The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-05

to adopt if left to themselves. The ne
groes have never asked for the privileg,
of voting; the vast majority Of then
have no idea of what il means. Thi,
not only thrusts it into their hands, bul
eompels them, as we'll as whites, to us'
it in a particular way; If they do not
form a constitution with prescribed ar
ticles in it, and afterwards elect legis
lature which will act upon certain
measures, in a prescribed way, neither
blacks nor whites can be relieved from
the slavery which this bill imposes upoi
them.
This bill imposes martial law at once
and its operation will b. begun so soor
as the General and his troops can b'
placed. The dread alternate between
its harsh rule and compliance with th'
terms Of this measure is not suspended
nor are the people afforded any time fol
deliberation. The bill says to them
take martial law first, then deliberate
and when they have done all that thii
measure requires them to do, other con
ditions and contingencies, over which
they have no control, yet remain to b,
4 fulfilled before they can be relieved
from martial law; another Congress
must first approve the Constitution
made in conformity with the will of thii
Congress, and must declare these State,
entitled to representation in bott
Houses. The whole question remain:
open and unsettled, and must again
occupy the attention of Congress, and
in the meantime the agitation which
now prevails will continue to disturb
all motions of the people.
The bill also denies the legality o.
the Government of ten States which
participated in the ratification oi
the amendment to the Fed
eral Constitution abolishing slavery
forever within the jurisdiction of the
United States, and practically excludes
them from the Union. If this assump'
tion of the bill be correct, their concur
renee cannot be considered as having
been legally given, and the important
fact is made to appear that the consent
of three-fourths of the States, the requi'
site number, has not been constitutions
ally obtained to the ratification of that
amendment, thus leaving the question
of slavery where il stood before the
amendment was officially declared to
have become part of the Constitution;
that the measure proposed by this. bill
violates the Constitution in the partic-
ular mentioned, aud in too many ways
to enumerate, it is too clear to admit OF
the least doubt.
SHALL THE CONSTITUTION BE OBEYEDi
1t only remains to consider whether
the injunctions Of the instrument ought
to be obeyed or not. think they ought
to be obeyed for reasons which l will
proceed to give as briefly as possible
In the first place, it is the only system
of free government which we can hope
to have as nation. When it ceases to
be the rule of our conduct, we may per
haps take our choice between complete
anarchy, q consolidated monarchy, and
total dissolution of the Union; but ma
tional liberty, regulated by law, will
have passed beyond our reach. 1t is the
best form of government the world ever
saw; no other is or can be so we'll adap-
ted to the genius, habits or wants OF
the American people, combining the
strength of the great Empire with the
unspeakable blessings Of self govern.
ments, having a central power to defend
the general interests, and recognizing the
authority of the States rs the guardians
of industrial rights. 1T is the anchor
of our safety abroad and our peace at
home. 1t was ordained to form q more
perfect Union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, promote the gen
eral welfare, provide for the common
defense, and secure the blessings OF lib
erty to ourselves and our posterlty
These great ends have been attained
heretofore, and will be again, by faith
full obedience to il; but they are certain
TO be lost if we treat with disregard it'
sacred obligations.
The President then argues the impro
priety of the military bill because II
violates the faith of the countr,
pledged to the maintenance of The
Union and the rights of the States. b,
the Congressional resolutions of Jul!
1861. He advocates the faithful OBJ
servance of the Constitution as a lie
cessity in view of the unsettled stat'
of the country, the enAzhrassments o
trade and commerce, the fuctuation
of public securities, and the general de
moralization which pervades the M
ton. After a forcible allusion to th'
Constitutional provisions guaranteeing
that each State shall have at least ont
Representative in the lower House, ant
two Senators in the upper, and that NJ
State, without it's own consent shall! b.
deprived Of its equal suffrage IL TIL
Senate, the message concludes as fol
lows:
CONCLUSION.
All that is necessary TO settle TN
simple but important question withou
further agitation or delay, is willing
ness on the part of all to sustain th'
Constitution and carry its provisions
into practical operation. Ift0-morrov
either house of Congress would declar'
that upon the presentation of their ere
dentials members constitutionally elect
ed and loyal TO the General Govern
ment would be admitted to seats II
Congress, while others would be ex
cluded and their places remain vacan
until the selection by the people OF 10y
al and qualified persons, and II ut tn
same time assurance were given tha
this policy would be continued until al
the States were represented, it woul'
send q thrill Of Joy throughout the en-
tire land as indicating the inauguration
of a system which must speedily bring
tranquility to the public mind.
While we are le, islating upon sub
iects which are of great Importance I,
the whole people, and which must III
feet all parts Of the country, not oni,
during the life Of the present genera
ton, bnt for ages to come, we shoui'
remember that all mep are entitled y
least t. q hearing in the councils whiei
decide upon the destiny OF themselye
and their children. At present tel
States are denied representation, ant
when the Fortieth Congress assemble
on the fourth day of the present month
sixteen States will be without yoie'
in the House Of Representatives. Thi
grave fact, with the important qnes
tions before us, should induce us 4
pause in course Of legislation, which
looking solely to the attainment OF po
lisal ends, fails to consider the right
of its transgressors, the Law. which J
violates, or the institutions which q