Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-12-09
FRO a WASHINGTON
The Approaching Congress and its Work
-ReeOnstructiOnt TO be eCOnsidered-Sec-
retary Chase's Plan for the RsOrganI-
zatfOn OF the Union.

1
The Approaching Congress and its work
-ReeOnstruction TO be eCOnsidered-Sec-
| retary Chase's Plan for the ReOrganI-
zattOn Of the Union.
Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
| WASHINGTON. Nov. 25.
WHAT THs COMING CONGRESS WILL HAVE
| TO DO.
For many reasons the approaching Con-
gress is looked upon as likely to prove the
most important in our history. 1t is now
almost certain that the President will
bring before it at its coming session the
question of reconstruction. In any event
the question is bound TO come up, and
this Congress must settle 1t.
Whether the Proclamation of Emanci-
patton having once, by deed of gift, be-
slowed freedom upon every slave held in
certain States, can in any way be abroga-
ted or annulled; whether the States by
their attempted Secession have lost their
existence a. States, and can hereafter be
| treated only rs Territories; whether the
State government should be recognized
with the voting population unchanged,
on simple profession to desire TO enjoy
the privileges of the Union again; wheth-
er they are to be reorganized solely by the
really loyal population, and if so what
tests OF loyalty are to be prescribed; wheth-
er men who have actually participated in
the rebellion, and have formed part ofits
armies, are to be forever disfranchised. or
whether taking the oath" win be suffi-
cient to wipe out all their sins, and enti-
tie them to all the privileges of American
citizens again; whether any States are 10
be admitted without constitutions pro-
hibiting Slavery; such are q few of the
questions that meet this Congress on its
assembling
1t is customary sometimes to refer 10
the Presidents story of the man who bor-
rowed SO much trouble about crossing Fox
river, before he got TO it, and to say that
We needn't raise these questions till we
reach them. But ICE haze already reached
them. Save struggling guerrilla bands,
Mississippi and Louisiana are clear ofreb-
els in arms-are reconquered. What are
We going 10 do with them, govern them
as conquered provinces, or restore them
to their places as States? Something we
must do, they cannot be left without gov
ernment, What shall it bes
In Arkansas and Tennessee the ques-
ton is equally pressing. So We hope it
will soon be in Texas, if not also in North
Carolina. What shall be done with these
States1 Mr. Stanton is understood to
have declared that he will consent to the
appointment OF no more military govern
ors; shall we have provisional govern
ments organized by Congress, or shall
these people quietly organize again under
the old regime, as some of them modestly
proposed, the other day, to do in Louisia-
na and return their Representatives and
Senators to resume the balance Of power
in Congressl
These questions DO not relate to some
thing in the far-distant future, they are
already upon US. Some sort of answer
will be called for, and given, in the APP
preaching Congress. &. 4
1t is possible that the war may not be
so near its close Us many imagine, but that
does not remove the instant pressure of
these problems. If your arms do not pro
gress one foot in the next Iwelyemonth,
we still have to provide for the territory
already regained. five treat it as con-
quered territory, as Mr.. Summer proposes,
that is deciding upon our course. If we
hold that the loyal people constitute the
State, and, prescribing the testsof loyalty,
allow them to reorganize their govern
ments, as Mr.. Chase proposes, that is de-
Gliding upon another course. If we allow
the former citizens Unfortunately to re-
as Mr.. Blair. the tories, rebels /,
and the rest propose, that Is deciding up I
on another policy. But some decision, it 1
is apparent cannot long be withheld. The
discussions that precede il are likely not
merely to form the burden of fCongression-
al work, and to shape the issues of the
Presidential election, but to
become TO this nation in all its future his
tory what the debates on the formation
Of the Constitution have been to its past.
OF the other multiform questions of
general policy, of the proper management
Of the army, of the direction to be given
our naval development, of the financial
measures to be adopted for the limitation
and final extinction of our National debt;
1ne need not speak They will combine
10 give to this Congress responsibility
rom which the wisest may well shrink
Add to all this that we are on the eve of
he conventions that are TO nominate the
next candidates for the Presidency, and
hat the doings of this Congress will have
much to do in shaping the course of the
contest, as well as the fates of its leaders,
md we surely have elements enough for
IN exciting writer.
SECRETARY CHASE on RECONSTRUCTION.
In the whirl of The election enthusiasm
n Ohio, last month, do not think the
act was generally noted that Mr.. Chase,
n his Mozart Hall speech, had really de-
lined his views on some of the points in
olved in the question of Reconstruction.
rs these views are likely to form the text
f much discussion, and may form chrys-
alizing point for the parties on these new
ssues, | copy. from the revised report, the
paragraph, containing their pith;
But suppose the Courts hold the Proc
amation unconstitutional and invalid;
What then? Or suppose these States come
Jack into the Union and afterward e-es
ablish Slavery; what then? ! would try
o answer these questions my friends. if
thought it worth while. But let me
suppose in my turn. Suppose that the
people of these States, one after another,
before sending Senators or Represents
ives to Congress, meet in State Conven
ion and amend their Constitution so as
o prohibit Slavery, and so shut out for
ver this great evil from their States.
What court would hold that prohibition
Invalid? What State, when so guarded,
Till ever consent to a change of the Con-
titution so as to let the curse in again?
Why, gentlemen, the way out of this
Iifficulty is as straight and clear as the
treet to the river. All that is needed is
o recognize the plain indisputable prin-
iple, that in the regards to the National
the loyal citizens Of STATE con
tihite The State This principle has receiv-
d the sanction of the Executive aud Leg
slatiye Departments of the National /
in its application to Virginia,
nd will doubtless be applied to every
ther State, the government of which has
oined in the rebellion. Who are the
oyal citizens in those States included in
he Proclamation They. certainly, and
10 other. who desire the suppression Of
he rebellion, and consent to the means
lhich the Government has found neces-
ary for its suppression. Now. OF these
oyal citizens there is hardly one in hun