The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-09-17

IN the Congressional apportionment act
providing for their due representation in
Congress; by various tax laws, and es-
pecially by the direct tax; by the resolu-
tions submitting amendments to the Con-
stitution for their approval, and BY va
nous other acts and resolutions imparting
the same recognition; all of which were
passed since the attempted secession Of
those Statesy by the Judiciary Of the
United States; which holds Federal
Courts, which entertains jurisdiction Of
cases coming from them, which it could
not do were they not in the Union. That
being thus in the Union, they stand on
an equal footing with their sister States
States with equal rights being thing
unknown to the Constitution; that, By the
express terms of the Constitution. each
State is entitled to have two Senator's and
a due portion of Representatives in the
Congress, and to vote in all elections Of
President and YiceTPresident; that,
though these rights are subject to inter-
ruption by state of civil war, they can
not, in time of peace, be suspended, much
less destroyed, without plain violation
of the Constitution; that Congress has no
power to deprive State of its reserved
rights, and reduce it to Territorial con-
dition; that therefore the exclusion, by
the SO called Congress, Of all represen-
tation from ten States, ths proposed ex-
j clusion of those States. from all voice in
the next Presidential election, the threat
ened oyerthrowed of their State Govern
ments and the reduction of their States
to the condition of territories, are each
and every one of them unconstitutional,
, revolutionary and despotic measures, ,des.
tructiyc not merely Of the rights of those
+ States, but also OF the rights of every
other State in the Union. That those
measures are parts OF plan to nullify
the Constitution, virtually overthrow the
State Government, to erect consolidated
despotism on their ruins, and to estab-
, lish and perpetuate tyrannical rule of q
minority over majority of the Ameri-
, can people. That the people cannot
without loss Of their liberties, pros
peritys and honor, submit to such a re-
suit; and we, therefore, in the hope that
the warning will be needed, and the dan
ger to our situation be peaeebly ayerted,
do solemnly warn the advocates Of tho
plan, that it will not be submitted to.
! 3. Resolved, That Congress is not an
omnipotent law making power. That
the Constitution provides that no bill
shall become law without the appro-
val of the President, unless it has passed
by two-thirds of each House of Congress
That one of the objects of the present
SO called Congress in excluding States
,, from representation, is to pass bills by q
twe-thirds vote which, were all the States
represented, could not SO pass; and thus
to virtually abolish the constitutional
provision aforesaid That if this preee-
, dent be acquiesced.in, there will be mo-
thing to prevent bare majority Of Con-
! gress, at any time in the future, from
nullifying the constitutional veto Of the
President and usurping uncontrolled leg
9 islative power, by an exclusion of tho
minority from their seats. That the ex-
clusion, of even asingle State, might
give this control, and pretext for such
2 an exclusion would not be wanting to an
unscrupulous and revolutionary party.
= 4. Resofred, That the people, and es-
9 lpecially those of the agricultural States.
have suffered too long the exactions Of
: high protective tariffs, and as the rep-
; resentatiyes of an agricultural and la
boring population, we demand that their
) substance shall no longer be extorted
!. from them in order to eli the pockets Of
= eastern monopolists.
:, 5. Resolued, That unequal taxation il
contrary to the first principles Of justice
and sound policy, and we call upon oul
J, Governments, Federal and State, to use
!, all necessary Constitutional means to
lremedy this evil
J, 8. Resolued, That the Radical majority
= in lthe so-called Congress have proved
J, themselves to be in favor Of Negro Suf'
frage by forcing it upon the people Of
the District of Columbia against their
I almost unanimous wish, solemnly, ex-
9 pressed at the polls, by forcing it upon
: the people of all the Territories, and By
! their various devices to coerce the people
J, of the South to adopt it; that zoe are OPP
y posed to Negro Suffrage, belisuing Il soostld
: be productive of evil to both whitss and
: blocks, and tends to produce dssdstrsus
Q conflict of races. { sss.ss
g Z. RESOLVED, That for all their efforts
to uphold the Constitution we tender to
: the President and to the majority Of the
.lJudges of the Supreme Court Of the