any such thing. 1 propose to act
fairly, honestly, and honorably with
| the people of all sections of the coun-
/ try; but do propose to maintain 10y
| atty and to award the merit due to il,
| and when there is contest in any dis
! trict int this country between loyalty
and disloyalty, I am on the side OF 10y
atty and against disloyalty. If you
wish to send forth a voice from this hall
that shall encourage the Southern loyal
people in their heroic efforts to build
up Union party there, exclude from
| seats here all rebels that may be sent
| from any State. II we send a
| greeting OF this kind to the South
ern loyalists, you Will nerve them
to invincible perseverance, you will
strengthen and encourage them amaZ-
| ingly, you will crystalize them around
the principles OF our Union party, and
/ by such encouragement you will create
! Il party able to maintain the principles