Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Dec. 12, 1866, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
f O a a n n- r aUrlVllV UNION. THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS THEdGUARDIAKS OF OUR LIBERTIES. Vol. XLVI. HILLSBOROUGH, N. C, "WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1866. No. 2367. EJESSAGEj OF THE PRESIDENT? the UNITED STATES Fallow Cktsens ot lb Senate, soJ Heuse ef RepraMBtatiTM f Alter i briel Interval the Congress oftlie United States resumes hi annual legisla tive (abort. An all-wise and merciful Pro tidence his bated the pestilence which visited oar shores, leaving its calamitous I racei upon some portions ol our country. Fcsce, order, tranquility, and citil stnbori It, have been formslly declared to exist throughout tha whole of the United State. In all of the States civil authority has in terceded the coeicion of arms, and the peo pie, by their volontarj action, are main taiaing their governmeirtt in rut) activity and complete operation. The enforcement of the taws ia no longer "obstructed in any State by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judi cial proceedings j" and the animosities en gendered by the war are rapidly yielding to the benefioent influences of our free in stitutions and to the kindly effects of on restricted social and commercial inter course. Ad entire restoration of fraternal feeliog mast bo the earnest wih of every patriotic heart ; and we will have accom pli ihcd our grandest national achievement when, forgetting the sad events of the past, and remembering only their instructive les ions, we resume oor onward career as a free, prosperess, and united people. In my message of the 4th of December, I8C5, Congress was informed of the mea sures which had been instituted bv the Ex ecutive with a view to the gradual restora tion ot the States in which the insurrection occurred to their relations with the Gener al Government. Provisional Governors had been appointed, Conventions celled, Governors elected. Legislatures assembled, nd Sentors and Representatives chos en to the Congress of the United States. Courts had been opened for the enforce ment of laws long in abeyance. The block ade had been removed, custom-honse- re established, and the internal revenue laws put in force, in order tbat the people might contribute to the national income. Postal operations had been renewed, and efrts were beiag made to restore them to their former condition of efficiency. The States themselves hd been asked to take part in the high function of amending the Constitu tion, and of thus sanction ng the estinction of African slavery as one ol the legitimate results of our internecine straggle. Having progressed thus far, the Execu tive Department found that it had accom plished nesrly all that was within the scope of Its constitutional authority. One thing, however, yet remained to be done before tha work of restoration could be completed. and that was the admission to Congress of of loyal Senators and Representatives from the States, whose people had rebelled a gainst the lawful authority of the General Government. This question devolved up on the respective Houses, which, by the Constitution, are made the judges of the elections, returns, snd qualifications of their own members s and its consideration at once enr.ned the attention of Congress. In the meantime, the Esecative Denart- raeni no other plan having been proposed by Congress continued its effotts to per fect, as far as was practirable. the restora tion of the proper relations between the citi zens of the respective Ststes, the States, arid the Federal Government, extending, from tira to time, as the public interests seemed to require, the judicial revenue, and postal systems of the country. With the advice and consent of the Senate, the necessary officers were appointed, and ap propriations made by Congress for the pay meat of their selsries. The proposition to amend the reuerai Constitution, so as to prevent the existence of slavery within the .. 1 O . . . I .LT -- ... .1 . United 8iates or any place subject to their Jurisdiction, was ratified by tha reqiieite number ef States and on the 18th day of December, 1855, it was officially declared ft have become valid as a part of the Con atltation of the United 8tatei. All of the 8 tales la which the insurrection had existed ttromnlU amandrd thoir Hnnatittftlnni. 10 g- - r J , as to make them conform to the great change thus effected ia the organic law of the land ; declared noil and void ail ordinances and laws of secession i repudiated all pretended debts and obligations created. for the revo lutionary purposes of the insurrection sand proceeded, in good faith, to the enactment of measures for the protection and araeliora tien of the condition of the colored race. Congress, however, yet hesitated to admit any ot these States to representation ; and it was not until towards the- dose of the eighth month of the aession that on exesp tiun was made in favor of Tennessee, h - - j admission of her Senators and Representa tives.; f , I deem it a anbiect of wntatmA raw.. that Congress has thtM far tailed to admit . s to m aw to seats- Hja senators anu Representatives Irons tbe other States, whole inhabitants, with those of Tennessee, had engaged in the rebellion Ten States more than one fourth of the whole number remain without representation the seats of fifty members in the House ef Representative am) of twenty members jit the Senate are jet va cantnot by their own consent, not by s failure of election, but by the refusal of Congress to accept their credentials. Their admission, it is believed, would have accomplished much towards the re newal and strengthening of our relations as one txoale. and removed serious muu fA, discontent on the part of the inhabitants of s m - . . inose states, it would have accorded with the great principle enunciated in the De claration of American Independence, that no people ouzht to bear the bunUn off... at'toa, and yet be denied- the right of rep-.-..m.i;.... t. i Kitutanvu. m wduiu IMC Utta ID COO- sonsnce with the express provisions of the Constitution, that "each State shall have at least one Representative,' and that no State, without its consent, shall be de prived of its equal suffrage in theSenate." These provisions were intended to secure to every State, and to the people of every Sute, the right of representation in each House of Congress ; and ao important was it deemed by the framers of the Constitu tion that the equality of the States in the Senate should be preserved, that not even by an ameodmeot of the Constitution can any State, without its consent, be denied a voice in that branch of the National Leg islature. It is true. It has been assumed that the existence of the States was terminated by the rebellious acts of their inhabitants, and that the iasurrection having been suppress ed, they were thenceforward to be consider ed merely as conquered territories. The Legislative, Executive, an! Judicial De partment of the Government have, however, with great distinctness and uniform consis tency, refused to sanction an assumption so incompatible with the nature of our repub lican system, and with the professed ob jects of the war. Throughout the recent legislation of Congress, the uodenia We fact makes itself apparent, that these ten politic al communities are nothing less than S.ates of this Union. At the vary commencement of the rebellion, each House declared, with a unanimity as remarkable as it was sif nif icant, that tbe war was not "waged, upon our part, in any spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of these States, but to defend and niaintsin the supremacy of the Constitution and all laws made in pursuance thereof, and to pre serve the Union with sll the dignity , equal ity, and rights of the several States unim paired! and that as soon as these objects" were "accomplished the war ought to cease. In tome instances, Senators were permit led to continue their legislative functions, while in other instances Representatives were elected and admitted to seats after their States had formally declared their right to withdraw from the Union ; and were endeavoring to maintain that right by force of arms. All of the States whose people were is insurrection, as States, were in cluded in tha apportionment of the direct tax of twenty millions of dollars annually laid upon the United States bj the act ap- I proved Sth August, 1861. Congress, by the act ol Marcn 4, 1802, and oy tbe apportion meat ot representation thereunder, also re cognized their presence a States m tbe Union ano tney nave, For judicial purposes, been divided into districts, as States alone can be divided. The same recognition ap pears iu the recent legislation in reference to Tennessee, which evidently rests upon the (act that tbe functions of the State were oot destroyed by the rebellion, but merely suspended and that principle ia of course applicable to those States which, like Ten nessee, attempted to renounce their places in the union. The action of tbe Executive Department ef the Government upon this subject has been equally definite and uniform, and the purpose of the war was specifically stated Su the Proclamation issued by my prede cessor on the 24d day of September, 1863. It was then solemnly proclaimed and de clared tbat "hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted for the object of practically restoring i vvusiiiuuuaai re lation between the United States and each ol the States and the people thereof, in which States tbat relation is or may be suspend ed or disturbed." Tbe recognition of the States by the Ju dicial Deportment of the Government has slso been clesr and conclusive in all pro ceedings affecting them as States, had in the Supreme, Circuit, and District Courts. In the admission of Senators and Repre sentatives from any and all of the States, there can be nojust ground of apprebensira that persons who are disloyal will be clothed with the powers of legislation ; for thb could not happen when the Constitution and the laws are enforced b a vigilant and faithful Congress. Each House is made the "judge of tbe elections, returns, and qualifications of lu own members, and may, ' with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a mem ber." When a Senator or Rrpresentative presents his certificate of election, he may it once be admitted or rejected ; or should there be any question as to his eligibility, his credentials may be referred for inves tigation to the appropriate committee. If ad mi tied to a seat, i t m u st be u pon e v id. ace satisfactory to the House of which be thus becomes a member, that he possesm tbe requisite constitutional and legal qualifica tions. If refused admission ss a member for want of doe allegiance to the Govern ment, and returned to his constituents, they are admonished that none but persons loyal to the United States will be allowed a voice in the Legislative councils of the nation, and the political power and moral influence of Congress arc thus effectively exerted its the interests of loyalty to the Government and fidelity to the Union. Upon this ques tion, ao vitally affecting the restoration of the Union and the permanency of our present form of government, my lonvic tions, heretofore expressed, have undergone no change ; but, on the contrary, their cor rectness has been confirmed by reflection sod time. If the admission of loyal.mea bers to seats in the respective Houses of Cwngresi wss wise and expedient a year ago, it is no less wise aad expedient now. I? this auomatous condition ia right now if, in the exct condition of these States at tha present time, it is lawful to exclade them from representation, 1 do Dot see that the quesliou will be changed by tha efflux of time. Ten years hence, if these States remain as they are, the right of re presentation will be no stronger the right ofexclasion will be ao weaker. The Constitution of the United States makes it the duty vf the President to re commend to the consideration of Congress " such measures as he shall judge necessa ry or expedient." 1 know of no measure more imperatively demanded by every con sideration of national intsrest, sound poli cy, and equal justice, than the admission of .loyal members from the now unrepre sented States This would consummate the work of restoration, and exert a most salutary influence in the it-estabtinhiMnt of peace, harmony, and fraternal feeling It would tend rreattr to renew the confi dence of tha American people in the vigor ana stability of their institutions. It would bind es more efosel together as a nation, and enable ut to show to the world the in nerent and reewpera'ive power of a Govern ment founded upon the will of the peoples nd established upon the principles of li wrty, istiee,ana intelligence. Oar in eressed strength and enhanced prosperitr, would irrefragably demonstrate the fallacy or the arguments againsf free institutional arawn from ouc r,rn) j: . . --.. .wwiioi u isomer jjy tne enemies of republican government, lire admission of loyal members from the States now etcfofferl rMn r . ullamg doubt and apprehension, would torn capital, now awaiting an opportunity of investment. Imta th rh.nn.i. ..r and ladustrr. It would alleviate the pres ent troubled condition of those States, and- uj iuuycing emigration, aid in the settle, meat Of fertile reHAn n hh..Ii:..i.j and lead to an increased production of those staples which hove added so greatly to the wealth of the iratioo and the com merce of the world. New fields of enter- prise would be opened to our progressive people, and soon the devastations of war Would be reraired. nrl all . ..t . , - ... i,avc ui our domestic differences efTarpd fp..m a of our countrymen. ' In our efforts to preserve " the unity of Government which constitutes as ooe peo ple, bv restoring the Srt. .u r tton which they held pnor to the rebellion, we should be cautious, lest, having rescuv ed our nation from perils of threatened dis integration, we resort to consolidation, and ia tbe end absolute despotistn. as . re,edr iwiiirirouDiM. The war bavin terninati. .i :.k :. u . o ; ' ' u ii oc cssion for the exercise of power ,f dJObt- iHuiuuusnsiiij, wesftouhf hasten to bring legislation w ithio tbe bou-ndarie pre scribed bjr the Constitotioo, and to return to the ancient Un(mpiii .!:.: . i . wiiiificu ur oar lathers for the guidance of succeeding Ven erations. - The Constitution which at"anr u7 "''. caanged fry an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, it sacredly obligatory ap all." "If, i the opinion of the people, the distribution er modification of the constitutional powers be, is i any particular, wrong, let it be cor "t b7 amendment io the wsy in which the Constitution designate. But let there be no change by usurpation ; for" "it is the custotnarr weapon by which free .v.v.u.u..i av ucsiroreu. ' Wasliin- Ska. 1- . a I . . A mo -puc incse worus to his cvumrvmen. when, followed bv tKlr In..! ........ j. be volontanlj retired from the cares of nubile, life. T lrn. ,n .ti .u: t.l w -------- -vj, tilings wiin in the pale of our constitutional powers, and cherish the Pedersl Union as the only rock ot safety, were prescribed bv Jeffer son as rules of action to endear to his "countrymen the true prinfiples of their Constitution, and nromnta nni..n r ment and action equally auspicious to their happiness and uhtj" Jackson held that the action of the General Government should slways be atrial confined to the sphere of its appropriate duties, and just! and forcibly urged that our Government is not to be maintained nor our Union pre served by invasions of the rights and MAala-a at ff ika aaiAl O a . r"1" Vl k r ewes, in thus at- temttine toea.ke , fj . WU1IIIIIHCUI ttronr. wo nuko it rk t. .M . a- -- -mm IUCHEUI consists so leaving individuate and States as mochas possible to themselves; in mak ing itself feltnot in its power, but ia its r - ( uoirvi, uuim us nroteetioai not in Kiai;.. ,... r - -1'uj tus wMtrautwio closely to the centre, but lesving each to move tuvnhrnu,l :.v:,. . .: tionat orbit These are the teachings of men whose deeds and services have made them illustrious, and who, fongaince with drawn from the scenes of life, have left to their country tha rich legae of their ea ample. their wisdom, and their patriotism. DraWinV f (-! taaruratitwv frnrr. (Kail, laa- - wm"& .. VM IV. anna Is, multl. iIum ! L. Ae try and respect tot the Constitution and I Kjb Ifttar rcjwvi Then asanraiB Iff ffllan QaVrf af tf k sev iipvii v vdvibiei ass v I m sury affords much information respecting a ivvtiiuw so ss vviiiinvivu va aaiv wvnilal J His views upon the currency, and with re ference to a proper adjustment of our rat-
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 12, 1866, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75