The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-14
COngress-Tho Stevens Resolution ~
Rights. IN

Congress-The stevens Resolution ms
AdoPtsd-The Senate ON the Fecdmen's
Rights. IN
The House adopted yesterday the Stevens
joint resolution as amended by the Senate--to
wit: by striking out all that portion which pro-
posed to hold the two houses in regard to the
elections &C.. of Southern members to either
subject to the action Of the joint committee.
and which, meantime, proposed to refer all
papers and motions in regard to such elections
for Congress to the joint committee without
debate. The Senate simply refused to surren-
der to joint committee its constitutional right
10 judge for itself OF the elections of its own
members, and the gag upon discussion which
the Stevens resolution, as sent over from the
House, proposed to accomplish
AS adopted, the resolution provides joint
committee Of nine members Of the House and six
of the Senate to inquire into The political cond.
ton of the late nsurgent States, and TO report
thereon to the Two houses. As passed by the
House, the resolution, If carried through, with
or without the Executive approval. would
have been law of the land turning over
both houses and the President, bound hand
and foot. into the hands OF an inquisitorial
joint committee, with which alone should rest
the admission of any member from any one of
the excluded Southern States into either house.
AS pruned by the Senate each house is left free
TO decide upon the elections Of its members,
debate is not cut of, and the resolution, in
stead of being thrust into the face Of The Prcsi-
dent as demand for surrender, is complete
as it stands, in being reduced from The form Of
law 10 simple parliamentary agreement be-
tween the two houses. and nothing more.
Thus far, then, the Senate is entitled to some
credit for maintaining lis own rights and pro-
tecting the President against The radical fa-
naticism of the original Stevens-Raymond
caucus resolution. But so far as The excluded
States arc concerned, they are turned over into
the keeping of this joint committee, and their
prospects of an early admission into either
house are, therefore, exceedingly slim. There
was no necessity whatever for this joint special
committee each house having regular Com
mittce on Elections; so that the departure from
the usual proceedings in regard to questiona-
BILE elections means nothing more nor lees
rigid conditions, in reference to the Southern
States
One Of these conditions precedent is proba-
bly, foreshadowed in the bill of Mr.. Wilson,
which was under discussion yesterday in the
Senate providing TO maintain the freedom Of
the inhabitants Of the States lately in rebellion.
The object of the bill is TO abolish all the
slave codes and negro laws Of said States
making determinations between whites and
blacks prejudicial to the rights of the latter ms
citizens entitled to equal protection under the
laws. There may be justice in this, but if
these inequalities in the local regulations Of
the States concerned are to be removed before
thtse States can come back into Congress,
Senator Summers plan Of reducing said States
10 the status Of unorganized Territories will
be the shortest method for accomplishing the
work. The views Of Senator Sherman touching
the equal rights Of the Southern emancipated
blacks we're of more practical character than
the premature and visionary schemes Of VIII
sons crude bill.
There is, however, one point touched upon
by Senator Sherman regarding which there
should be fair understanding When q sufi-
cient number Of the Southern Legislatures 10
make the ratification complete shall have rati-
fed the constitutional amendment prohibiting
slavery and providing for the enforcement by
Congress of the freedom Of the blacks, II is
probable that the President will proclaim the
fact to the country, and that said amendment
has thus become part and parcel Of the supreme
law Of the land. In this event Congress must
recognize the Southern States concerned a.
legitimate members Of the Union, or declare
their action and the Presidents action upon
the amendment a. good for nothing. If State
Legislature Is valid TO ratify the amendment
IL is valid for the election Of it's United States
Senators. We cannot make II flesh in the one
case and ash In the other Upon this question,
for his own protection, the President has the
right to demand clear understanding with
the two houses Of Congress.
There were yesterday some other incidental
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