will, by their own efforts, establish for themselves a
condition of respect, ability, and prosperity. It is certain
that they can attain to that condition only through their
own merits and exertions.

"In this connection the query presents itself, whether the
system proposed by the bill will not, when put into complete
operation, practically transfer the entire care, support,
and control of four million emancipated slaves to agents,
overseers, or taskmasters, who, appointed at Washington, are
to be located in every county and parish throughout the
United States containing freedmen and refugees? Such a
system would inevitably tend to a concentration of power in
the Executive which would enable him, if so disposed, to
control the action of this numerous class and use them for
the attainment of his own political ends.

"I can not but add another very grave objection to this
bill: The Constitution imperatively declares, in connection
with taxation, that each State shall have at least one
Representative, and fixes the rule for the number to which,
in future times, each State shall be entitled. It also
provides 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 Senate.'. 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 rebellion. Now the case
is changed, and some, at least, of those States are
attending Congress by loyal Representatives, soliciting the
allowance of the constitutional right of representation. At
the time, however, of the consideration and the passing of
this bill, there was no Senator or Representative in
Congress from the eleven States which are to be mainly
affected by its provisions. The very fact that reports were
and are made against the good disposition of the people of
that portion of the country is an additional reason why they
need, and should have, Representatives of their own in
Congress to explain their condition, reply to accusations,
and assist, by their local knowledge, in the perfecting of
measures immediately affecting themselves. While the li