Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-15
ORGANIZING THE HOUSE.

ORGANIZING THE HOUSE.
The Democratic journals, which talk seven
days in the week about the dangers OF con-
solidation and Capitalization, are making a
concerted effort to force upon one subordl-
nate officer of the Government larger po-
litical power than was ever welded by
President. Their purpose Is to settle all
questions of reconstruction by persuading
Edward Mcpherson, Clerk of the last House
of Representatives, to put on the roll of the
next House the names of persons sent TO
Washington from the Rebelllous States.
IF put on the roll, those persons would take
part in the election of Speaker, and proba-
bly take their seats in the House That
would dispose forever of the most import
ant questions touching the relati. ms between
the Rebellion and the Government. Con
gress would have no voice whatever in de-
Gliding them, but would find that the Clerk
of the House had saved them the trouble
of all legislation on matters clearly within
the scope of legislative authority. The la
test effort, therefore, of Democracy, accord
ing to The World, Herald, Chicago Times,
Cincinnati Inquirer, and the rest, is practi
cally to abolish Congress.
Unfortunately for the Democratic plot,
Mr.. Mcpherson is not disposed to join it.
A statement was printed the other day by a
correspondent of The Erening Post, un-
doubtedly well Informed on the point that
NoD ha1 hat i,a
would not place on the roll any person claim
ing to be elected from State that has been
in Rebellion. A still more explicit and pre-
else piece of testimony exists. MIR. Nc
Pherson has stated his views at length in a
letter from which we copy as follows:
In the several theories of reorganization,
the controlling power in the premises is va
riously supposed tn be lodged sometimes in
the President, sometimes In Congress. The
latter is likely to incline to the latter view
and an any ereat as not likely to permit mem
bers to be forced into the House and Senate
until, an accordance Uith the constitutional
guaranty, those Jodtes themselves hare pass
ed upon the claims ofMe applicants
But the law of the case is plain. 1t
proyides-in resolution bunglingIy worded
but prepared and passed with direct refer
ence to such a contingency as an effort by a
tricky Clerk to food the House with ilegiti
mate members-that the Clerk shall make
roll, ard place thereon the names of all
persons, and of such persons only, ULoSe
credentials shOac that they acere regularly
elected, IN accordance fcdh tie ia'cs Of their
lStates respectively, or the tous the Untte,{
States. "-lStat. at Large, Vol. XII, p.
S04
''On this it is clear
First That no claw of the United
States authorizes the election of represen-
tatives in any of the insurrectionary States
Second: That no law of any of the
State" authorizes an election held at the
call of Provisional Governor" and from
which large numbers of legally recognized
voters the unsworn Rebels are excluded
How then can any names be placed on
the roll as from these States?'
Mr. Mcpherson adds in the same letter
that he believes ''there can be no legal gov
crnment in any of the inSurectionary States
until Congress recognizes it. Without le-
gal government there can, of course, be no
legal representatives to be placed on the
| roll. =" This letter, as the reference to Pro-
visional Recommendations, was written
some time since The recent declarations
of Mr.. Mcpherson are in perfect conformity
with it. His determination not to recon-
struct Congress by his individual act is ma
| tured by long reflection, has been repeated
ly asserted, and cannot be shaken by the
infammator,t appeals of journals that have
only Just learned to counterfeit the accents
of loyalty, and to lend a tardy support to
the Administration They are re-enforced
by Gov. Perry of South Carolina, who vol
unteers the valuable opinion that the per-
sons chosen from his State in November
will have the same right to take their seats
as the regularly elected members from Mas
sachusetts. We dom know Copperhead
anywhere who ism of the same mind but
SO long as the law is plain, and Mr. McPher-
son pledged to obey it, the Copperheads are
welcome to their opinions. They will in
vain expect the Clerk to attempt, or the
House to tolerate, an act that would be
equally revolutionary and despotic, and thai
could produce nothing but confusion and
disaster.
The Union Deadin the Southwest
The same laudable and patriotic spirit which
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