The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-13
THE temper Of Congress in repard I

THE temper of Congress in regard to
the States lately in rebellion cannot be
mistaken. It is just what any one, In
diligently appreciatiug the situation in
the South, might expect. The demo-
cratic papers have been fond of quoting
President Johnson's restoration policy,
pretending to Justify it in one breath
while in the next they yehementIy de-
nounced all interference with the vol
untary reconstruction inangurated by
the people of the rebel States them
selves. President johnson, as we all
know, has step by step been leading,
directing, urging, yea goading, the late
rebels onward in the line of their duty.
When they have halted and hesitated
and reacted, he has sent them very sig
nificant dispatches. Never in the his
tory of this Government has the CEN
tralExeeutive power of the nation been
exercised at once so directly and arbi-
trarily as it has been in. the hands OF
President johnson Never before in
the hands OF any one has it been exer-
Used over the deliberations of a civilian
body like the members Of a State Legis-
Iature. Trained as we all have been in
the traditions of atOtal nOn-interference
by the General Government in the muni-
cipal regulations of State, we can not
but feel ourselves taxed to conclude
without doubt that what is being done
is an imperative necessity rather than
n dangerous precedent. President
Johnson himself is impressed with the
extraordinary nature OF his situation,
and in his message he candidly avOws
that he proceeds in his hitherto untrod-
den path with no little misgiving.
As it is with the President, so it is with
Congress. That body, charged chiefly
with the high duties and responsible
ties of reconstruction, finds itself no
less than the President, in an unparal-
leled situation. Indeed, now that Con-
gress has assembled, the President in so
many words turns overtheyery essence
OF the whole question 10 it, viz: the
matter of representation. All else is
simply preliminary. No wonder that
Congress determines to take time and
weigh well the greatest problems ever
submitted to a legislative body. The pol
icy of this great government of ours, in
the short space of four years, by the re-
suit ola war unparalleled in its mag
nitude, has been changed complete and
entire. a new era is full upon us and
it IS not TO be wondered that the most
intelligent feel that the prime necessi-
" is time for the fullest examination,
Those who clnim seats, even loyal men
from states lately in rebellion must
wait. 1t is one of the least of the hard,
ships entailed by the war most surely
Congress now sits for the first time sincC
tho mightiest conspiracy ever known
was crushed. All the States participat.
ing in that conspiracy have status diff
ferent from those that were loyal and
steadfast. Who shall say now what
that status isl Who will say that it Is
not wise on the part of Congress
to close its doors to every probable
dnngerH 1t would be impossible &c
undo the evil that might result from q
policy less prudent than that resolved
upon thus far. We oweth South moth,
ing except whit we owe To Tho
common country. We have much Il
fear from her representatives. Thcil
untecedents are generally suspicious
This is not the time for a reactionary
element to be installed in influential
position. We have right to presumC
against thegood intentions of the South
even had we not the facts before us thai
have occurred since the war. The coun,
try will overwhelmingly sustain Con.
gress in bidding her stand aside until
the Entlontd safety is assured beyond
peradventure. Tho debris of the re-
bellion has no rights that we are
bound to respect in this crisis. Every
thing has been forfeited and is now sub
JeCt to such policy as the dominant
loyalty OF the country may believe
necessary for the public welfare.