Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-28
Very Sad IsIcturc.

The Plain Dealer is turning its attention
to the subject of Southern representation
in Congress, and shudders at the possible
contingency of the gentlemen recently
elected from that section being refused
seats in the national council. Observe the
delicacy in the Plain Dealers style of
stating the proposition:
~"Suppose that, because of their disin-
clination to take an unconstitutional test
oath or for any other reason the representa-
tives from the Southern States shall be kept
out of their seats in Congress-what of it?"
Decentralization to take an unconstitu-
tional test oath is pretty good-decidedly
more refined than the common way of
stating the case, viz: that the Southern
representatives are disqualified from tax
ing their seats in Congress because of their
unpublished and unpardoned treason. The
Plain Dealer certainly removes the dila-
pidated linen from the ~shrubbery, in its
choice of terms. 1t changes from grave
to gay, from lively to severe, in a man
ner to command admiration. The Severe
comes in as an answer to the "What of it ~
"They will, of course, be sent back TO
their constituents. And when they get
back among those who chose them as their
representatives, what will they say Sim
ply that they presented themselves at the
door of Congress, asked to be admitted, and
were told that they could not come in. And
what will their constituents say to them -
There is the rubI 1t will not be diff
cult for the representatives to say their
say the ancient Ethiopian who knocked
at the door but could MT get in because he
was MT good-looking, will furnish the text
for their brief discourse. But the fertile
imagination of our cotemporary, placing
the aforesaid constituents in the proper
theatrical attitude, makes them SAY" the
following piece:
"They will say, very well, we were tired
of our political connections with the North
ern States, and tried to withdraw and form
a government of our own but they would
not let us, and declared that we could not
get out of the Union. Believing that they
were sincere and honest, we laid down the
weapons of our rebellion, listened to their
suggestions, were obedient to their behests,
abandoned all ideas of ever having a gov
eminent of our own, and sought TO become
affiliated with our former political associates.
Having listened to the repeated assurances
of Mr.. johnson, by the grace of God Presi-
dent of the United States, that we were still
in the Union, and could by no possibility
get out of It, we presented ourselves at the
doors of Congress, and asked to be let in.
But they would not receive us and, al
though we were elected in strict conformity
to the Constitution which we have sworn to
support, we have been rudely repealed, and
here we are !"
Was ever anything so deplorable2 They
were prevented from breaking up the old
government and forming a new one, and
now we won't let them affiliate with us.
They laid down their arms meekly, IAN
other improvement on the vocabulary, for
they were whipped with arm in their
hands)-and here they arel
If Petroleum V. Nasty had written the
article from which we quote, he would
have inserted a "wale' in this connection
We are glad to observe that the Plain
Dealer has a regard for the %unities, and
puts in a lamentation that beats Nasty
all to pieces:
20, the short-sightedness and folly of po-
litical leaders | For four long years those
Southern States tried to fight themselves out
of the American Union, but we would not
let them go. But now, with the mask of
treason thrown off, the representatives of
those States are driven out of the Union,
and will be compelled either to lapse into
anarchy, submit to an intolerable~ despotism,
or re-organize a government of their own.
What will they do about it 2"
Pathetically, we repeat, "What will they
do about il p