The Van Buren press., 1867-03-15

alone. II Is q part of our public histor, which |
can never be forgotten, that both Houses OF
Congress in July. lsJl, declared In the form
| Of solemn resolution that the war was and
Should bccarricd ON for no purpose OF suljn- |
CATION. bat solely to enforce the Constitution
Aand laws and that when this Was yielded by
the parties in rebellion the contest should
cease. with the Constitutional rights of the
States and individuals unlmpared.' This
resolution was adopted and sent forth to the
world unanimously by the senate. and with
only two dissenting voices In the House. IL
was accepted by the friends OF the Union IN
! the South rs well - in the North as express /
( Ing honestly and truly the objects OF the war.
! On the faith of il many thousands in both see
tons gave their lives and their fortunes to The
cause. To repudiate il now by refusing to
the States and indiyiduals within them the
rights which the Constitution and laws of the
Union would secure to them, Is breach OF
our piig,ited honor for which 4 can imagine
no excuse, and 10 which cannot voluntarily
become party. The evils which spring from
the unsettled state of our Government, VIII DC
acknowledged by all-commerciali Intercourse
is impcded. capital is in constant peril. public
securities fluctuate la yalne. peace itself / not
secure and the cause OF moral and political
duty is impaired. To avert these calamities
from the country IL is imperativcly required
we should Immediately decide upon some
course of administration which can be stead
f,stly adhered TO. am thoroughly convinced
that any settlement or compromise. or plan Of
action which Is inconsistent with the princi-
pies Of the Constitution, will not only be un'
availing. but mischievous, that it but multi
plies the present evils instead of removing
them. The Constitution, in its whole intcg-
rity and yigor throu4 Shout the length and
breadth of the land. is the best of all compro-
miscs besides our duty does not, in my judge
ment, leave us choice between that and any
other. Ibelieve that il contains the remedy
that is so much needed, anu il the coordinate
branches of the Government would unite upon
its pro, sions, they would be found broad
enough and strong enough to sustain in time
ofpeace the nation which they bore safely
through the ordeal of protractcd civil war.
Among the most sacred guarantees of that in
strument are those which declare each State
shall have ut least one representative. and
that no State, without its consent, shall be de-
priyed of equal suffrage in the Senate. Each
house Is made Judge of the election returns
and qualifications of its own members. and
may. with the concurrence of two-thirds of
its members, as heretofore urged, agree in the
admission of Senators and Representatives
from any and all the States. There can be no
Just ground Of apprehension that persons who
are disloyal will be clothed with powers of
legislation, for this could not happen when
the Constitution and laws are enforced by
vigilant and faithful Congress. Nhen Sen;.-
tor or Representative prVcnts his certificate
Of election, he may be at once admitted or re-
jected: or should there be any ques ton OF his
eligibility. hi, credentials may be referred for
investigation to an appropriate committee
If admitted toa seat, it must be upon evidence
satisfactory to the House of which he thus be-
comes 4 member, that he possesses the requi-
site Constitutional and legal qualifications;
and if refused admission as a member for want
of due allegiance to the Government, and re-
turned to his constituents, and admonished
that none but persons loyal to the United
States will be allowed voice in the lcgisla-
tive councils Of the nation, the political power
and moral influence Of Congress are thus eff
fectivcly eXcrted in the interests of loyalty to
the Government and fidelity to tic Union;
and is it not better far that the work of res
toration should be accomplished by simple
compliance with the plain requirements of the
Constitution than by 4 recourse to measures
which lii effect destroy the States, and threaten
subver>ion of the General Government. All
that Is necessary to settle the simple but i'm
portant question without further agitation or
delay is Willingness on the part Of all to
sustain the Constitution and carry its prov
slons lnlO pracllcal operation. Ii Tomorrow
; either house of Congress would declare that
upon the presentation of their crcdental,
members cOnstitutionally elected. and loyal to
the General Government would be admitted
to seats in Congress, while others would be
excluded. and their places remain vacant. I'M
til an election by the people of the LOYAL States
of qualified persons, and if at the same time
assurance were given that this policy wolild
be continued until all the States are represent
ed,it would send thrill Ofjoy throughout the
entire land, as indicating the Inauguration
of system Which must speedily bring tran
guilty to tie public mind. While we are leg
islatng upon subject which is of great i'm
portancc to the whole people, and which must
+ affect all parts Ofthe country, not only during
the time Of the present generation. but for
ages to come. We should remember that all
men are entitled at least to hearing in coun-
ellis which decide upon the destiny of them
selves and their children. At present, ten
States are denied representation, and when the
Fortieth Congress assemblies on the 4th day of
the present month, sixteen States will be with
out voice in the House of Representatives
This grave fact, with the important questions
before us, should induce us to pause in a course
oflcgislation which, looking solely to the at
tainment of political ends fails to consider the
rights it transgresses. the law which it violates,
or the institutions which it impcrils .'7
lSignedl ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington March I'd, 1867. v-