Year: 1866

L
~and parish throughout the United States
containing freedmen refugees. Such \
system would eventually tend to such 4
concentration OF power in the Executiy G
ms would enable him, if So disposed. to
control the action Of 2. numerous class, and
use them for the attainment Of his own
political ends


CoNGRES sIoNAL EEPRESENvA-


cannot but add another verv crave
objection to this bill The Constitution
lmparatIvely declares in connection with
taxation, that each state 81 all have st least
one Representative, and fixes the rui, for
the number 10 which. in future tin. as,
each State shall be entitled 1t also pro
yides that the Senate of the United States
shall be composed Of two Senators from
each State, and adds with peculiar force
that no State, without its consent, shall be
deprived Of its equal suffrage in the Sem
ate. The original act was necessarily
passed in the absence Of the States chiefly
to be affected, because their people were
then contumaciously engaged IN the rebel
lion. Now the case is changed, and some,
at least Of the States are attending Com
gre5s by loyal representatives, soliciting
the allowance OF the constitutional right
OF representation At the time, Ioweycr.
OF the consideration and the passing Of
the bill, thcrG was no Senator or repre>
sentative IN Congress from eleven States
which are to be mainly effected by its pro
vision The very fact that reports were,
and are, made against the good disposition
Of the country, is an additional reason
why they need and should have reprc-
sentatiyes of their own in Congress TO cx-
plain their condition, reply to accusations
and assist by their local know edge, in the
periecting Of measures Immediately affect
ing themselves. While the liberty of de-
liberation would then be free. and Con-
@ress would have full powc., according to
ITS judgment. there would be no objection
urged that the States most interested had
not been permitted to be heard The
principle is firmly fixed in the minds of
the American people that the,e should be
no taxation wIthOutreprcscnt Great
burdens are now to be borne by all the
country and we may best demand that
they shall be borne without murmur when
they are voted by majority of the repre-
sentatiyes Of all the people ! would not
Interfere with the unquestionable right Of
Congress to Judge, each House for itself,
Of the elections, returns ana qualifications
Of its own members; but that authority
cannot be construed as including the right
to shut out in time of peace any repre-
sentatiOn to which it is entitled by the
Constitution At present all the people Of
eleven States are excluded, those who
were most faithful during the war not less
than others. Tennessee, for instance.
whose authorities engaged in the rebellion.
wa. restored to AL her constitutional re-
lations to the Union by the patriotism and
energy Of her injured and betrayed peo-
pie before the war was brought to n ter
mination. They had placed themselves in
relations with the general Government.
had established 4 State Government Of
their own, and, rs they were not included
in the emancipation nrOclamation, they,
by their own act have amended their Con
stitution so rs to abolish slavery within
the limits of their State know no reason
why the State Of Tennessee, for example
should not fully enjoy all her constitu-
tional relations to the United States


The President OF the United States
stands toward the country in a somewhat
different attitude from that Of any mem.
Der of Cron@ress chosen from single
district or State. The President is chosen
by the people of all the States. Eleven
States arc not, at this time, represented in
eith,r branch of Congress It would seem





present their Just claims to Congress
There always will be differences Of opin-
ion in the community, and individuals
may BE guilty Of trans sgressions Of the
law: but these DO not constitute valid OBJ
iectioNs against the right Of a State to re
presentation. 1t would in no wise inter
fcre with the discretion Of Congress with
regard to the qualifications Of members
but I hold it my duty to recommend to
you, in the interests Of peace, and Ia tho
interests Of the Union, the admission Of
every State to its share Of public ieCisla-
ton. when. bowever insubordiuate insur-
gent, or rebellious Its people may have
been. 1t presents itself not only in an at
titude Of loyalty and harmony, but in the
person Of representatives whose loyalty
cannot be questioned under existing con-
stitutional or legal tests. 1t IS plain that
an Indefinite or permanent exclusion Of
any part of the country from representa-
ton must be attended by n spirit of dis
quiet and complaint


It Is unwise and dangerous TO pursue n
course Of measure. which viii unite any
large section Of the country, no matter
how much the latter may predominate.-
The course Of immigration, the develop
ncut of industry and busines, and natural
causes viii raise at the South men rs de-
voted To the Union ss those Of any other
part Of the lard out, If they arc all ex-
cIuded from COnEress-if IN 4 permanent
statute. thew are declared not to be in fu
constitutional relations 10 the country
they may think they have cause to become
a unit in feeling and sentiment against the
Government Under the political educa-
ton of the American people, the idea Is
inherent and ineradicabie, that the con
sent Of tho majority of the whole people
is necessary to secure a willing acquics-
cence in legislation


RESTORATION op THE STATES.


Tho Lilg under consideration rafers to
certain Of the States ~ though they had
not been fully restored to the United
States. If they have not, let Us at once
act together to secure that desirable end
at the earliest possible moment IT Il
hardly necessary for me to inform Con-
cress that. in nv own Judgment most OF
these States 20 far at least as depends
uron their own action. have already been
fanv restored. and are To be deemed 70 be
entitled to enjoy their constitutional rights
as members Of the Union.


Reasoning from the Constitution itself
and from the actual situation OF the coun
try. ! feel not only entitled, but bound. Il
assume that, with tbe Federal Courts re-
stored In the several States, and in the full
excreisa &C their functions the rights. y