Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-03-23

ing for their liberty, and instead o
branding their leaders with the dis
honoring name of traitors against
righteous and legal Government, W,
elevate them in history to the ranl
ofsell-sacriiicing patriots, consccrat'
them to the admiration ofthe world
and place them by the side ofWash
ington, Hampton, and Sydney, No
let us leave them to the inGlmy They
deserve, punish them as they shoul,
be punished, according to law, anC
take upon ourselves no share .th,
dunn which they should balt! one
1t is II part OF our public history
which can never be forgotten, that
both Houses of Congress, in July
1861, declared in tho form of sol
cmn resolution that the war was
and should be carried on for no pur.
pose of subjugation, but solely to
enforce the Constitution and laws
and that whom this was yielded by
the parties in rebellion the contest
should cease, with the constitutional
rights of the States and Of individu
ais unimpaired. This resolution
was adopted and sent forth to the
world unanimously by the Senate
and with only two dissenting voices
in the House. 1t was accepted by
the friends of the Union in the
South, as we'll rs in the North, rs
expressing honestly and truly the
object of the war. On the faith OF
it, many thousanda of persons in
both sections gave their lives and
their fortunes to the cause. To re-
pudiate it now, by refusing to the
States and to the individuals within
them the rights which the Constitu-
ton and laws of the Union would
secure to them, is breach of our
plighted honor for which | oan i'm
aginc no excuse, and to which / can
not voluntarily become q party.
The evils which spring from tho
unsettled state of our Government
will be acknowledged by all. Com
mercial intercourse is impeded, cap
ital is in constant peril, public Sc
curitics fiuctuated in value, peace
itself is not secure, and the sense of
moral and political duty is impaired.
To avert these calamities from our
country, 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
settlement, 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 cvi' s, instead Of remov-
ing them. The constitution, in its
whole integrity and vigor, through
out the length and breadth of the
land, is the best of all compromises.
Besides, our duty does not, in my
Judgment, leave us 4 choice between
that and any other. / believe that
it contains the remedy that is so
much needed, and that if the co-or-
dinate 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 ordeal of "A
protracted civil war.
Among the most sacred guaran-
ties of that instrument are those
which declare that "cach State shall
have at least one Representatives"
and that "no State, without its con,
sent, shall be deprived of its equal
suffrage in the Senate" Each
House is made the '.iudgc of the
returns, and qualifications
of its own members" and may,
"with the concurrence of two
thirds, expcll member" Thus,
rs heretofore urged, "in the admis-
sion ofSenators and Representatives
from any and all Of the States,
here can be no just grounl Of ap-
prehcnsion that persons who are
1isloyal will be clothed with the
powers of legislation, this could not
happen when the Constitution and
he laws ale enforced by viGilant
md faithful Congress. "When a
Senator or Representative presents
lis certificate Of election, he may at
,noe be admitted or rejected; or,
should there be any question as to
lis eligibility, his credentials may
pc referred for investigation 10 the
appropriate committee. If admit
cd to q seat, it must be upon evil
lence satisfactory TO the House of
which he thus becomes a member,
hat he possesses the requisite con-
and legal qualifications.
If refused admission as a member
or want of due allegiance to the
and returned to his
they are admonished
hat none but persons loyal to the
United States will be allowed voice
n the Legislative Councils of the
lation, and the political pcwcr and
moral influence of Congress are
hus effectively exertcd in the in
ercsts of loyalty to the Govern
nent and fidelity to the Union"
And is il not far better that the
work. of restoration should be ac-
by simple compliance
With the plain requirements of the
than by a recourse to
measures which in effect destroy
he States, and thresten the subver-
ion of the General Government?
All that is necessary to settle this
imple, but important, question,
without further agitation or delay,
5 a willingness on the part Of all to
Gstain the Constitution aud carry
IS provisions into practical opera
ion. If tomorrow either branch
f Congress would declare that, up
n the presentation of their crcden- /