The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-20
Admission of Tennessee Coueress-
men.


The ~Shelbyville American Union re-
peats the statement that the Hon. Ed
Cooper, who spent come three months
IN Washington, is of the opinion there
Is at this time no probability of the ad-
mission of Tennessee Congressman to
their seats in Congress. After the re
port from the Central Directory" nix
ing the terms for the readmissiou of Ten
nessee into the Union,-the first unmis-
taxable indication of the intentions of
the msjority-Mr. Cooper, with a prop
er appreciation of the insult offered his
State, snd of the dignity of a Repre-
sentative, returned to his home. The
American Union says
Anxious as Mr.. Cooper was that the State
OF Tennessee should resume its former rela-
tons with the General Government; and
earnestly as he had striven TO prove the
good faith and sincerity Of its people in re-
conclhuon; and 10 show that they have, bv
legal enaetrnents, lone everything in their
power TO hasten the day when 'sthe State. -
should be fully recognized as part of the
great American Union" yet, when he as
certained the terms and conditions proposed.
he infinitely prefers that Tennessee should
remain ia its present anomalous position, to
accepting the debasing terms PROPOSED by
the committee on RecOustruction.
The Germs and conditions" are 90 COM
pletely revolutionary and humiliatinR in
their character, that IL may be safely assumed
that should such resolutions pass Congress.
they would never receive The sisusture Of
the President, or the endorsement of the
people OF tennessee. In fact, il is impossi-
bic for such conditions to be sceepted, with
Gus outrsging ell sense of Justice snd equity,
and without violating the principles Of our
form Of Government.
Mr.. Cooper understood the late war TO
have been conducted by the United States
upon the distinct assumption that secession
was unconstitutional, and that one State
could not leave the Union without the con-
sent Of the others. When, therefore, the
war terminated by the capture and sur
render OF the rebel armies, it was at once
concluded byail that secession was a failure,
and the Union was preserved. This was
and IS the view of President johnson and
Of 81 the prominent Union men OF the
State.
But ifthe doctrine Of this reconstruction
committee" in reference TO Tennessee, be
received rs presenting the correct theory,
then it is clear that the war was fought
upon a falss issue, and that, 50 far from Sc
cession being q failure, it is an accomplish
ed fact, and that the eleven States recently
in arms have accomplished the main pur-
pose Of the wari For, it is assumed by the
COMMITTEES in their report that Tennessee is
"Out Of the Union" and requires formal re-
Gdmission by the consent Of the claw
making power" and that until such con-
cent is given, Tennessee is a mere "con-
qusred province" 30 be governed as the
Congress may declare, and excluded from
al the rights and privileges of q co-6qual
state. Nor do the remarkable assumptions
ofthis most remarkable committee stop here.
Not only is it gravely maintained that Ten
nessee is out ofthe Union, and must undergo
in her re-Rdmission all the formHlities Of a
new State, but it is proposed 10 impose upon
her conditions. which were never heard or
dreampt Of before in the admission Of q
State, and which, in Mr.. Cooper's opinion,
is a. unconstitutional and tyrGnntcaL in Con-
gress TO impose, as il would be GiShoHorGbic
for Tennessee TO accept.
With such sentiments and views-and
having used all honorable means TO avert
the calamity, without success, our Repre-
sentative has returned TO his home to await
the future action of Congress, believing
that time will furnish the remedy-becs1se
individual animosities and hatred must
finally Weld TO Governmental necessities.
And with this hope TO cheer him, Mr.. Coop
er will remain with us until q sense Of JUS
tice to the people Of Tennessee shall induce
Congress 10 admit our Representatives to
that body.