The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-11
Rontwen's schemes.

Tn considering the extraordinary pfoiOaf
4,ansI OF Mr.. boutwell,, 1t may De wen W
consnlt the Constitution of the United
sta,es In ORDER 20 learn whether that instru-
nent contains any language which cohid DC
tort,red into shape justifying Congress IN
reducing State to a territorial conaition'
ar in DENYING to a State representation IN
Congress. And yet these two proposisions
are so absurd on their face that they oe-
serye no such consideration: They antago-
nize every idea Of the founders OF the re-
public as to the powers Of the Federal Gov
ernment, and their adoption would DE
equivalent to total destruction Of the Con-
stitution itself. 1t would be impossible for
free government and such construction OF
the Constitution to coexist for any consider
able length Of time. $50,
The first provision OF the Federal Constr
tuition touching representation in Congress
is:
REPRESENTATIVES, . -" shall be appor-
toned among the several States which may
be included in this Union, according 10
their respective numbers" &c.
Here is q mandatory clause, which cannot
be eyaded. TWAS carefully worded, being
so phrased as to make it apply not only to
the States which were In the Union when
the Constitution was framed, but to oil
which have since come into that Union. 1t
absolutely requires that each State in the
Union shall have representatives in Con-
sress. There is, therefore, nothing IN
THAp. STEvENs's iuggler's phrase, which ne
81
substituted for one that he was AFRAID 10
use. He dared not put into an act OF
Congress the language, "The State OF Vir-
ginia is admitted into the Union," but hum
plugged his followers into declaring that
"the State Of virginia is admitted to rep
resentation in Congress" He was afraid
to admit that the southern States had
ever been out of the Union. Indeed,
he could not admit it without coniesslng
that the war had been war OF conquest,
and that the southern States had been de-
priyed of the right Of self-goyernment.
The war was excusable only on the ground
that the rebellous States had never gone
out OF the Union, and could by no method
OF procedure either on their own part or on
the part Of Congress get out OF the Union.
So THAp. invented his iuggler's phrase, and
his followers, nothing 10th, adopted it. The
rebel States were by act Of Congress cad
mitted to representation in body in
which the Constitution gave them right to
be represented, and which right as no act OF
Congress could deprive them Of it neither
could any act of Congress add to its sutti-
cheney. We repeat; the southern States
were at all times absolutely entitled to re-
presentation in Congress. The above pro-
vision settles that point: Representatives
shall be apportioned among the seceral
States ,cl.tch may he included in this Union."
All the States have at all times since their
entrance into 1t been in the Union. 1t fol-
lows that they have all been Mt all times en-
titled to have representatives in Congress.
1t follows, further, and follows necessarily,
that THAD. STEVENS and his tools in Con-
gress would have yiolated.the Constitution
no more flagrantly in passing an act admit
ting the rebel States "into the Union y
itself than they did iii passing an act admit
ting them "to representation in Congress- -
ANY such act was itself In direct conflict
with the Constitution, whether it purported
to admit those States into the. Union or to
representation in Congress.
The trick succeeded, however. The. Jug
gler is gone. boutwell,, 50 ignorant is he
of the Constitution, proposes to make real
ity out of what THAD. STEVENS merely used
as sham. The latter knew that "some-
thing must be done, and that very soon,'
and 80 he invented the phrase which let him
and his party out Of their dire dilemma
But BOUTWELL, and his stupid associates on
the committee on Mississippi affairs actually
accept old THAD.'S phrase rs maxim in
constitutional law, and propose that Con
press shall act on it. We laugh ut their
threats: We mock them. We hold their
scheme in utter derision. We dare the Sen.
ate to father it. 1t is damnable. We
say all this-wc who are always exceed
insly cautious in countenancing any move
ments or declarations which might damage
the Democratic party in the North. We say
it to attract, the attention OF the northern
people, and open their eyes to the tendency
of the centralizing doctrines which they
have accepted rs being those held and taught
by the trainers Of the Constitution. ~
But we can 60 still further. The 18th
article Of amendments to the Constitution
grated upon that instrument by force by
the: Republican party-contains the same
provision as That upon which we have been
commenting. It Is as follows: ''. ~
Representatives shall be. apportiohed
among the several States according TO- their
respective numbers" ..,..~ s..,si 10.
Where is the clause that is in conflict
with either Of these?. There is none. And
If there We're. it,would surely have to give
way before this duplicated guarantee Of,
representation to the several States. s'..@
Mr.. BOUTWELL, is either fool or traitor
to the principles Of our government. We
do not know but he is both. Let the coun-
try spew him and his doctrines out OF it's
mouth. ii - -.
DIssENTs.-The New York Times, the
most Radical Of respectable Radical papers,
says: .al, a%
owe dissent from the, recommendations
OF Mr.. Boutwell, and the majority" " I. tt !.
Oh, you do! Let us know how many OF
your party dare do otherwise, Who among
you believe that Congress has power either
to territorialize or disfranchise q State? y :,