Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-01

they will pursue upon the great question Of retora-
ton, which will now mark the dividing lines except
it may be with such men as Thaddeus Stevens, OF
Pennsylvania, and Charles Sumner, OF MaSsachu-
sets who have publicly announced their policy
That there will be marked difference in the course
in Congress OF members OF the republican party Is
plainly evident. disagreement has already de-
vglOped itself 10 a considerable extent. President
johnson elected by the same party and upon the
same issues that Mr.. Stevens was but their avowed
policy at the present time in reference TO the treat
ment OF the Southern States is directly antagonist
cal. The whole question as 10 the action oil Con
gress then, Is does Andrew johnson represent the
! views and policy of the republican members, OF Is
Thaddeus Stevens, with his radical, extreme ldeas,
the true exponent of that partys In COOKING o. S
l the tabular classification OF the HehoeLs "
/ House of REPRESENTATIVES. published elsewhere, we
find that excluding the eleven southern o'a1es
which were engaged IN the reOenOh' t ne - ne
/ hundred and eghty-fOur memOerS; vi ons
hundred and fortv-three were elected Us vi
anJ f,rtv.oDe as democrats of various shades- "tu
some half dozon exceptions all oil ooth Pal'e.S
take their seats with the avowed purpose bther
inc the Southern policy OF the EIes.uen' zion Of the
This is mere preence or the real deterin 20
.l,,t,-s tir,e alone can determine. According W
the hest information that we can OBTAIN up 70 tne
t-.at time of writing the following table SHOWS
! he real position of the members -
Conservative republicans. 90
Radical republicans. ...'..''- ~
War democrats. -.......''.-... N
Connarbeads Observation-Disclosures. ~
Southern secessiOnistS.
Tho first four classifcations are the only mem
barS who will have vote on the abundance Oh Tue
southern representatives. IL Is Delle'ea th"V tle
conservative republicans and democrats VIII sustain
~ ,ol;cy oF restoration marked out by the PreSl-
dent and that the radical republicans will oppose IT,
A. ~ i impossibe to obtain correct data in regard to
the noSition of all, direct application OF the above
test may show larger preponderance oil tne cohser-
vatiye element the republican party, or rtce rerSd
..Mucb will depend upon the form in which the
oraStion of admitting the Southern representatives
comes up as TO how the republican party Will divide
on that question, as divide it must in some FORM
If for instance an attempt is made to declare that
the Southern States are so many conquered terri
tories and therefore out of the UnOn those tavOrng
that policy as against the Presidents will be a mere
faction The same will be true in regard to an at
tempt to keep the Southern members out OF Congress
until their respective States give the negroes the
privilege of the elective franchise. Very few mem
bers from the North will presume to take that stand
in the face Of the developments in the Northern
States during the last few months. But when we
come to the question OF receiving the South INTO lull
fellowship just as 1t stands now, the result IS more
doubtful and the position of a majority OF the re-
publicans somewhat prOblematCal. The extreme
men of that party desire to delay reorganization,
while the President would settle the country and lay
the foundation for prosperity at once. The former
would plunge us into untold evil OF domestic and
politcal anarchy and threaten with financial ruin,
while the latter would give US peace domestic tran
guilty and commercial prosperity The whole
country has been in turmoil, excitement and I'M
settled for five years, the people in suspense,
unable to tell what the next day might bring FORTH
They are anxious for quiet. Our commercial and
mercantile interests have been in state of uncer
tainty But under the policy marked out by the
President everything is beginning to revive, and
our business men are looking forward with better
and brighter hopes. Will Congress destroy their
anticipations or make them a reatyl It's decision
is not only important in regard to the interests of
the country but upon that decision rests the life or
death of the Republican party, inasmuch as that
party will be held responsible for the action
of Congress The Republican party now oc-
cupes the position and has the prestige
to become the ruling power of the nation for years
to come If the Republicans in Congress rally to
the support of the policy already commenced by
Andrew johnson, the fate of the Democratic party
will be forever sealed while the Republican will be
the party of the country for the next quarter of
century But if, on the other hand they follow tie
lead Of such fanatics as Stevens, Sumner, Wade and
Chandler then the Republican party will receive its
death blow in the house of its pretended friends and
the Democracy will be again placed in power. The
people are anxious and are hoping and praying for
an early reimbursement Of all our internal difficult
ties. will the Republicans in Congress grant them
that boon, or force them to look to the Democracy
for the Accomplishment of this end This is the
position in which the members of Congress will
lind themselves when they assemble on Monday