The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-19
The importance OF a Southern Rep.
FescnIaIinn.

MI GUNNER Q lutoIN Aufth Inc f'Iu6uTTrc-
tiObary States" have forfeited their State
attributes, and are now mere territorial do
main, has Justly been repealed a. incousis
tent with The whole scheme Of the coustitu-
ton But even that theory Is preferable 10
any project Of keeping the functions Of
these States ln indefinite Suspension, and
excluding them from all representation in
the National Legislature. Treat tbesa
states 80 Territories, aud they may at least,
like other Territories, scud such "a delerate
T. the House of Representatives, who.
thouFh not voting. would have the privi-
lege OF speaking and iepresenting the feel
ings aud wishes Of his c5nstiHlenis. In The
present condition Of things, these so-called
States have not even a territorial life every
ono Of them is as voiceless IN the national
halls as if il were forever dead, aud rcsolv-
cd into It's prim tive dust sgain.
The true policy is 20 expedite rather than
delsy the readmissiou Of the Southern Rep
reseutntvcs aud Senators. u Is neither
/ right nor safe Tor any part Of the country TO
legislate for another part OF the country,
without giving 10 any voice in that legisla-
tioa. Representation is the vital principle
Of republican Institutions. It's denial toany
extent impairs the normal operation Of our
Government, and opens the way 0Bll kinds
OF abu-es. No one thing is So important as
10 rid the South Of that did spirit Of section
alism, which was the growth Of slavery
The great effort Of true ststesmanship nov
must be 90 animate the South with a new
life which shall be thoroughly identified
w "a the national life, and have a complete
community Of spirit with the North aud
West But tins wall be morally impossible,
81 determinations are 20 be kept up against
the South, especially the eXtrcmest OF all
determinations otnut allOwingit representa-
ton, and making il subject % laws ia the
framing OF which il has no part. That will
be sure 10 beget a sense Of most grievous
oppre sion, and the result would Inevitably
b. tue inteusesl hatred, on abe part of The
southern people, of those they deemed their
oppressors. 10 shut the eyes 10 this Ger
taluty Is 60 be blind 10 American nature.
Whateyer the motive, the act is one Of in
iatuauon.
Toe South il now in its most impossible
stsre. An Southern men are waiting TO see
how Southern submission will be treated by
the North OF the iair and conciliatory dis
position Of President johnson they are we'll
satisfied. Yet be is but single man. OF
the spirit OF the Northern people toward
them they are still in doubt. Any unlrieuG-
~ manifestation by Northern Seuaturs aud
Representatives will bu taken us proof that
the Northern peoP'e have no dssire again
q iratemGs with them, and mean only 10
De their masters. An unmistakablv eeu-
erous and magnHnimous policy by Congress
In admitting their Representatives, and
buryiug the past, would soon overcome their
last lingering resentment, and expungs the
last trace of that sense Of Humiliation. which
cannot eXisl without bitterness. A Jealous
and rigorous line OF treatment would, on the
other hand, soon COugyal every better i'm
pulse of the Southern people into an iuhexi-
bic determination "a oppose and thwart the
government in every practicable way aud
would pcrpe.uatc the spirit Of sect 1nalism
10 its worst form for years and perhaps gen
craiious
Some say that the new loyalty Of the
South Is stll very dciectlye-ihat Il consists
IN profession mainly. We can hardly CON
cede this 10 be exactly So. but 1t this South |
ern loyalty is yet immature it is the yerv |
reason why u should be encouraged and I
strengthened. We have not a doubt that /
the predominant feeling IN The Northern /
heart 90 day, toward the south, is a yearu-
ing ior complete reconciliation. 10 would /
be "a blessed influence upau the Southern
people % they could truly know this. -, /
they cannot know it,. except through the /
words and actions of Northern Congressman.
Let Those Representative look we'll % ID /
that they 80 not give occasion ~ miscon-
f..a ~ fAlf aNatl I'IHlh N'l tlAf hNfIlNs nNN
cam & long continue to keep the gates Ut /
tho Capitol barred against sll southern rep
rcsentatloB without producing upou thr
Southern mud o. most inischicvous impres-
sion, that the North means not 10 be- recon
clei, bus 90 domIueer uul degrade
What harm can southern representation
do Even suppoiug tho worst, that it
would De disadcctgd end fictitious. &c would
slii form but weak minority In either
House and even DC o. made au alliance with
al tho Democratic strength, the combined
t'uro would still 5c less than twU-ffths OF
either body. Tho Thirty ninth Congress.
upon which doyolFe- thc completion OF this
work oi rccenstrucuon, has "a magnificent
ui1n strength, which no possible com hiua-
ton ui manga elements can hinder irum
working us own high W n. Tt it trust 90
that -irsugth. and be fcarlcssly generous.
Lea q admt,st an csriy tsy, iato its bosom,
81 TIE truly accredited Representative, ,t
the southern people, 80 THAI 10 shall have
every facility 30 lcgislatc iutcllroutly and
justly ior the South, as well IS ior every /
either part oi the land. This Is what Is i'm
lri7iNe.y demapdci by She spirit OF ma
uenal ucord. and bye,ecy p-scti,.si inter
e,t 'i the Union. No speculative dogma. ar
'.H recruitment, ought 90 stand In The wav
81 t-N T. Iurs.