Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-18

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE upon the
re assembling of Congress, it again be.
comes my duty to call your attention to
the state of the Union, and to its con-
tinued disorganized condition under the
various laws which have been passed upon
the subject of Reconstruction.
1t may be safely assumed as an axiom
in the Government of States, that the
greatest wrongs inflicted upon people
are caused by an unjust and arbitrary leg
dsIation, or by the unrelenting DEGREES of
tdespotic rulers; and that the timely revo-
cation of injurious and oppressive meas
ures is the greatest good that can be con
ferred upon q nation. The legislator or
ruler who has the wisdom and magnanim-
ity to retraee his steps when convinced of
error will sooner or later be regarded
with the respect s.nd gratitude of
an intelligent and pe.criotic people. Our
o8n history, althoU sgh embracing period
less than a cermry, affords abundant
proof that most, If not all, of
our domestic troubles are directly
traceable !, co violations OF the or
ganic law and excessive legislation.
Most Striking illustrations of this fact
arefdrnished by the enactments the past
tEfee wears upon the question of recon
struction. After o fair trial, they have
substantially failed, and proved perni-
cious in their results; and there seems to
be no good reason why they should longer
remain upon the statute-book. States to
which the Constitution guarantees re-
publican form OF government have been
reduced to military dependence, and in
each Of which the peorie have been made
subject to the arbitrary will of the Com
manding General Although the Consti-
tuition requires tliat each State shall be
represented in Congress, Virginia, Missis
sippi, and Teas are yet excluded from the
two Housec, and, contrary to the express
provisions Of that instrument, were denied
partici pation in Che recent election for 8
President and Vice President of the
Uhited States. The attempt to place the
white population under the domination of
persons of color, in the South, has i'm
paired, If not destroyed, the kindly rela-
lions that had previously existed between
them, and mutual distrust has engendered
feeling of aninosity which, leading in
some instances to collision and bloodshed,
has prevented that cooperation between
the two races SO essential to thesuccess. of
industrial enterprises in the Southern
States s-..r4gs .,-gsrosltFrT AAH
Nor have che Inhabitants of those
kJLdbCD bAOhI cuDCICA l4OhI blAC LAObNA OOd
condition Of affairs growing out of the
Congressional enactments. The entire
Union has been agitated by grave appre-
hensioAs Of troubles which might again
involve the peace of the Nation It's in
te1ests have been injuriously affected by
1he arrangement Of business and labor,
and the consequent want of prosperity
throughout that portion of the country.
The Federal Constitution, the Magma
Charta of American lights, under whose
wise and salutary provisions we have sue
cessfully conducted all our domestic and
foreign affairs, sustained ourselves in
peace and in wal, and become great ma
ton among the powers of the earth, must
assuredly be now adequate to the settle
ment of the questions growing out of civil
war waged alonefor It's yindication.
This great fact is made most manifest
by the condition of the country. When
Congress assembled in the month of De-
cember, 1865, civil strife had ceased; the
spirit of rebellion had spent its entire
force, and in the Southern States the peo-
pie had warmed into national life; and,
throughout the whole country, healthy
reaction. in public sentiment had taken
place. BY the application OF the sim
pie, yet effective, provisions of the Con
stitution, the Executive Department, with
the voluntary aid of the States, had brought
the work of restoration as near completion
as was within the. scope OF its authority,
and the nation was encouraged by
the prospect of an early and
satisfactory adjustment OF all its diff
culties. Congress, however, intervened,
and refusing to perfect the work SO nearly
consummated, declined to admit members
a-o,,1 Al,a ~, on o6o q
series Of measures which arrested the pro
gress of restoration, frustrated all that had
been so successfully accomplished, and
after three years of agitation and strife,
has left the country farther from the at
tainment of union and fraternal feeling
than at the inception of the Congressional
plan of reconstruction. Itneeds no argu-
ment to show that the legislation which
has produced such baneful consequences
should be abrogated, or else made to con-
form to the genuine principles Of are
publican government
aUnder the influences of party passions
and sectional prejudices, other acts have
been passed, not warranted by the Consti-
tuition.
Congress has already been made IA
miliar with my views respecting the ten
ure ofoffice BILL Experience has proved
that its repeal is demanded by the best in
terests of the country; and that, while it
remains in force, the President cannot en-
ioin that rigid accountability of public
officers so essential to an honest and eff
Gent execution of the laws. Its revoca-
tion would enable the executive depart
ment to exercise the power OF appointment
and removal in accordance with the origi.
nal design of the Federal Constitution.
The act of March 2, 1884, making ap-
preparations for the support of the army
for the year ending june 80, 1868, and for
other purposes, contains provisions which
interfere with the Presidents constitu-
tional functions as Commander-in-C Chief
ofthe army, and deny to the States ofth
Union the right to protect themselves by
means of their own militia. 3. p
These provisions should De at once an
nulled for, while the first might, in times
of great emergency, seriously embarrass
the Executive in his efforts TO employ and
direct the common strength OF the nation
of the United States, for its protection and
preservation, the other is contrary to
the express declaration of the Consti-
tuition, that a well-regulated militia
being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right of the people to
keep. and bear arms shall not be infringed.
It is believed that the repeal of all such
laws would be accepted by the American
people as ab least a partial return to the
fundamental principles of the Govern
ment and an indication that hereafter the
Constitution is to be made the nations
safe and unerring guide. n They can be
productive of no permanent benefit TO the