The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-03-19

arms from their hands; they submit
ted to superior force; they were dis
armed and conquered enemies, and
ceased to fight only because they
were overpowered. And Congress
claimed, as the representative Of the
people, to determine whether such
disarmed rebel enemies were really
subdued, and, if so, to prescribe such
terms as should be considered neces-
sary for the security Of the natition
before admitting such conquered reb-
cells to full power in the Government,
and claiming this right, refused ad-
mission to the claimants for seats
from such States, elected under such
governments 80 organized BY the
President. 4
This, sir, constituted the great sin
of which Congress has been guilty;
this the great usurpation OF which
the President has complained. In
stead Of submitting to the expressed
will Of Congress, thus clearly de-
clared and made known, and endeav-
oring in good faith faithfully to oar
ry out their wishes and faithfully ex-
ecute tho laws, the President deter
mined to insist upon and enforce up-
on the country and force upon Con-
gress his own policy and plan, and TO
maintain the legality Of the govern
ments instituted by him in the rebel
States. And, carrying ont this de-
termination, shortly after the mee-
ting Of Congress, he vetoed the civ.
il rights bill and gave ~ one Of his
reasons therefor that the States late
" in rebellion were not represented
in Congress, and that by the ::Consti.
tuition all the States had the right to
representation, thus declaring to Con-
gress that they were an unorganixed
and ffagmentary body, and could do
no legal legislation until they ad-
mitted the members from tho rebel
StateD.
From that time down to the present
the President has continued, persist.
emily cont inued, his contest with
Congress. insisting upon the validity
of the State governments a. organ
lied by his authority, and their right
to immediate and unconditional reps
resentation in Congress, and deny
ing to the loyal people of the land,
through their Representatives in
Congress, the right to any voice
whatever as to the1terms upon which
rebels should be readmitted to full
rights and powers in the Gov
they had been four years trying to
destroy, and saying to the loyal peo-
-Pla, who had sacrificed two hundred
and fifty thousand lives OF the no.
blest and best of the land and spent
$3, ,OOO, 900, 600 Of treasure to subdue
and disarm the rebels, "You have
no right for one moment to deny ad
mission to those rebels to the Halls
oflegislation, to youl Senate, to your
House Of Representatives. Open
the doors. Admit them to their seats
within tho sacred precincts of the
halls Of legislation, there to vote
against all pensions to your wounded
and invalid soldiers and your wid>
0Ms and orphans Of those who have
fallen for their country; there to vote
in favor OF the payment Of the rebel
debt, and there to unite with their
friends Of the North in all measures
to crush out loyalty and reward and
honor treason and traitors.''
To this Congress did not deem it
proper to assent, and reasserted, time
and time again, its prerogatives and
its rights.
In February, 1866, Congress passed
BY . very large majority, the follow
ing resolution:
"Resolued, That in order to close
agitation upon q question which
seems likely to disturb the action of
the Government, as well as to Quiet
the uncertainty which is agitating
the minds Of the people of the eleven
States which have been declared to
be in insurrection, no Senator or Rep
resentative shall be admitted into
either branch of Congress from any
of said States until Congress shall
have declared such States entitled to
representation"
Abraham Lincoln, the Chief Exec.
utive Of the United States, elected
by the people tor this present term,
distinctly recognized the right Of
Congress to decide upon this ques.
ton. In q speech made after the fall
of Richmond, the last speech of his
lite, made but four days before his
death, heused the following language.
and I commend it to those who claim
that Andrew johnson is carrying ont
the plan of Mr.. Lincoln:
II distinctly protest that the Exec
utive claims no right to say when or
whether mombers should bs admitted
to seats in Congress from such
States"
At that time the President and
Congress were in perfect accord as
to the power and jurisdiction Of Con.
gress in tho rebel States. Mr.. Lin>
coin freely acknowledged and aecord.
ed the power to Congress over tho
subject. And in the exercise Of that
power and aspreliminary to tho ad-
mission Of such States, Congress, in
January, 1865, proposed to the States
for the adoption Of certain amnd-
ments to the Constitution Of tho uni.
ted States, which were in the judg-
mont Of Congress considered neces-
sary for the future security and
peace TO the country and the rights
Of all the people.
Those amendments thus proposed
provided:
First. For the full protection Of eli
citizens. native and naturalixed:
Second. For equality Of represen-
tation among all che States Of the
Union and doing away with the un-
just advantage in that respect that
the Southern States hayo always en-
joyed.
Third. Prohibiting men who had
once taken an oath 70 support the
Constitution Of the United States
and held ohloe, and alterward went
into the rsbe!lion, and others who
committed tho double crilAo Of per.
jury and treason, from holding o6ice.
N6urth. For tho validity Of the
public debt and for the security OF
the payment Of pensions to soldiers
and their widows and orphanA and
fprqhibiting the payment Of ths rebel
debt. t-a