The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-04
Organizing the House.


The Democratic journals, which talk
seven days in the week about the dsngers
Of consolidation aud centrslizaiioD, are
msklng e concerted effort 10 force upon oce
sub0rdinate officer OF the Government in a
larger political power than was ever WELD
ed BY a President. Their purpose is 10 set
tie ali questions Of recoastrnctiou by par-
suading Edward McPherzon, Clerk Of the
last House Of Representative, TO put on the
roll Of the next Housa-fhe names Of per
sons sent to Washington from the Rebellious
states. If put on the roll those persons
would take part in the election Of Speaker.
aud probably take their seats IN the House.
That would dispose forsver Of TIE most i'm
portaEt questions touching the relations be-
twcen the Rebellion and the Government.
Congress would have ne voice whatever in
deciding them, but would fod that the
Clerk Of the House had saved them the
trouble Of all legislaiioz on matters clearl y
within the scope Of legislative authority.
The latest effort, therefore, Of Democracy,
according 20 The World, Herald, Chicago
Times, Cineinnati Enquirer, and the rest, is
practically 70 abolish Congress.
Unfortunately fos the Democratic plot,
Mr.. McP herson Is not disposed 70 join it,
We printed the other day q statement by q
correspondent Of the Evening P0st, IN
dOabtediy Eall-informed on the point, that
Mr. McPherson had announced that he
would not place on the roll any person
claiming 10 be elected from a State that has
been in Rebellion. A still more explicit
and precise piees Of testimony exists. Mr..
Mcpherson has stated his views At length in
letter from which we copy as follows:
sln the several tbeoriesof Reorganization,
the controlling power in the premises is va
riOusly supposed 10 be lodged sometimes in
the President, sometimes IN Congress. The
latter is likely 10 incline to the latter view,
and il any event is not likely to permit
members TO be forced into the House and
| Senate until, ia accordance with the cOusti-
tutional guaratny, those bodies themselves
have passed upon the claims Of the appli-
eants.
aBut the law Of the case is plain. It pro-
vides-in a resolution bungIngly worded
but prepared and passed with direct refer.
ence 70 such contingency rs an effort By &
| tricky Clerk TO food the House with illegit-
| innate members--that the Clerk shall make
q roll, and place thereon the names Of al
persons, and Of such persons only, who's
credentials show that they were regularly
elected, in accordance with the laws CT theil
States respectively, or the laws Of the United
Stat-s.'-ls Stat at Large, Vol. XII, ?. S04.
"On this IL is clear:
ssFirst: That no law Of the United States
authorizes the election Of Representative,
in any Of the insurrectionsry States.
"Eecond That no law Of any Of th,
States authorizes an election held at til,
call Of Provisional Governor, and from
which large numbers Of legally recognized
voters (the unsworn rebels) are excluded.
"How then can any names be placed Of
the roll as from these States -
/ Mr.. McP hers0n adds in the same lstte
! that he believes ffthere can be no legh
| government in any Of The insurrectionarJ
States until Congress recognizes il. With
out legsl government there can, Of course
be no legal representatives 10 be placed o.
the roll.' This letter, IS the reference q
Provisionsl Governments shows, was writ
ten some time since. The recent declara
tons Of Mr. Mcpherson are in perfect con
formity with IL. His de erminat on not Il
reconstruct Congress BY his individual nc
| is matured by long reflection, has been re
peatediy asserted, and cannot be shaken b.
the inhammatory appeals Of journals tina
have only just learned TO counterfeit tn
sccents Of loyalty, and 10 lend tardy sup
port TO the Administration. They are re
enforced by Gov. Perry Of South Carolina
who volunteers the valuable opinion tina
/ the persons chosen from his State in No
vember will have the same right 10 tax
their seats as the regularly elected mem
bers from massachusetts,. We don't kno'
/ | g Copperhead anywhere who isn't Of tn
J same mind; but 50 l0ng as the law is plaiu
! and Mr.. Mcpherson pledged 10 obey It, tn
f, | C0pperhesds sra welcome t. their opinions
They will in vain expect the Clerk 20 90
tempt, or the House 30 tolerate. an act tina
would be equally revolutionary aud des
poiie, and that could produre nothing bu
confusion aud disaster.-N. /. IribRae.