Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-23
PuI0Ilment FOIIows the Argument!


FuIGiIimaenI Follows 1he Argument!
There was reason for the apprehension
that the President would defer to the views
OF the Radicals In Congress. Through the
Republican party he was, elevated to the
Presidency. It was natural to suppose he
would defer and seek to conform his ac-
ton to their wishes. What the wishes Of
the Radicals in that party were he well
knew; they had put themselves to the troub-
le Of aequainting him with them. During
the pendency Of the late election in Penn
sylvanla, Mr.. STEVENS proclaimed his rev.
dictionary views, TO which wide publicity
was given. MIR. SUMNER had taken the
precaution to see that his views were like
wise published far and wide. He and Mr..
STEVENS were substantially In agreement
They inarshaIed at the first Congressional
caucus, all the Republican members under
their lead, and thereby committed them os-
tensibly to Radical Positions position
which the President is reported to have
said to Republican member they could not
hold. This was before the President
had given his annual Message to the
public, This prompt and consolidat-
ed action Of the Republicans in caucus
and afterwards In the House, was an
intimation most pointed as to what policy
he should set forth in his Message, and
that policy should be policy that would
declare the Southern States In condition
that required them to be ruled as military
provinces, until such time as it should be
the pleasure of the Republican party to 20
through the farce of admitting them into
the Union as new States. This the Presi-
dent knew, and yet he made an argument
in which he effectually disposed of the State
suicide absurdity and demonstrated the
right of the Southern States to their rep
resentation in Congress, and because he
adopted the language of the Constitution
and said to the members of the Senate and
the members of the House of Representa-
tives that they, each for themselves, were
the Judges of the election returns and quail
ifications of their own members, great
many persons, especially Republican ed
itOrs, drew from this circumstance the con-
clusion that the President had merely re-
cited what he had done In the way of
reorganization and then submitted 1t tor
either confirmation or reputation of Con-
gress. In which decision he would sub
missively acquiesce. Friends OF the
Union at first feared that such might
unfortunately be the result; but when
they saw that the President put the
credentials of the Tennessee members
into the hands of Mr.. RAYMOND, and asked
him to present them to the House and re-
quest the admission of the members who
held those certificates, that fear became
tranquilized, and began to disappear when
they saw his Message to the Senate COM
municating Gen. GRANTS report to that
body. All this, to be sure, was simply an
argument that the Southern States we're in
the Union and entitled to representation,
and would not serve those States or comply |
with the requirements of the Constitution,
so long as he permitted Provisional Gov
ernors to exercise authority therein. 1t
would wear the appearance of his beingth
thrall of indecision, and would eventually
surrender to the Radicals. The country |
has cause to breathe freer now. The pros
pect brightens that he will do no such
thing. ,2t
On the day that the President sent his
Message into the Senate declaring that all
that was now needed to weld the Union in
perpetual bonds, was to give to the South
her representation in Congress and to devise
a properly adjusted system of taxation, he
directed Secretary SEWARD to withdraw the
Provisional Governor from Alabama, and
to hand the civil authority over to the Of
hcers elected by the people of the State,
and to pledge the Incorporation of the
Government of the United States, whenever
it may be found necessary, in efecting the
early restoration and the permanent pros
perity and welfare of the State over which
you have been called to preside" The day
following he directed Secretary SEWARD to1
do the same thing to Georgia. %. 5o..
Al, dcCOIuiuR W MT OAbNENo oSoumP
ton, these States had committed suicide,
aud were dead carcssses into which it was
necessary for Congress to breathe life before
they could again liveaS States in the Union,
tile President has restored to them civil
BY action of the President
and as far as be can make them 50, Alabama
and Georgia are in the Union the equals of
Ohio. In this action Of the President, there
Is defiance of the Radicals. 1t is as much
IS saying: sGentlemen, you may deny to
the Southern States their Representation;
but will see 70 it that you do not hold and
rule them as conquered provinces. tell
you these States are in the Union, worthy
to exercise civil power, and upon your
heads must rest the penalty the people will
ldjudge for your flagraut Modification OF
she Constitution in denying to them their
representation" e4N 1riWoui /
- WArwn,aa.. uDS.aranaea IN WmdOH.ne L