The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-30

Congress has adjourned for the holi-
days, and the adjournment occurs op-
portunely to afford time for some of
the asperities attendant upon the
opening Of the session, and the con
hict Of opinions incident 70 debates on
the vexed question Of reconstruction,
TO be softened by the interval Of rest
and social enjoyment But it is al
ready apparent that while the Senate
may stick to its old habit and weary US
all with endless talk, the House is in
no mood for discussion, but is wrought
gp TO determination 70 act with spirit
and promptitude. Those who have
been exercised in their minds over an
anticipated delay Of action may see in
what has already occurred 4 contradic.
ton Of their views Although only
three speeches we're made in the Com
mittes Of the Whole on the standing
question as to the reference Of the
various parts Of the message, the
Committee rose, reported the resolu-
ton to the House, and it was passed
forthwith
So clear is the determination of the
House, that the calling OF the previous
question on bills Of great Importance
has been matter Of almost daily oc-
eurFenos An amendment 10 the pa
t,onal Constitution was reported from
tie Judiciary Committee, considered
and passed finally in one day, without
debate of any kind, Even the Senate,
which from time immemOrisl has al
ways been troubled with a chronic
dsrrbea of debate, has made consid-
enable progress Mr. Raymond, of
New York, is his speech in the House
on Thursday, alluded 70 the prevalent
sentiment in Congress that the bssi-
ness of the session should lle acted
without delay and without useless de-
baie, most Of the members having their
maids made up.
There ia nothing which seems to US
moe Improbable than long DISGUST
tioas on the question whether the rebel
Sts,es were in or out Of the Union dur
ing the war, and in the speech slre ady
referred to we have foroible iiiustrs t,on
o. tie folly of precipitatihg the discus
sion Mr. Raymond urges very Justly
thai IL these States we're out OF the
Union and constituted q foreign power,
as Gr. Stevens claimed, then we were
bouad to succeed 10 the rebel debts,
as We have done TO al the other rebel
effects. The course Of the national
AdniniRtrs ion on tRis question affords
the lest guide to steer BY. Both Pre-,
sideats Lincoln and JOhnson acted upon
the theory that while the States we're
essentially parts Of the Union, and
could not De separated FROM it, the
Slats goFerpmsnts we're dead 70 a.,
having rebelled and Warred against the
national authority.
To tbs extent SenatoT Summers the.
oTy Of safe suicide vs. apcepted BY
both Presidents, but no further The
moment hat the war was ended, Presi.
dent Johnson treated every ore Of the
rebel Stste governments IS q nullity.
He deposed their executives and placed
them beyond the power Of action, and
be p70cesded 70 organize new State GOV
ernment5 on his own authority, through
eonstitnt onal conventions The object
Of thus Beginning anew was 70 avoid
all responsibility for slavery or rebel
debts, and for this reason the Admins
trstion hsd refused 70 agree 70 General
Sheraan's treaty, which recognized the
rebel StAie authOriEea
Il ia, IN our judgment not less frivo-
Ions to waste time Ia sd effort 70 re-
dDce thsse States 10 q territorial con
dition There l. no organic iaR Cor the
- Ill 4
ensb sing rsgulassd b alaH passed foFis