New-York daily tribune., 1865-10-31
ORCANIZING THE HOUSE.

The Democratic journals, which talk seven
DAYS in the week about the dangers of CONSOLE
datiOn and Capitalization, are making con-
certed effort to force upon one subordinate
officer of the Government a larger political
power than was ever welded by President.
Their purpose is to settle all questions OF recon-
struction by persuading Edward McPherSon'
Clerk of the last House Of Representatives, to
nut on the roll of the next House the names OF
persons sent to Washington from the he-
belliouS States. If put on the roll, those
persons would take part in the election OF
Speaker and probably take their seats IN the
House. That would dispose forever OIL
the most important questions touching the
relations between the Rebellion and the Govern
ment. Congress would have no voice whatever
in deciding them, but would find that the CLERK
of the House had saved them the trouble OF all
legislation on matters clearly within the scope
Of legislative authority. The latest ehort'
therefore, of Democracy, according to me
World, Herald, Chicago Tumes, C'nc'nnon
Enquir,r, and the rest, is practically to abolish
Congress.
Unfortunately for the Democratic plo., MI
Mcpherson is not disposed to join 1t. Wv
printed the other day a statement by q cor
respondent Of The Erening Post, undoubtedly
wel.informed on the point, that Mr.. McPher'
son had announced that he would not place on
the roll any person claiming to be elected from
State that has been in Rebellion. a still more
explicit and precise piece of testimony exists
Mr.. Mcpherson has stated his views at length
in letter from which we copy as follows:
"In tie several theories Of reorganization the con
trolling power in the premises II varousiy supposed 10
bc lodged sometimes In the President sometimes III
Congress The latter Is likely TO incline 10 thc u'er
be forced into me Horse and Senate until an oecoTaGNce
nth tho constitutional guaranty hose ood" heDstts
/ hare D1ssed upon the claims Of h.s applte1hs.
Gut The law OF the case is paiu 1t proyides-in a
resolution bungngly worded but prepared and passed
with direct reference to such eonngeacy as an enoit
by tricky Clerk to food the House WIN ineg,,aae ,
the,eon the names OF all persons ond o snch persons
ONLY hose credentials shoe that they re reghtdTiy ectcd
accordance rifh me Ions Of hsr states Tspeetiry
,hs Of the Catfed S'G'e'.'-lStat at Large Vol
MI. p. sOi.
''On this it is clear:
.Firn. That no law OF the United States author
es the election Of representatives n any oI tie nslr
Seond. That no law Of any Of the States authorizes
an election he'd at the call of Provisional governor
ard fsom which large numbers Of legally recognized
voters fthe unsworn Rebels are excluded.
How then can any names be placed on tie roll az
from these StatcsF
| Mr.. Mcpherson adds in the same letter that
he believes Z" there can he no legal government
in any of the insurrcctionary States until Con-
gress recognizes it. Without legal govern
mcnt there can, of course, be no legal reprcscn-
tatves to be placed on the roll" This letter,
As the reference 10 Provisional Governments
shows was written some time since. The re-
cent declarations of Mr. Mcpherson are in per.
feet conformity with it, His determination
not to reconstruct Congress by his individual
act is matured by long reflection, has been
repeatedly asserted, and cannot be shaken by
the niammatory appeals oG journals that
have only just learned to counterfeit the
accents OF loyalty, and to lend tardy support
to the Administration. They are reinforced
| by Gov. Perry of South Carolina, who yolun-
teers the valuable opinion that the persons chosen
from his State in November will have the
same right to take their seats as the regularly
elected members from Massachusetts,. We
don't know a Copperhead anywhere who isn't OF
the same mind; but so long as the law is plain,
and Mr.. Mcpherson pledged to obey it, tine
Copperheads are welcome to their opinions.
They will in vain expect the Clerk to attempt,
or the House to tolerate, an act that would be
equally revolutionary and despotic, and that
could produce nothing but confusion and
disaster.