The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-04
Organisation Of the House.

The efforts of Copperheads to revolutionize
the House of Representatives, or to abolish It's
constitutional functions by an act of usurpa-
ton on the part of the Clerk, are not likely 10
be crowned with success. They would have
this subordinate officer, who holds over till
successor is chosen, and presides during the
election of Speaker, enter upon the roll all the
delegates sent from the States lately in rebel
lion, SO that they may take part in the organl-
cation, and, by joining hands with the north
ern Copperheads, embarrass if not control the
action of that body. This is the shortcut to
reconstruction, the method advised by the
men who claim to have such horror of CEN
tralized power.
Unfortunately for this plot, Mr.. Mcpherson,
the Clerk of the House, is not disposed to ia
vor it. This officer understands his duties,
and in letter recently published, erroneous
attributed to his pen, from which the Tribune
makes extracts, his views are understood to
be definitely set forth. That letter says:
In the several theories of Reorganization, the con-
trolling power in the promises varously supposed
TO be lodged sometimes in the Fresluent solneSle9
In Congress. The lateris likely 70 ice - ue lateer
to forced into he House and Senate until in accord
lDik the constitutional guaranty, those bodies
themselves hare passed upon se cs0's o. tae dppts-
.siSat the law ofthe case is plain. 1t providesn a
resolution bungngly worded but prepared and pass
ed with direct reference to such contingency
effort by tricky Clerk TO food the House with ille-
climate mombers-that the ClerR shall make roll
mad place thereon the names OF all persons, and o.
such persons only s0tOse credentials shot1 that then
acre regularly elected IN accordance NTH the lIacs Of
their States respectively, or the taDS Of the United
States stat. at Large. Vol. XII.. n. 30f
'sOa this tits clear:
"Fjrst: That no law of the United States author
surrecd0nary States.
"Second: That 1aw of any of the States au-
thorizes election held at the call of proyiional
Governor, and from which large numbers of legally
recognized voters the unsworn Rebss1 are excluded
q ow then can any names be placed the roll
from these States?"
1t is added in the same letter that "there
Scan be no legal government in any of the in
"surrectionary States until Congress recog-
"nizes it. Without legal government there
"can, Of course, be no legal representative to
"be placed on the roll" This letter as the
reference to Provisional Governments shows,
was written some time since. The recent dec
larations of Mr.. Mcpherson are in perfect con-
formity with it. ellis determination not to
reconstruct Congress by his individual act,
''says the Tribune, is matured by long rehec-
"tion, has been repeatedly asserted, and can
mot be shaken by the inhammatory appeals of
Journals that have only just learned to coun-
"terfeit the accents of loyalty, and to lend
"tardy support to the Administration. They
"are REINFORCED by Gov. Perry of South Caro-
"lina, who volunteers 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 Cop
"perhead anywhere who isn't of the same
"mind; but SO long as the law is plain, and
"Mr. Mcpherson pledged to obey it, the Cop
'perheads are welcome to their opinions
"They will in vain expect the Clerk to attempt
cor the House to tolerate, an act that would
"be equally revolutionary and despotic, and
''that could produce nothing but confusion
"and disaster"