The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-03

also, q OIL 10 amen0 tne Cf1mlna1 Law,
which had been made the special order Of
the day, for this day, at hah-past 12 O'Clock
P.M.;were discussed, and made the special
order of the day, for tomorrow, at l
O'Clock. Adjourned. ~, ~ '...sz.-.
-, The Next Congress.
The session which commences on Mon
day next, wni be one Of the henostimportan
ever held. Anything, therefore, relating
serve to throw any light upon their proba-
BILE action on fhe questions arising, will be
of interest to the public We hare reached
critical period III our history and upon
Congress, IN a great measure, rests the
decision whether the late insurrection is
to be followed by another revolution and
domestic anarchy, or whether with the
downfall OF the rebellion is to commence
an epoch of greater prosperity and 1irmcr
union between all sections than heretofore
The republican party proper have 4 large
majority in both houses Of Congress. 1t
was this party that had control of tho
Government and welded its power during
the late war. They announced, both by
resolutions in Congress and Executive
proclamations, that they were prosecuting
the war for the preservation of the Union,
to prevent its being broken into fragments.
1t was denied over and over again that any
State had the right to seccde. They de-
clared also that all the efforts of the
Southern States in that direction were ille-
gal in toto, and therefore, an instruction
against the Government. The rebellion
has been crushed, the instruction sub
dued, the armed forces engaged have been
either captured, surrendered or dispersed.
Having accomplished this, will Congress
now allow the country to be immediately
restored by the admission of the Southern
representatives., or postpone it to some
future day, and thus keep the country in
lod frr -.
come? It the latter, our domestic as well
as our foreign relations will be seriously
complicated, commerce crippled and our
financial affairs imperiled
AS already stated, the republicans have
a large majority in Congress and will be
The members were elected before the
present political Issues arose. All the
issues OF the canvass ut the time of their
election have passed away by the collapse
OF the rebellion. 1t is therefore impossi-
BILE to tell the precise course which they
will pursue upon tho great question Of
restoration, which will now mark the divid-
ing lines, except it may be with such men
as Thaddeus Stcayens, of Pennsylvania,
and Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts,,
who have publicly announced their policy.
That there will be o marked difference in
the course in Congress of members of the
republican party is plainly evident. A
disagreement has already developed itself
to considerable extent President John
son was elected by the Same party and
upon the same issues that Mr.. Stevens
was, but their avowed policy at the present
time in reference to the treatp ut of the
Southern States is directly ant listical
Inc whole question as 10 tho action of
Congress, then, is, does Andrew Johnson
represent the views and policy of the
republican members, or is Thaddcus
Stevens, with his radical, extreme ideas.
r11a N< 1o%
looking over the tabular classification of
the members Of the House of Representa-
lives, published elsewhere, we find that,
excluding the eleven Southern States which
were engaged i'll the rebellion, there are
one hundred and eighty-four members.
elected as Republicans and forty-one as
Democrats OF various shades. With some
half 3 dozen exceptions, all OF both parties
take their seats with the avowed purpose
OF supporting the Southern policy Of the
President. Whether this is mere pretence,
time alone can determine. According to
the best information that we can obtain
up to the present time sof writing. The
following. Is the real position Of the mem
bers: Conservative Republicans, 65; Radi-
cal Republicans, SO; War Democrats, 80;
Copperheads, 10; Southern secessionists 81.
The hrst tonr classif1cAtions are the only
members who will have q vote on tho nd-
mittance Of the Southern representatives.
1t is believed that the conservative Re
publicans and Democrats will sustain tho
policy OF restoration marked out by the
President, and that the radical Republi-
cans will oppose it. AS it is impossible to
obtain correct data in regard to the posi-
ton of all, direct application of the
above test may show q larger preponde-
rance Of the conservative element in the
Republican party, or uice uersd.
Much will depend upon the form in
which the question Of admitting the
Southern representatives comes up as to
how the Republican party will divide on
that question, as divide it must in some
form. If, for instance, an attempt is
M. deto declare that the Southern States
tor