The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-03-13

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the North, as expressing honestly and
tEpely the. object OF the war, On the
faith Of il many thousand persons inlboth
sections gave their lives and their for
tunes to the cause. To ~repadiate At now
BY refusing 10 the States and individuals
within them the rights which the Consti-
tuition and laws Of the Union would Sc
cure TO then, is a breach of plighted hon
or for which / can imagine no excuse,
and to whichdI catnot voluntarily become
: party. The evils which spring from
the unsettled state Of our Government
will be acknowledged by all. CONNER,
eial intercourse is impeded, capital is in
constant peril, public securities auc;
tuate in value, peace itself is not
secure, and the sense Of moral and polit-
ieai duty is impaired. To avert the ca
lamities from the country 1t is impera.
lively required that We should immedia-
" decide upon some course Of admins
%tration which can. be steadfastly adhered
10. I am fully convinced that any set
element or compromise, or plan Of action
which is inconsistent with the principles
or ths Constitution, will notoply be una.
yailing but mi,chievous, and it will but
multiply the present evils instead Of re.
moving them. The Constitution in its
whole integrity and vigor throughout the
length aud breadth Of the land, is the
best Of all compromises. Besides, our
duty does not, in my judgment, leave us
0 choice between that and any other. I
believe that it contains the remedy that
10 SO much needed, and if the c~o-ordin.
ate branches Of the government would
unite upon its provisions, they would be
found broad enough and strong enough
to sustain in time Of peace the nation
which they bore safely through the or
deal Of a protracted civil war. Among
the most sacred guarantees Of that in
strument are those which delare each
State shall have at least one representa-
tive, and that no ttate without its consent
shall be deprived of equal suffrage in
the Senate. Each house is made the
Judge Of the election returns and qualif.
cations of its own members, and may,
with the concurrence Of ~two'thirds, ex-
pei q member. Thus, as heretofore urged
In the admission Of Senators and Repre-.
senatiyes from any and all these States,
there can be no just ground Of apprehen-
sion that persons who are disloyal will be
clothed with the powers Of legislation.
This could not happen when the Consti.
tuition and laws are enforced by a vigilant
and faithful Congress. When a Senator
or Representative presents his certificate
OF election, he may at once be admitted
or rejected, or should there be any ques.
ton Of his eligibility, his credentials may
be referred for investigate to the a2pro.
pirate committee. If admitted to a seat,
1t must be upon evidence satisfactory to
the House Of which he thus becomes q
member, that he possesses tho requisite
Constitutional and legal qualifications.
If refused admission as q member, for
want Of due allegiance to the Govern.
ment, and returned to his constituents,
they are admonished that none but per.
sons loyal to the United States will be
allowed a voice in the legislative councils
Of the nation, and the political power and
moral influence of Congress are thus eff.
fsctively exerted in the interests of 10y.
atty to the Government and fidelity TO
the Union. And is it not far better that
the work of restoration should be accom-
plished by simple compliance with the
plain requirements Of the Constitution,
than by q resourse to measures which in
effect destroy the States and threaten
subversion Of the General Government.
All that is necessary to settle the simple
but important question without further
agitation or delay, is a willingness on the
part Of all 10 sustain the Constitution and
carry its provisions into practical opera.
zion. If tomorrow either House of
Congress would declare that upon the
presentation of their credentials, mem.
bers constitutionally elected and loyal to
the General Government would be ad.
mitted to seats iu Congress, while others
would be excluded and their places re.
main vacant until the selection by the
people of a loyal and qualified person f;
and if, at the same time, assurance were
given that this policy would be continued
until all the States we're represented, it
voald send a thrill Of joy throughot the
entire land as indicating the Inaugural.
ton, of q system which must speedily
bring tranquility to the public mind.
a. While we are iegislatipg upon subjects
which are Of great importance to the
whole people, and which must affect all
parts Of the country, not only during the
life Of the present generation, but for
ages to come, we should remember that
ell men are entitled at least to a hearing
in the councils which decide upon the
destiny Of themselves and their children.
At present ten States are denied repre-
s~epta,ion; aud when the Fortieth Con-
gress assemblies on the fourth day Of the
present month sixteen States will DO
withouta voicei in the House Of Repre-.
seutatives. This grave fact, with the
important questions before US, should in
dace usto pause in q course Of legisla.
tion which, looking only to the attain
ment Of political ends, fails to consider
The rights it transgresses, the laws which
itviolates, or the institutions which il
imperils. 4. ssi '.a
rfsaai dsf' ANDREW JOHNSON.
tWAsHISoroN, March Q, 1867.