Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-29

HANAAHAANA "a
ON the interesting subject of the status
of the Southern Congressman elect.
The writer presents the subject in a light
which must appeal TO the heart andmind
Of every unprejudiced lover Of the whole
country.
As german to the same subject, we
subjoin extracts from two speeches re-
Gently made in Congress. which
go to show something of the con-
ficting views entertained in that
body. The first is by Hon. THADEUs
STEVENS, Of Pennsylvania, the advanced
leader Of the radical republican party IN
the House Of Representatives. Mr.. STE
VEINS, in this speech-which Is nothlnS
less than an open declaration OF war
against the Presidents policy-disclaims
speaking for any n but himself ana
thus robs his utterances of the 1mpor-
lance which would otherwise attach 70
them. as expositions Of the views OF his
entire party. Still, his position and tai
ents. in the unsettled lines of demaTea-
ton between the several elements Of
Party. lend to whatever he may say
great interest.
Mr.. STEVENS regards the States of the
South as dead carcases of an extinct or
ganism. and the territory over which
they exercised control, as conquered
territory, out Of which may hereafter
and he intimates the suitable time as
IL E,Wr-~. 10 awaafad STATES
whether a half dozen, or the number
now enumerated. he does not say Here
IS a specimen Of his way Of regarding the
subject
Nobody. 7 believe, pretends that
with their old Constitutions and frames
If government, they can be permitted
10 claim their old rights under the Con-
%stftuti0n. They have torn their constr
rItioual states into atoms, and built on
their foundations fabrics of q totally dh-
farent character. Dead men can not
raise themselves. Dead States can not
restore their own existence "as II Wa,
Whose especial duty is it 10 do II? In
whom does the Constitution place the
novyer9 Not in the judicial branch CT
The Government, for it only adjudlcates,
and does not prescribe laws, Not IA the
Executive, for he only executes, ana can
NOT make laws. Not in 1.-THE Commander
in-ghiefo of the armies, for he can only
hold them under military rule q the
sovereign legislative power OF the con-
Dueror shall give them law
The only doors through which, Mr.
STEVENS thinks, the revolted states can
get back into the Union, are the clauses
of the Constitution which authorize Con-
orzss 10 receive new States. and the
one recurring Congress TO guaranty tc
every state a republican form Of gov
eminent. Upon these, and upon quota
tons from an opinion Of the Supreme
Court, delivered by Justice GRIER, Mr.
STEVENS bases an ingenious argumen'
in accordance with the views. above
quoted. His argument is lame in this
that it necessarily carries witt
IL Is a necessary element Of it;
soundness, the absolute concession
Of the rlgHt Of secession. If Mr.. STEVENS
Is right i'm his positions, Jhen the Con
federate states were, during four years
rightfully under the Constitution, a posi-
lively independent Nation. A publ
war or in other words. the civil war
and the consequent status Of belligerent
conceded 10y Justice GRIER to the Con
feGerates, Is ingeniOusly but sophistlcau.
used TO reach this end-the destruction
and death Of the States, as members g
the Federal Union. From this point ]
is easyt - reach the mean Of perpetua
domination, by amending the Constitu
ZION 20 suit the views Of the faction witt
which Mr.. STEVENS is identified. Il,
does so after this wise
1.-TWO things are Of vital Importance.
ul- soto establish a principle that none
of the rebel states shall be counted in any
Of the amendments OF the Constitution
until they are duly admitted into tn
family Of States by the laW-makinG
mower Of their cOnqueror. For more than
xix months the amendment Of the Con
etasltion abolishing Slavery has been rat
flied by the Legislatures Of three-fOurth'
Of the states that acted on lis passage by
Congress. and which had Legislatures, O
which were States capable Of acting o.
requiring 10 act, on the subject
Proceeding from this position, he de
velopes still more clearly the purpose L
beas down the Presidents policy, and re
duee the Chief Magistrate, practically, L
the state OF a mere instrument Of a Con
gressional Desp0tism. He says:
at Is aauallv important 10 the stab1i
ity oF this Repubfic that il should now b
s5iemnlv decided what power can revive
r~ecreate, and reinstate the provinces int
the family Of States, ana invest then
with the rights Of American ciCzSDS /
j. time that Congress should assert =
sovereignty. anuasSgme something OF IN
Si~ignityOfa Roman Senate. Itis fOrtunat
that the President invites Congress 10 tax
shis manly attitude. After stating viii
great frankuess, in his able message, hi
theory, which, however, is found 10 b,
impracticabie, and which l believe YER
few now consider tenable, he refers tn.
whole matter 70 the judgment Of Con
gress. If Congress should fail firmly All
wisely 10 discharge that high duty, il
not the fault Of the President
This Congress owes il 10 lis owl
character 70 set the seal Of ~reprobatiOl
upon a doctrine which is becoming 10,
fashionable, and unless rebuksd, viii 10
the recognized principle Of Govern
Eheut."
Mr.. STEVENS does not leave Us in doub
what kind of Territories and States shai
exist in the South, should his doctriD,
prevail. He adds 70 the above:
"Gov. Perry and other Provisions
Governors and orators proclaim that 'thi
Is the white mans Government. Tn.
whole e~cpperhead party, pSndering 4
the lowest ~prejudices Of the ignorant, re
peat the cuckoo cry, This is the whit
mans Government Demagogues ola
parties, even some high in authority
gravely shout This Is a white man
Government What is implied by this
That one rare Of men are 10 have the ex
elusive right forever 70 rule this nation
and 70 exercise all acts Of sovereignty
while all other races and nations an,
eolors are 10 be their subjects, and Z
have no voice in making the laws an,
choosing the rulers by whom they are 4
I've governed. Wherein does this diffe
from slavery except in degree ? Doe
not this contradict all the distinct
i've principles of the Declaration o
Independenee9 When the great ant
good men promulgated that sacred in
strument, and pledged Their lives an
sacred honors to defend il, il was sup
UOLel 10 lNIm dANDpC III sANh EyFN4A
ment. Before that time il WAS held tina
the right 20 rule was vested in families
dvnasties. or races, not because Of supe
rior intelligence or virtue, but because o
a divine right 70 enjoy exclusive priv
ieges.
Our fathers repudiated the whole doe
trine Of the legal superiority Of familie:
or races, and proclaimed the equality O.
men before. the law. Upon that they
created a revolution and built the Re
public. They were prevented by slavery
from perfecting the superstructure whose
foundation they had thus broadly laid.
Forthe sake Of the Union they consented
10 wait, bnt never relinquished the idea OF
us final completion. The time to which
they looked forward with anxiety has
come. Ii j. our duty 70 complete their
work. If tbs Republic is not now made
70 stand on their great principles, il ha
10 honest foundation, and the Father OF
all men viii still shake il 10 its center.
At we have not yet been sufficiently
scoursed for our national Sin TO teSch Us
70 do justice 20 all Gods creatures, with
out distinction 0f race or color, we mus
expect the stll more heavy vengeance OF
an offended Father, stifl increasing his
lnnlctlons a. ne increased the severity OF
HE plaques Of Egypt until the tyrant