Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-12

l"
4 Their PROMPT ATTENTION will greatly oblige us
and will be received as a personal kindness.
Il THE CAUCUS RESOLUTION OF con-
GREss.
The extraordinary action of the House of
Representatives in Congress, on the first day
of the Session, adopting resolution Great
Sing joint Committee of fifteen to inquire
II into the condition Of the States which form
ed the so-called Confederate States of Amer
lea, and report whether any of them are en-
Nhtled to be represented in either House Of
Eongress," and declaring that "until such
report shall have been made and finally
acted upon by Congress, no member shall be
received in either House from any of these
said so-called Confederate States" is usur-
. patton of Legislative auth ority, which must
equally astOnish and alarm the sober iudg-
ment and patriotic sense of the whole coun-
IItry. There is no pretense of constitutional
authority forsuch aproceeding; and it stands
Jas bold and deliberate attack upon the
rights and liberties Of the people, emanating
from the caucus Of factious party, and may
be, in time, applid to one State as well az
another. Each House, for itself, is author
bzed by the Constitution, TO judge Of the
elections, returns and qualification of its own
lmembers. But can the SENATE assume TO
determine the rights of members for the
House? or can the House undertake the
same duty for the Senate? Or can both to-
gether, through the Intervention of Joint
/ committee, decide for both at one and the
same time? To state the proposition is to
make its absurdity plain to the poorest I'M
Outstanding.
But this is not the question presented by
this usurpation. The proceeding does not
contemplate the investigation Of the "elec-
tons, returns and qualifications" Of mem
bers; but it seeks to enquire into the con-
dition" of certain States, and decide wheth-
er they are entitled TO representation at all.
I Whence do the Senate and House derive
this new and unheard-of power? Not from
1.-THE Constitution, either express or implied
nor from the nature and structure of our
government, which might possibly author
lie the assumption Of power not expressly !
granted, without the exercise of which the
government would come to an end. But in |
his case no such prevailing necessity is even |
llleged 10 exist. II proceeds alone from a
party caucus boldly defying the restraints
IF organic laws, and striking down the rights
" the people everywhere.
What can justify an outrage so palpable
md so utterly destructive of the spirit and
principles of our institutional Why "in-
,uire into the condition" of certain States?
phe Executive Department of the govern
nent is in possession of all the information
that could be useful; and the President has
n his message, and through the Reports Of
lis several Cabinet officers, fully and plainly
laced that information in the possession of
congress. The condition of the South
IN States of this Union is no secret. They
ave designed TO conceal nothing from their
Estates; and even if they had been base
though 10 desire to do so, they could not
his pretended necessity for inquiry is there
3re transparent sham, and is Contempt
le trick, to cover up the true objects of its
lovers TO perpetuate strife, disorder and
tnfusion; to keep the Union disrupted, and
, hold these States as tributary dependen-
fes under the iron heel of party dcspo-
sm.
II is stated, however, that some two or :
lore of the senators, who have been under :
Iood TO hold radical views, will oppose the 1
esolution in the Senate but we build no S
opes upon this circumstance. The party /
iscipline which evidently prevails over !
9th branches of the present Congress, will 9
AIRY the proposition triumphantly through s
&c Senate Still, there is a hope that the
Movement may be defeated That hope lies q
! the action Of the President The consti- I,
ltion reads that 4" Every order, resolution, [
r vote TO which the concurrence Of the r
anate and House of Representatives may p
E necessary Except on a question a
adiournmcnt) shall be presented V,
the President of the United u
ates; and before the same shall :;
Ike effect shall be approved by him, or being al
by him, shall be repassed by as
so-thirds of the Senate and House Of Rep a
sentatives, according to the rules and linn "
atoms prescribed in the case of bill" rs
Should the President place his veto upon W
c resolution, il will, of course, be the sig ~
i for bitter and relentless war upon him h,
' those who will claim to have elected him. p
1t il is hardly probable he will be intimi 70
ted by such a prospect. 1t is fortunate =, ~
at Ihe people have the matter in their own Sc
nds as the ultimate tribunal, and with the c,
in his hand, he is, and wall con- pr
nue. 20 be. omnipotent with them. iN