Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-15
Secession In q New Form.
From the New York Times, Feb. ~


The House of Representatives is queer insttu-
ton. 1t seems to understand the art of looking one
way and rowing another to perfection. Protesting
to support the Administration it loses no opportu-
nifty in denouncng its action. The Chairman of the
committee of ways and means is ut oggerheNds with
the Secretary OF the Treasury. The Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations presents and
passes resolutions denouncing the action of the Sec
rotary of State. Leading members charge the most
outrageous corruption on the Secretary OF the NAVY
and demand votes Of censure on the Administrator
they profess to support While the House is voting
men and money, and waging war to restore the
Union, 1t Is at the same time trying to pass bills to
prevent that result And now that the people, by
an overwhelming majority, have Just elected Il Vice
President from Tennessee, the House has decided
without discussions that the electoral vote of Tonnes
see shall not be counted What new absurluy will
be adopted by the House, we must wait day or two
tOasccrtuln.
1t was reserved for the Chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee to bring forward the resolution for cN-
GLIDING the vote of Tennessee. Upon what grounds
he based that proposition, upon what grounds the
House mlorscd it, we are not informed The pre-
text given for rejecting the vote of Tennessee is that
the State had rebelled against the Government of the
nted States, and was IN rebellion on the day Of the
election. A. a matter Of fact this statement is not
free from doubt. Individual, in Tcnnes,cc--larre
bodies Of thcm-hayc been in rebellion and are
Nllll 0Nl IL u l't 'lAilt 'l'I HOW itlf action
deprive the loyal men of Tennessee stlll les, the
State itself Of their unguc,tionulle rights underline
Constitution If the United States. Rebellion is "A
crime known to the Constitution. and recognized
aud punished by the laws Of the land. The rebel.
in Tennessee, rs in every other State have made
themselves liable to the penalties prescribed by law
for their offences. They have forfeited their rylt,
as citizens. But by what process Of reasoning the
loyal men of that state, those who have layl,hcl
fortune strength home and friend. to sustain the
authority of the Government are to be involved in
their crime and its punishment, we are not aware
Possibly the Chairman OF the Judiciary Committee
can inform rs.
There is but reason which if based on fact
could justify the refusal to count thevote Of Tenucs-
see, and that is that she is not in the Mon. If She
is out of the Cnion then she has no right TO vote for
President and Vice President If she is in the
Union, Congress has no more right to exclude her
vote than it has to exclude the vote of New York or
Vermont. Does the House mean to declare bv il,
vote Of Monday that Tennessee is not in the Union
How came she out Of it? What authority which
we can recognize, has taken her out? Doe, the
House intend to indorse the legal and constitutional
validity of acts of secession passed by rebel States
How doe, this differ from practical recognition Of
the Southern Confedcracy2
If Tennessee, moreover, is not in the Onion. then
she is a foreign State and her people are oite,s-
Andrew johnson is foreigner; and vet the pco.
pie of the United states have Just elected him f. be
Vice President Does the House of Representatives
intend to nullity that election Do they eIpcct
Congress to forbid his accession to office Most of
those who voted for this resolution of exclusion.
gave him their votes at the polls: we should like ia
know now they can reconcile that action with the
principle that underies the action they have taken
now
We can scarcely avoid the belief that among
those who profess to be lighting for the Union are
some who not only do not desire, but will resist, n.
Tar as possible, It's restoration. They apparently
dread nothing so much the return Of ba rebel.to
their allegiance, and the resumption by the rebel
States of their function as members of The Federal
Cnlon. Many OF them we know began by admit
ting the rght OF secession, and opposing measure,
of war TO preserve the Union Their pro.o,, o,-
ton indicates purpose to return to that position
We do not believe the people share their sentiment.
or will countenance their designs We feel uui,.
certain the Senate will reject the resolution of N.
House-tha the electoral vote of Tennessee will bee
counted ana that Andrew johnson will enter upop
the duties OF his office a. Vice President of the
United States IN spite alike of Seces,oni.ts AT the
South and Anti-U nionist, in the Northern SIT.