The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-16
CFf A RLE S 7 O n.
SATURDAY aiomylNG. pEc;:1'Bl:r 20. ,sd5.

perception Of the fact that the President and
Congress have come to on issue upon recon-
struction, which may test the powers OF the
Executive and Legislative departments of the
Government.
1t will hayo been noticed that the Presi-
dent, in his Message, places the States lately
seeded in the Union, with representatives in
attendance, and leaves it only for "you, fellow
citizens of the Senate, and you, fellow-citizcns
of the House of Representatives, to judge,
each Of yo,, for yourselvss, Of the elections,
returns aud qualifications of your o,rn mcm-
Jers," which, in effect, is this, merely, that
not only are these States in the Union, but
their representatives present are already
members of either House.
1t will, also, have been seen that Congress,
at the instance OF the Republican majority,
has ignored al tliis-havc, in the resolution
of Mr.. STEVENS, in the House denied that
there arc any members from the seeded
States to Congress, or that any persons pur-
porting to be members shall be admitted until
Congress shall act upon the subject; and then
rolling the wheels of time back to the sur
render Of Gen. LEE, takes up the work Of re-
construction at that point, to fashion ii ~ it
may please them.
Clearly, as we have said, there arc opposite
trains upon the samo track, and Il collision is
portended. r. may bo avoided The consc-
qucnces must be fearful, and one or tie other
may back in time, but which can do so, 1t is
difficult to say The President cannot lie
has said tho States arc in the Union, and he
cannot let Congress put them out This he
might do, perhaps, if they were in tue G.ipn
by any act of his; but they are not. lat
they arc in by the laws and Constitution Of
the United States, and as tho National Exccu-
tive he cannot let those laws bo violated. Ncr
if their Senators and Representatives bc al
the doors of Congress, can he permit shom to
bc turned of, except for some one Of the
causes above stated, which would be equally
sufficient TO turn off members from the North
crn States. There is no reccding from his
position, therefore, withou. II violation Of the
Constitution, even on his own construction of
it. There can bo no compromise. If the
principle be truc--if the. States lie i'll the
Union-it is logically conclusive to its con-
sequences, and he can as little permit the
State delegations to be delayed or hlndcrcd
as he can permit the States themselves 10 hc
turned out
Congress may reccde. They cannot be per-
lecily certain Of suaccas; they will suffer irom
a contest wit, Tic President; they are now
the victorious party, and naturally solicit the
rewards Of victory; some want ci;icc; some
want TO get their friends in oiiicc; soH.o wish
to retain their friends in Office; all want tic
consideration ard Importance which u kaowl-
cdgo that they can influence tie Les:owal Of
patronage will give them; and they will hes
itatc upon the inal step which will :,recipi-
tate them from the powers Of Government, and
the honors and emoluhea:5 10 be found in the
distribution of two hundred million dollars of
tho public funds. {!
Bat though not finally committed, aud coun-
sclled by these grave considerations not to be, II
will yet be difficult for even Congress to recede.
They have acted with deliberation, upon full
knowledge of tho circumstances: they have
acted fnally-havc determined upon tho
course indicated, in caucus, in which the
Of the party seem to have been fully
they are already ia antagonism
to the President, from whom the alienation can
scarcely be more complete in persistence; they
have won the Government, and naturally wish
to wear it; they wish, also, to have the further
power to be found in extending = Provincial
Government: over the South; they apprehend
that if the Southern delegations are admitted
into Congress, they will coalesco with the
Democratic pSHy at tho North, and pat thcm
under; they fear, also, that they will coaesca
with disaiIcctcd classes at the North, and re-
pudiatc tho public debt. In every way, tie
CT tho Southern representatives
in Congress is repuls;vc. 1t bodea them no
sood; tI.ay must, cf necessity, !.'H Tie i'":-
.c;.~ ii,ey llsve iain:cd tiisy eject: i!a Pre-
silc.t, and canl.ut ryrego tic right TO rule
him; ;,cy l.I,c powers which le must respect;
they exIrc.s tic Legislative sentiment Of tic
t.ici7 will is law with lhc President,