, 1865-12-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Political Situation In Congress-
! The Rcconssrnctfon Queagton-Mc1t-
+, can DAnair.-Mil1lnry Legislation.
tFrvm our o,sn Correspondent .
WAsntxoros, Dec. 16, l65

The Political Situation In Congress
The RcconssFuet1on QuesIton-Me1t-
can AGair-MiI1inry Legislation.
(Frvm our o.sn CorscspondenL] ,
WASntxoToH, Dec. 16, 166S,
TUE POLITICAL PROSPECT.
The clea1 explanation Of the relative posi-
tion Of the different component parts. Of tho
Union maJorities In the Senate and House in
regard to the reconstruction question was the
msin result Of this week. course OF events In
Congress, and continues to form the principal
topic of conversation and speculation as to
the future with all interested in current poll
tiee- It IL now considered settled fact that
a la1ge majority Of the Union membc1s in
each house is opposed to the: Presidents re-
construction policy, and will, for the present
at least, do nothing toward It's desired con-
summation hy the admission of representa-
tiou from the rebclllous States The test yote
on Mr.. Wilson's motion Oh Thursday meant
this and nothing less. My information as to
the impression that rote produced ut the
White House, Is to the effect that II created
deep surprise, bordering on modification, ut
the smallnesa Of the Union vote cast sgaInst
Mr.. Wilson'S motion. Whatever the feelings
of the President may be on the subject, he
Will either accept the Joint decision OF the
Senate and House against bis favorito scheme
,of the immediate admission Of the Southern
members elected under his plan of restoration,
'or attempt 10 have II reversed By the creation
of executive influence upon Congress. Iregret
TO eay that it Is the belief Of those radical mem-
bers that have had conversations with him
concerning reconstruction since the passage
Of Mr. Wilson's resolution that he will do the
latter, and by the power Of federal patronage
! seek TO secure modification Of the Con-
gressional anti-admission verdict That such
an attempt would be. consistent with
the determination be announced In his mes
sage, TO leave the decision of the question Of
admission entirely to Congress, could hardly
be susceptible Of demonstration, though 1t Is
true enough that be did not obIgote him
self formally to abide by the decision. Should
be venture the attempt, its first effect would
be, to make the radical leaders abandon the
line Of policy toward :. him so fur observed by.
them. They would with little delay conclude
that foTheaIance had ceased to be virtue,
and contlne themselves no longer to passive
opposition, but openly express their dtsap-
probation OF the Fresident's course towardth tie
! rebel States. .0utspoken opposition would
| but result sooner or later In formal rupture
i between the Executive and The majority OF
! Congress. But the responsibility tor such q
ca1amlrous turn Of aaairs would then not rest
with The latter
i The impression secms to prevail at the
White House, that the Senate, from It's grea-
ter Inherent conservatism, is more "opeu to
conviction" than the ,incor1igible stcadfast
radicals of the House majority. Accordingly
II the report be true, m experimental effort
Will be made at nh early dny by. Senator Doo-
little to bring the subject ofadmission square
'ly before the former by the presentation of
the CREDENTIALS Of some Southern Senators.
The advocates Of the administration policy
Insist that hcmn1o1ity ofthe Senate, by tsre-
'fnsnlto accept that part ofthe House resolution
lor the Committee Of Fifteen, cutting OF all dis
cussion upon the question Of admission, pur-
sposcly left the door open for a speedy CON
siderntton Of the subject. But rcitcrnte
the proceedings Of the Seuat torial cancus, that
an agreement Was entered into by the Repub-
;licnn seuators moi to bring mp tho question Of
admission themselves md not to permit the.
Opposition TO force 1t 10 decision before
The joint Committee bad made its report.
And a IN henee . any effort A. Doolittle may make
accomplish its end. If Mr.. Sumner carries
lout his intention to review the Prcsident's
policy from radical stand point On Mopday
next, 1t Is more than probable, that m ci-
haustiDg discussion Of the vast theme OF re-
CQublluCGQu Will AL O4CG EuStGs
THE ARx1cAE QUESTION IN CONGRESS.
1t Is wholly improbable that any Immediate
action will be taken by either House in re-
gard to the several sets Of resolutions -deuun-
ciatory OF French interference and Austria's
usurpation In Mexico, introduced in the early
part Of this week. Ar. Raymond on the ono
hand, and Mr.. Sumner on the other, will see
that they will rest quietly, fora while at least,
in the pigeon holes Of the Committees on For
eIen Affairs. Were the secret history Of the
most elaborate among them, and the real mo-
tive Of those that drew: them up and prevailed
on unsnspecting members to present them,
known, the public would regret IT, little II
they remained but empty, Ineffective demon
strat1ons- hare taken some pains to inform
myself us to the feeling among members Of
Congress upon Mexican affairs. Some
are entirely Indifferent, as to the
ultimate fate ot Mexico. But the
great majority entertain. the 1iyeliest
sympathy for the cause Of RepubhcanIsm In
lis gallant and persistent struggle against for
eien opposition. However, as to active inter-
ference IN Its favor, the all but universal opin
ion both Of Senators and members of the
Housc, Is, that The country needs peace, and
that We cannot at present a&1ord tp. run the
risk Of q war with France WheR the time