The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-03-13

we lad no regard for law, and that tlicir
rights Of property. life and liberty
would not be safe under the Constitu-
ton as administered by us. If We now
verify their assertion, We prove that they
were in truth and in fact fighting for their
liberty. and instead Of branding their
leaders with the dishonorng name of trai-
tors against righteous and legal govern
ment, we elevate them i'll history to the
rank of self sacrificing patriots, consecrate
them to the admiration of the world, and
place them by the side OF Washington,
Hampden and Sidney. No, let lis leave
them to the infamy they deserve, punish
as they should be punished, according to
law, and take upon ourselves no share OF
the odium which they should bear alone:
lisa part OF our public history which
can never be forgotten, that both Houses
of Congress, in July, 1861: declared in the
form of solemn resolution that the war
was and should be carried OH for no pur-
pose OF subjugation, but solely to enforce
the Constitution and laws; and that when
this was yielded by the parties inrebcllion,
the contest should cease, with the constitu.
tional rights of the States and of individ.
uals unimpaircd. This resolution was
adopted and sent forth to the world unan-
ilnously by thc Senate, and with only two
dissenting voices in the House. 1t was
accepted by the friends of the Union in
the South. rs we'll as in the North, as ex-
pressing honestly and truly the object of
the war. On the faith of it many thou
sands ofpersons in both sections gave their
lives and their fortunes to the cause. To
repudiatc it now by refusing to the States
and to the individuals within them the
RIGHTS which the Constitution and laws of
the Union would secure to them, is
breach of our plighted honor, for which I
can ima2i inc no excuse, and to which Lean
not voluntarily become party.
: The evils which spring from the unset
tied state of our Government will be ack-
nowledged by all. Commercial intercourse
isiinpeded, capitals in constant peril, pub
lie securities tiuctuatc in value, peace it.
self is not secure, and the sense of moral
and political duty is impaired. 10 avert
these calamities from our country it is I'M
peratively required that VIC should imme:
diatcly decide upon some course OF admin
istration which can be stcadtastly adhered
to. am thoroughly convinced that any
settlement, or compromise, or plan of &C:
ton whichis inconsistent with the princi-
pies of the Constitution will not be una
valling, but mischievous; that it will but
multiply the present evils instead of re;
moving them. The Constitution, in its
whole integrity and vigor, throughout the
length and breadth ofthe land, is the best
of all compromises. BESIDES, our diity
docs not, in my Judgment, leave us choice
between that and any other. / believe
that it contains the remedy that is so much
needed, and that if the coordinate
branches of the Government would unite
upon its provisions, they would be found
broad enough to sustain in time of peace
the nation which they bore safely through
the ordeal of IL protractcd civil war;
Among the most sacred guarantees ofthat
instrument are those which declare that
sseach State shall have ut least one Rep:
rcsentatvc," and that "no State, without
it's consent, shall lie derived of its equal
suffrage in tie Senate" Each House is
made the "iudgc OF the elections, returns,
and qualifications OF its own members"
and NAV, s'with the concurrence of t:Sd-
thirds, expel member" Thus, rs here
tofore urged, "in the admission of Scna-
tors ard Representatives from any and all
OF the States, there can be no just ground
of apprehension that persons who are dis
loyal will bc clothed with the powers of
legislation; for this could not happen when
the Constitution and the laws are enforced
by vigiant and faithful Congress. -
"When Senator or Representative pre-
scnts his certificate Of election, he may at
once bc admitted or rejected; or, should
there be any question rs to his eligibility.
his credentials may be referred for inyes:
tgation to the appropriate committee
II admitted to u seat, it must be upon
evidence satisfactory to the House ofwhich
he thus becomes Il member, that he pos
scsscss the requisite constitutional and lie.
gal qualifications.
If refused admission rs a member for
want of due allegiance 20 the Government,
and returned to his constituents, they arc
admonisfcd that none but persons loyalto
the United States will be allowed voice
in the Legislative Councils of the Nation,
and the political power and moral influence
of Congress are thus effectively exerted
in the interests of loyalty to the Govern:
mcnt and fidelity to the Union. And is
it not far better that the work Of rcstora-
tion should be accomplished by simple
compliance with the PLAIN requirements of
the Constitution, than by recourse to
measures which i'll effect destroy the States,
and threaten the subvcrsion of the Gene
raj Government All that is necessary to
settle tliis simple but important question,
without further agitation or delay. is a
willingness on the part of NIL to sustain
the Constitution and c:rry its provision
into practical operation. Ii tomorrow