The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-16
OH a II l. T. S II 9 II .
SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 1G, 1865.

TIE COUNTRY, generally, has como to y
perception Of the fact that the President and
Congress havo como to an issue upon recon-
struction, which may test tho powers of tho
Executive and Legislative departments of tho
Government
1t will have been noticed that the Presi-
don't, in his Message, places the States lately
seeded in the Union, with representatives in
attendance, and leaves it only for "you, follow
citizens Of the Senate, and you, fellow citizens
of tho House of Representatives, to judge,
each Of you, for yourselvcs, of the elections,
returns and qualifications Of your o,cn mem
bcrs," which, in effect, is this, merely, that
not only are these States in the Union, but
their representatives present are already
members of either House.
1t will, also, have bcen seen that Congress,
ut tho instance of the Republican majority,
has ignored NIL this-have, in tho resolution
of Mr.. STEVENS, in the House. denied that
there arc any members from the seeded
States to Congress-, or that any persons pur-
porting to be members shall DO admitted until
Congress shall act upon tho subject; and then
rolling tho wheels of time back to tho sur
render of Gen. LEE, takes up tho work of re-
construction at that point, TO fashion it rs it
may please them.
Clearly, as wo have said, thore are opposite
trains upon the Same track, and IL collision is
portended. 1t may bo avoided The consc-
quences must 10 fearful, and one or the other
may back in time, but which can do SO, it is
difficult to say. The President cannot IIc
has said tho States are in tho Union, and ho
cannot let Congress put them out. This he
might do, perhaps, if they were in the Union
by any net of his; but they are not. Tat
they arc in by the laws and Constitution of
tho United States, and as tho National Exccu-
tiro he cannot let those laws bc violated Nor
If their Senators and Representatives be at
tho doors of Congress, can ho permit them to
bo turned off, except for some ono of the
causes above stated, which would be equally
sufficient to turn off members from tho North
crn States. There is no recoding from his
position, therefore, without n violation of the
Constitution, evon on his own construction of
it. There can be no compromise If the
principle be true-if the Statos be in the
Union-it is logically conclusive to its con-
sequences, and he can as little permit the
State delegations to be delayed or h.ndered
ms he can po-mit the Statos themselves to be
turned out.
Congress may recede. They cannot be per-
tectly certain of success; they will suffor from
contest with tho President; they arc now
the victorious party, and naturally solicit the
rewards Of victory; some want Office; some
want to get their friends in Office; somo wish
to retain their friends in Office; all want the
consideration and Importance which knowl
edge that they Gun influence tho bestowal of
patronage will give them; and they will hes
itato upon the final step which will prccipi-
tate them from the powers of Government, and
the honors and emoluments to DO found in tho
distribution of two hundred million dollars of
tho public funds.
But though not finally committed, and coun-
selled by these grave considerations not to be, it
will yet be difficult for even Congress to recede.
They have acted with deliberation, upon full
knowledge of the circumstances; they have
acted tinally-have determined upon tho
course indicated, in CAUCUS, in which tho
members OF the party seem to have been fully
committed; they ore already in antagonism
to the President, from whom tho alienation can
scarcely be moro complete in persistence; they
have won the Government, and naturally wish
to wear it; they wish, also, to have the further
power to bo found in extending o Provincial
Government over the South; they apprehend
that if tho Southern delegations arc admitted
into Congress, they will coalesce with the
Democratic party ut the North, and put them
undor; they foar, aiso, that they will coalesce
with disaffected classes mt the North, and re.
pudiato tho public debt In overy way, the
roappearance of tho Southern representatives
in Congress is repulsive. It bodies them no
good; they must, of necessity, hato the pcr-
sons they havo injured; they elected th-
sidcnt, and cannot forego the ~ ~
him; they have powors~' ;,, :. '. nsa' 70 . i"lo
thoy express 10 Legislative sentimont of the
country; tI..oir will is law with tho President,
if no concur-or without him, if they have two
thirds of q majority; the one House can i'm.
peach him, and the other condemn him; and,