American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-11-22
Ercason regainits Power?

u none has ever equalled in moment
sEhether regarded as efecting the pres
emit or the futrre-the Congress to con.
vene on the first Monday OF December
next. Various complex questions will
demand solution at its hands but the
gravest of all will meet at the very thres-
hold of the session, and on its determi-
nation will depend much for veal or woe
TO Nation just rescued from treason by
the matehless heroism and countless sac
iifces Of loyal people.
When the roll of the new Congress
shall have been called by the Clerk, the
Representatives from all the States lately
in rebellion against the government will
demand that their names be added so
that thcy may participate in the organi-
i eaniEauon Of the House. Mr.. McPher-
|, son, the Clerk-who is the presiding off
Ger of The hOuse until Speaker is cho-
sen will refuse to recognize the members
from the seeded States, and on the de-
lmination of the inevitable motion to
i've the rebel names added to the roll,
4 he will call only the members whose States
have maintained their fidelity TO the I'm
bn, and thus submit the question to the
deliberate consideration of Congress.
II this he has no alternative. The law
{fines his duty, and he can but obey it.
Icrc he to do otherwise he would COM
Fit q most fragrant usurpotion, and would
predetcrminc the most important issue to
be decided by the coming Congress. If
he should once place their names on the
roll and call them onfll questions arising
in the organization, we should witness
the marvellous spectacle ofa band of reb-
els fresh from their inglorious fields and
murderous prison-pens, voting themselves
into Congress and into power in the gov
crnmcnt Il ey had exhausted themselves
in a vain effort to destroy
We do not overrate either the magni.
: tude or the danger of the issue. Eh.
couraged by the leniency of the admins
trstion, the Southern members will be
clamorous for their admission, and there
will not be wanting those who viii bend
btfore n united South as in olden times,
yield to the pressure for their success.
shall hear much of fraternity and
Tmony; Of brothelly love; of the tics
race and language, and it is not i'm
bbable that even at this early day, with
blood of tho Five Forks still un.
shed from the soil of the Old Domin-
we shall have threats Of turbulence,
cord and it may be disintegration if
are denied voice in our highest
slatiye tribunals For all this loyal
lgressmon must be prepared, for 5hus
the conflict come, and whether it
Snhfl lie mighty or but ripple on the
Z surface depends upon the fidelity with
7 which it is met If there shall be fear
and trembling, then will tho appliances
of power and the thunder of lordly trait
ors shall gain ground daily, and the adj
mission Of rebel delegations into our Ma
tional legislature will he but question
of few weeks at most.
Should they be admitted? We are
not insensible to the fact that they are to
form part, and no unimportant part. Of
our rcgcucrated Nation. and we conccde
that the time must eorEc, and we hope at
al early day, when they shall justly re-
4 gain their proper position in all depart
ments of the government. Because
..1hey have rebellcd is not, in itself, rca-
'Sssou' their exclusion. If it were, they
.hs be forever excluded. Nor can
!. thcy+ DC placed on probation until they
think, feel and act oa all questions as do
the people of the North. They will ev-
,r cherish their heroes, mourn their be-
rcavements of their friends, and will not
SOON 4earn to love the hated sons of the
eE%fhwhose sterncr qualities they prove
4 SO fearfullS fol themselves on many battle
I fields. To ask that treyg- shnsslid forget
their convictions and their affections, be-
fore restoring them to power, would be to
doom them to lives OF dependence. But
we must not be unmindful that we have
.Isust emerged from terrible war--a war
that has left its hundred of thousands Of
uutimely graves that has staggered the
{ Nation with millions of debt--a war cause.
less, Yanton, wicked and most cruel; for
oed ahon an unwilling people withoutre re-
! course to the constitutional redress for
zeal or'imaginary grievances, and a war
(Which has tangible, logical results now
patcpt to the civilized world If these
results were alike acceptable to all, then
1as'ti,annediate fraternity incur Nation
al legislature be the first dutyof the vim
dicated gozorunent But the deadly,
desoiatmg civil war Of America does not
differ from other great wars in having
victors and vanquished; and it but re-
peats the history of the arbitrament of
the sword in alltmes past, IN making up
! wWalts at the cost of the tiscomftted,-
- North has lost nothing in the great
Issues of the war, the South has lost ev-
erything it stakcd on the conflict. The
North has deep wounds to hcala broken
: cir, fs, and its full share cf wars inexo-
rablS exactions, but it has won the princi-
pies for which it gave its noblest blood.
The South has no less sorrows to solaco
and has lost the issues it staked in the
! .leadly struggle. II is defeated, subju-
ted and bows sEllcnly 20 the hopeless
TT yielded nothing while the
Gould be drawn in wrath while
ould meet man in blood A com
evernment, common Nationality
common inheritance, weighed as
Ing IN in giving us peace. 1t was .