The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-13


Concession from tho House Majority.
There were some interesting proceedings yes
terday in the House in regard to the members
elect from Tennessee, which resulted in their
conditional admission to the privileges of the
floor till otherwise ordered.
Mr. Raymond, Of New York (who had per-
haps been reminded by Thurlow Weed that
something must be done to put the firm right
in the White House in regard to the New York
Collector), rose to the privileged question of
presenting the certificates of election Of the
Tennessee members. Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens
interposed the point Of order that the State Of
Tennessee is not known in the House. This
is his Interpretation Of the Stevens-Raymond
caucus resolution. 1t MEANS in his Judgment,
that the House, in adopting that resolution, has
decided that the excluded States have ceased
to be States, and have lapsed into Terrific
ries. The Speaker, however, overrulcd this
point of order, and the credentials of the Ten
nessee members were received and referred
to the Stevens select committee, by yeas l26,
nays Al. This is, perhaps, equivalent to their
ultimate rejection, although in the meantime,
colleagues from Tennessee, till otherwise Or
dered, are admitted to the floor Of the House.
The question naturally recurs, why even this
small concession to the Tennessee members,
and to them alone of all the excluded Southern
States? We presume 1t is because the House
has discovered that the time is not favorable
for On "irrepressible conflict" with President
Johnson. He comes from the State of Tonnes
see. II was reconstructed upon his plan and
under his own supervision as President Lin
coins Provisional Governor. An out-and-out
rejection Of the Tennessee members therefore,
would involve q distinct, complete and of.
fcnsive reputation of the Presidents restora-
ton policy. The House, to avoid . rupture 20
abrupt and full Of danger to the dominant
party, has wisely agreed so far to recognize
the Presidents work in Tennessee as to admit
the members from that State to the privileges
Of the floor. This is step in the right direc-
ton; but to be consistent in its action the
House should extend the same privileges to the
members from all the other Southern States.
Their claims are substantially the same as
those of the Tennessee delegation. But, as an
opening has been made, II will probably be
widcned after another night or two Of cool re-
Election.
The Stevens-Raymond caucus joint rssolu-
ton will be modified 30 as to refer the con-
dition Of the late so-called Confederate States
to the joint committee, leaving each house,
a. the constitution ordains, to be the Judge
Of the elections, qualifications and returns Of
its own members II was yesterday thus
amended in the Senate by vote Of
thirty-three to eleven. Something has been
gained indicating q wholesome reaction
against the violent and reckless radical policy
SGT on foot by Stevens, Raymond and Sumner,
and from this beginning we are led TO antici-
pate the triumph Of the Presidents programme
over that of the extreme radical faction. The
early desertion of Raymond betrays the weak
ness Of Stevens and the power Of such Execu-
tive trump cards as the New York Custom
House. Let the President hold on to these q
little longer and his victory will be secured;
for, as John Randolph said Of the old demo-
cratic party, we may with equal force say Of
the present republican party that its seven
great cardinal principles are "the five loavee
and two fshes.v In this view the President Is
master Of the situation, for the people are
with him and watching the progress Of the
/ game