Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-23
SECOND EDITION
FOUR o,CLocM. ~ No.
ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE

In an Article on the suDlect Oh the organi-
Eation Of tho United States House of Repre-
sentatives, which appeared in this journal a
few days since, we stated briefly a converse
tion which recently occurred between the
Clerk of the House and the Editor in. Chief
Of the RrPusLicAs, in which the former de-
ciared that he was convinced that he had no
power to enter upon the roll of the House
tho names of persons who claimed to repre-.
sent States iAte in rebellion. q. .HH.'i' a.
Our article has been very extensively
copied and commepted on by the press Of the
country North, South, and West. 1t ia
amusing TO read some Of tho criticisms TO.
ferred to. But without stopping to review
any of them, We beg respectfully to say that
we do not attach so much Importance to the
action Of the Clork Of the House as many
others do. Hes q mere officer Of that body,
subject to its will. II he should refuse 10
enter upon the roll the name Of one or more
members from the rebsllious States, n mem
Der of the House would have the right TO
move to insert such names. On the other
hand, if the Clerk should insert oil the names
Of the representatives of the late rebelfious
States member could also move to strike
them of. Either motion, in either case
would have to be put by the Clerk, and in
that way il is easy to observe that after all
the House controls the whole matter. which
SO many persons suppose and assert to be
within the grasp of the Clerk.
But there is another view OF the matter
which we have not seen noticed by the press
1t is this: If tho Clerk should change his
mind, and disregard the law of the 37th
Congress, (which he probably will not do, J
and insert tho name of every man who pre-.
sents credentials declaring that he was reg.
ularly elected, the House cannot transact
any business under the law, except to elect
Speaker, WntH tie members are swO,5t in.
In that event Messrs. MAYNARD and SroKEs,
Of Tennessee, and probably one or two men
from the State Of Virginia, which, it is as
sumed, has been regularly organized by
election Of the people, are the only ones who
could take the test oath. None Of tie oths,
representatives. from the late rebeitiomS States,
with perhaps six or eight exceptions, cO"d
take 1t withOm committing peD"rg They
are not coming to Washington with the in
tention of forcing themselves into the Ma.
tional Legislature by any such a process.
They know very well that it is impossible for
the House to take any action in the direc-
tion of q modification of the oath, IL it is
modified at all, until after il organizes and
is prepared to do business.
Therefore, we are glad to be assured, as
We have been by many prudent gentlemen
now in this city from the South that Repre-
sentatives elected by the Southern States
who, by reason of their action as rcbels to
destroy the Government cannot conscien-
tiously take the congressional oath of 10y
atty, will como here and quietly await the
organization of Congress and the appoint
ment Of the committees; that they will then
respectfully present their credentials to the
two Houses for reference to the Committee
on Elections in each branch, and abide by
the result.
The Southern States, in the work of reor.
ganization, could have made the labor of
Congress much easier and their own future
exceedingly more pleasant if they had rigidly
adhered to the kind suggestions of the Presi-
dent, that we must have from every State
which has been in rebellion Substantial
guarantees" for the future, before the work
of reorganization can be considered com.
plete To this end, those States would have
shown wisdom had they elected men to Con.
gress who could have readily and consistently
taken the Congressional oath instead of send
ing men, as they have in almost every instance,
out of Tennessee and Virginia, who cannot
take it. They will realize tho mistake they
have made when they begin to encounter the
difficulties they themselves could have avert
ed. The National Government expect the
Southern people, like tho Northern people.
to give evidence Of their loyalty ut the bal
lot.box, as we'll as in conversations, conven.
tions, and Legislatures.
But we think we see daylight in the great
work of restoration; and If tho same pru.
dence and patriotism is manifested by Con.
gress and by the representatives Of the rebel
lious States that illustrates all the acts ol
the President on the same subject, we are
confident that national harmony will bound
out of the present seeming chaos.
SECRETARY HARLAN.
The Davenport Gazette and the Burlng-
ton Ho''k'ye intimate that Mr.. Secretary
HARLAN is very likely to be elected United
States Senator from Iowa, and tha he will