The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-11-23
The Southern Pres o. the Duty
Of their Congressman.

years to get out of congress, and, when de-
! teated, it would have been more dignifed
TO have awaited until the congress invited
them to send representatives. We entirely
agree with our coteDlporlry in his advice
against disclosing "a lust tor power of Oh
i fec" and for that reason we would have
the representatives from Virginia to await
the invitation Of congress. Those "erring
sons that 60 to Washington may, like
that other prodigal, declare they are mo
more worthy to be called thy son, make
me one of thy freedmen but the peo-
pie that they represent would much prefer
to await the invitation before seeking rep
resentation. ii the other states are I'M
willing to have the southern states repre-
scented, then 50 far as our vo'ce is roten-
tial, it would be against Virginia seeking
representa- IN. If the northern states de-
sire union they must also desire represent
alton, but they cannot want representatives
in congress who are wiling to swear that
for tOur years they had NJ sympathy with
their own fathers and brothers, gave m
aid or encouragement TO their dearest
friends in struggle for life. Intempera e
passions. uniscal.cd loyalty. rnay now prompt
men to demand 50 shameful declaration,
but not one year will have passed away
before the north will despiSe and the south
exccrate them.
We cannot see how President Johnson
and the teSt-oath. takiag representatives
are in any way connected; nor can we see
how the policy of the president is to be in
fiuenced by the representatives from the
south awaiting the invitation Of congress.
They exert no influence IN their own be-
half except the questionable influence Of
importantly We should not like to hear
Of any representative from Virginia seek
nc to enter congress against the wish OF
thc other states. Virginia is in the union
by the might and power OF the United
States and if her peoplca are not to be reps
resented in the congress then let them
devote all their energies to the material
advancement of their state. and let the
congress slide until they are wanted.
SO far as Virginia is concerned, she is
ia the union, having, as held by the presi-
dent, never been out. Gov. Pierpont is
no provisional Governor; but one recognized
at Washington as legal and loyal. Any
action, therefore, taken i'll congress against
representatives from Virginia. must be
taken against individuals. and not against
representation. 1t must be upon a qucs-
ton of qualification, and not on loyalty
x X
Virginia has her legislature. not by the
grace Of President johnson. but hy the
provisions Of the federal constitution
Her people are in the union though her
representatives may not get into congress
1t is a matter OF opinion and choice whether
or not state shall ratify the amendment;
# it is compulsory it is not binding, or it
is binding only So long as force conipels "a
pretended acquieScence in 1t. II the force
is to be always exer;cd, then the constitu
ticn is destroyed and republican govern
ment failure
President johnson policy is commend
ci and exalted as maguanimous aud kind,
because he will not consent to the radicals
imposing, by force OF arms. negro suffrage
and negro equality. But this amendment.
# adopted, dcprives the president of all
power upon that subject aud makes con-
sress supreme upon all matters relating
TO negroes. They become the wards Of
congress, with whom the president cannot
Interfere, and they may he made the ex>
elusive depository of the right OF suffrage.
and the president would be powercss to
prevent the ostracism of the whites.
From the Montgomery, Ala Mail.
BY the cleo ion on yesterday the state of
Albania returned to the federal congress
gentlemen whose loyalty to the union is
beyond question, if loyaltJ to the union
means an honest intention ID abide By the
government of the federal constitution
Probably not one Of those gentlemen, how
ever, will lie able to subscribe to the oath
required a. a preliminary to taking the
seats to which they have been elected. 1t
will be well for the people Of the north to
understand at the outset that the people of
Alabama, although determined to abide by
their oath Of fcalty, have not considered it
advisable or consonant with their dignity
to select such men to congress as would
FIJI to represent them, merely because of
ability to subscribe to an oath. which was
intended as n war measure for protcc-
ton in the past, aud not for security III the
future
If the pel@onalindDenee Of the president
and his official position does noi secure the
repeal of the obnoxious test oath. The con
gressmen elect will be rcmandoG to the
people, or will be admitted upon conditions
which will present serious questions TO
the people of the south. TIE alternative
will be presented by radical congress, of
extending the right of suffrage to all class
es and races, or OF remaining for an indeii-
mite time under military control. The
first horn of this political dilemma is full
of the dangers which would inevitably re-
suit from u war of races. Hence the south
will reject it as unbecoming to her dignity
and dangerous TO her safety. The second
horn Of the dilemma is full of evils; but
evils of different nature from those which
/ would result from the throwing open of the
American ballot box to every human being
who may be capable of imperfect articula-
ton and defective reasoning Either
branch of the alternative would present to
us the will of a master, not the rights of a