The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-30
The Admission OF Southern. Repre-
III sentattves.S

~@As>SAsC1~y
The question of the admission of
Southern representatives to seats in
Congress is one of great interest. It
has not received that attention which
its exceeding pith and moment de-
serve. We fear there is trouble ahead
IN reference to it. Both the. Senate
and House of Representatives have
large Republican" maiorities. But
Republican is rather indefinite term,
and by no means represents homo
gently Of political opinions. Some
OF the members are radical ard some
conservative Republicans; some sup
port and others oppose the Presidents
views. Now, each house is the sole
Judge of the qualifications of its own
members. The States of the South
have been unrepresented, with an
exception or two, for four years. At
the next meeting, Sens tors and Rep
resentatlves elect by the people of the
several Southern States will no doubt
present themselves for admission to
seats. Shall they be admitted? Some
persons say that the whole question
depends, III respect to the House,
upon the dictum of Mr.. Edward Me
Pherson, its Clerk. If he call the
roll of Southern States, their Repre-
sentatlves, we are told, will be admit
ted; If not, not. But, evidently. the
action of the Clerk will not be 6nalin
the case, whatever it may be. If this
were so, Mr.. Mcpherson would indeed
be man of power. He would pos
sess more than the President of the
United States. But this is not so.
The Clerks action will be preliminary
and subject. to revision Oh the part Of
the House. Should he refuse to call
the roll of the Southern States-as he
may-the House, after organizing.
can, II 1t choose, order the Southern
delegates admitted to seats. and the
Clerk Will be obliged to swear them in,
under penalty of removal or other
other punishment for refusing. On
the other hand, if he should call the
roll OF the Southen States, and their
Representatives should take their
seats, the House might subsequently,
GUST them, declaring they have no
right to them. We say it might
actually do this, by virtue of its rieht
to decide upon the qualifications of
Its own members. But we advance
no 'inion at this time whether such
a course would be legal and constitu-
tional or not. This is unnecessary
for our present purpose. All that we
mean to say is that the final decision
OF the admissio rests with the House.
As the majority of that body shall be
favorably or unfavorably disposed, so
will the Southern Representatives. be
admitted or refused What, then.
will be the temper of the House. and
what will determine the admission or
exclusion of the Southern delegates?
Upon the first of these points, we beg
leave to ask attention to the following
extract of late letter from the Wash
ington correspondent of the Spring
field (Mass. kepubHcoa, a moderate
journal. He says:
II am willing to hazard a prediction
IN view OF the recent conduct of the
people OF several of the, Southern
States, and it is, that Congress will
not next winter admit Senators and
Representatives from them-possibly
excepting North Carolina, Louisiana
and Arkansas. understand Mr.
Dawes to express the opinion in his
Pittsfieid speech that he would never
consent to admit Representatives
from one Of those States till the ques-
ton of its thorough loyalty is fully
settled. In this, he agrees Win tie
President. do not hear of one Re
publican member of the new, Congress
who believes the Clerk of the House
should put the names of members
elect from the Southern States (the
States which went into the rebellion)
upon his roll. Everybody admits
that the House must settle the ques-
tlon of their admission, not of turn
ing them out. They do not come to
Congress as members from loyal
States come. For four years, they