The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-02-04

strong ii not an elegant word, who
run this Government for their own
selfish purposes, Without reference
Ll the welfare Of tho people or the
honor and prosperity Of the coun-
tryP
In what manner did Congress
acknowledge Virginia as q State
within the Union as / have charg-
ed7
/. BY recognizing and consent
ing to the act Of the Legislature of
the State OF Virginia in creating
the State Of West Virginia ont Of
territory within her own jurisdic.
ton.
2. BY tho recognition and con.
sent of Congress TO tho act Of the
Legislatures ofthe State Of Virginia
to cede the counties OF Berkeley
and Jefferson TO the State of West
Virginia.
3. BY the act Of March, 1862.
whereby Virginia was entitled TO
eight aud West Virginia to three
Representatives in Congress.
4. BY the act OF August 5. 1861.
Whereby direct tax Of S937 $50
wus npportioned TO tho State of
Virginia.
5. Congress, Sir, further recog
nized Virginia ms a State whilo her
children were fighting in opposing
armies, Virginlans recognizing the
Confederate and Virginiaas reGog.
nizing tho Federal Government;
regiments of Virginians fighting
for the Union and regiments Of
Virglnians fighting against the
Union. During this condnion OF
things Congress recognized Virgin
IA us State by admitting into the
Congress Of the United States Sem
ntors and Representatives from the
State Of Virginia.
6. BY admitting Senators and Repre-
sentatives from tho State Of West Vir-
ginia into the Congress Of the United
States for if Virginia has not been a
S ate in the Union, then there is no
such State as West Virginia, for she
could only become State by and with
the consent of the State Of Virginia.
7. Ply what other acts has Congress
during these years of trouble recog.
nized Virginia as state within the
Union Probably. sir owe an apol.
ogy TO honorable gentleman for refer.
ring to the Constitution of tho United
States, an instrument the existence Of
VIII. IN some Of them seem to have for.
gotten.
Sir, the Constitution prnvides for
its amendment. But how can the Con
Stitution be amended By the Presi.
dent2 No, sir; the President has nc
such rightful power, By Congress
No, sir; and it may be regarded as &
remarkable fact that Congress has no
as yet formally claimed to have tn,
right to change tho Constitution in
letter rs it has flagrantly violated bott
its letter and its spirit. How, then
can the Constitution be amended p
By the concurrent action of the people
of the States and Territories ? No
sir the Territories have no voice in
amending the Constitution. ! repeat
how, then, can it bo amended The
Constitution, sir which, thank God
is not yet dead the Constitution pro
vides that
"The Congress, whenever two thirds
of both Houses shall deem il Unnecessary
shall propose amendments to thin
| Constitution" ",yhicL
shall be valid to all intents and pur
poses as parts of this Constitution when
ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourths Of the several States, or by con
ventions of three fourths thereof, as the
one or the other mode of ratification
may he proposed By Congress"
And under this clause of the Tonsti
tuition Congress has submitted he
proposed amendments to the Constitu
tion the thirteenth, fourteenth, and
fifteenth to the State of Virginia foI
ratification, thereby three d;s'inti
times r. cognized Virginia as q State
Of the Union for certain IL is that
II State outside OF the Union has M
right TO change the Cont tuition q
the Union 10. which 1t is not 1
member so as TO affect the rights
and interests OF the people Of the
States within the Union.
Here, then, Mr. Speaker, are ninC
! solemn acts of Congress. extending
from the year 1891, wherein Com
gress recognized Virginia as Stat,
within the Union. And hence, nm
der the second sec tion of the fir
article of the Constitution, tho Stat,
! OF Virginia is entltled Ia reEresen-
. tation without regard TO the Odlou;
conditions sought 10 be imposed by
the bill! reported py The Commute,
on Reconstruction
Now, sir, you have seen that th'
, President aud tho heads of the De-
: partments of your Government ant
tho Congress of the United StatO
! all have recognized Virginia as /
: State in the Union up to the tim
I that Congress laid violent hand
= upon the old Commonwealth anC
hurled her from the Union, twI
: years aftor the rebellion had closed
: And now l propose further t,
= show that the highest judicial trib
4 unal in this land, that body wticl
r has the right to determine constl
. tutional questions, wtho Suprem