North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-05-09
WASHINGTON, Nav I.

1t is reported to-day that President
johnson has expressed himself decidedly
against the plan of the Reconstruction
Committee submitted to Congress yester-
day. He regards it as calculated to per-
petuate the existing state of affairs, and by
no means tending to restore peace and har
mony to the country, nor the restoration OF
the Union. He adheres to the opinion
heretofore expressed, that no further con-
dltions ought 10 be imposed on the South
ern people while they are not permitted
to have voice in the National Legisla-
ture.
1t is understood that, in the cabinet
meeting to-day, the President invited an
expression of opinion from the heads Of
departments, respecting the propositions
reported on Monday last, by the Congress
sional Committee on Reconstruction. An
interested and animated discussion is said
to have ensued, in which if the rumor be
true. Secretary Seward declared himself,
in very decided and emphatic terms, against
the plan Of thc committee and in favor of
the immediate admission OF the loyal Rep
rcsentatives from the lately rebellious
States. Secretary McCulloch was as
positive as the Secretary Of State in bis
opposition to the plan recommended by
the committee. and expressed himself as
strong in by favor of an immediate consul
nation of the Presidents restoration pol
icy, by the admission into Congress of 10y
al men from the Southern States. Secre-
tary Stanton was equally decided in hi !:
opposition to the committees proposition
he was for adhering to the policy which
had been agreed upon and and consi stsnt-
ly pursued by the administration; and he
was giati6ed that the President had
brought the subject to the consideration of
the Cabinet. Secretary Wells was une-
quivocally against the committees scheme,
and was earnest in his support Of the
Presidents policy, comprehendlng tho In
slant admission into Congress of the loyal
representatives from the States lately in
rebellion. Secretary Harlan was rather
reticeut, and expressed no opinion
Postmaster-General Dennison was in fa-
vor of carrying out the restoration policy
of the President, but expressed some
doubts As to tie precise at which the loyal
representatives from the Southern States
should &c admitted to seats in Congress.
Attorn y General Speed was not present
at the meeting being on visit to his home
in Kentucky. The President was earnest
in his opposition to the report of the COM
mittee, and declared himself against all
| conditions precedent to the admission OF
the loyal representatives from the Soutll-
crn States, in the shape of the amend
ments to the Constitution, or by the pas
| sage of laws. He insisted that under the
Constitution that no State could be de-
prived of its equal suffrage in the Senate,
and that Senators and Representatives
ought TO be at once admitted into the re
spective House as presented by law and
the Constitution. He was for a rigid ad-
herencc to the Constitution as it 10, and
remarked that having sustained ourselves
under it, during terrible rebellion, be
thought that the government could be re-
stored without resort to amendments
He remarked, in general terms, that if the
organic law is to be changed at all, it
should be at time when all the States
and all the people can participate in the
alteration.
The Senate spent nearly all of its time
to-day on the proposition to prohibit any
officer not confirmed by the Senate from
receiving any salary. Senator Henderson
was kind enough to intimate that if Con-
gress were driven from the Capitol by bay
onets, the fate of the President would be
that of Charles the First.