Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-06-15
DELAWARE, OHIO, FRIDAY, JUNE IS, 1866.


their constitutional relations to the I'm
ion. They have, however, been since
! that time reOrganized. Their organic
powers and functions have been renewed
and they have resumed their constitution
al relations of allegiance to the Union
What then does the nation need ? II
needs just what I have dweIt upon so
much and so earuestlyin these remarks.
1t needs reconciliation, and Just now
needs nothing more. 1t needs moreover
only a very little of this. 1t needs rec
Onciliation between the Senators of the
United States who are now acting, and
those Senators who being loyal and quail
fed for the membership of the Senate,
have been already, or may be hereafter
elected by the people Of the several States
which were lately involved IN rebellion.
1t needs q reconciliation of the same kind
between members of the House Of Rep
resentatiVes who are now acting, and 10y
al members already elected or to be cleo
ted by the people in the same before
mentioned States. 1t needs just this
Congressional reconciliation and nothing
more.
CT course, [ recognize the fact that the
separation which existed between the
acting Senators and Representatives and
those who are already or may be elected
indicate a corresponding alienation be-
tween the constituencies of those parties
respectively but this does not affect the
view [ have taken of the case. It only
shows that what is wanted is reconcilia-
ton between the aienated constituent
cies, as we'll as between separated repre-
sentatives. Let the reconciliation be
made first, either in Congress or in any
of the constituencies, and it will follow
Ia the other place Immediately. The
country exhibits at this moment this eX-
troardinary and interesting phenomenon,
a nation of States not only kindred, but
also allied, yet rival and hostile to each
other. For such u condition mutual
Cancellation is the only practical remedy.
We are prepared now to ask, wv hat
hinders the application of that remedy in
the Legislative Councils 2" The Presi-
dents position is absolutely taken, well
defined, and universally understood. 1t
is this, namely, that so far and sc fast as
thgsuurepresnted States present them
selves in a loyal attitude by representa-
tiVes unquestionably loyal, they are en-
titled to representation IN Congress eqaul
" with all other States, and just as we'll as
If there had been no rebellion. The rep
resentatives Of the National Union party
in Congress do not yet agree with the
IL l.
regard to non-essentials. Some are un-
derstood to insist that the people Of no
State ought to reserve the right OF Sc
cession or disunion. The President says
exactly the same thing. A State that
should claim to reserve right OF secess-
ion could not be loyal. Others contend
that after rebellion State ought not to
be accepted which insists upon or admits
the validity of the debts Of the rebellion.
The President says exactly the same
thing. A State that should insist upon
the validity Of such debts could not be
IovaI. Others argue that, as a conse-
o1Ience of the abolition of slavery, a
Change of the basis of representation has
become desirable and necessary. This
can be done only by amending the Con
stitution of the United States. While
Congress are yet unable to agree among
themselves upon the form of such an
amendment, the President says: Let
US amend the Constitution so as to pro-
portion represen entatIOn according to suit
rage These seem to me to be the only
essentials Reconciliation. Two OF them
are already secured by the unrepresented
States in their constitutions. The third
is a work of time, requiring the action OF
three-fourths of the States by amend
ment of the Constitution. Why then the
delay of reconciliation by Congress, when
they agree upon essentials =? With some
it may be a matter of temper They ask,
Why should Congress be expected to
agree with the President upon his plan
rather than he be expected to agree with
Congress upon a plan to be originated by
them [ answer, Because the President
has a plan, and Congress has, as yet, pro-
posed none, at least none that is lmme-
diately practicable. But, in truth, 1t IS
IL . I,o hc
President or Congress, has devised or
shall devise a plan of -recnncltiatiOn.
Neither the President nor Congress
could arbitrarily devise and project one
in this case.
We speak habitually and even fippant-
| " of the policy which the President sup
ports as If it were a plan that has been
conceived and framed in his own brain
It is no such thing. 1t Is a plan which
grew up as Topsy grew, out OF the una
yoidabIe predestined change from war tt
peace. What was required was a form o.
reconstruction that should be reasonably
accountable to both parties, while it shOUlC
/ harmonic with returning loyalty and re
newed allegiance In the States which were
| involved in the rebellion, and should a
! the same time secure to all parties theT
/ exact constitutional rights. The presen
DIau. like our republican system of gov
ernment, was devised by nobody In paTtlc
ular. but 1t presented itself at once to tn
anxious thoughts of all parties concerned
! The Constitution prescrlbes It's chief de
tails. The other portions revealed them
/ selves. as inferior mechanism to the en-
! qineer to bring the device into successful
movement. Congress Is to be expected
therefore, to concur with the President
not in adopting plan which he prOjecte
but in accepting with him actually exist
i ing Overtures of reconciliation IN tn
form in which they have occurred.
think that the proceedings of Congress
r hitherto indicated, not an ultimate dis
agreement and failure, but only pre-
crastinatiOn which to the impatient
inconvenient, and to the timid alarming
We are to remember, however, the cor
|, stitutionaI check on legislation. Q Indeed
Congress is designedly constituted so ths
} it shall not too hastily decide upon an
measure. Hence time is always found I
be the necessary condition of safe leglsl5
tiuu The Senate, counting only It's a.
tual members, consists Of fifty persons
2 they come from twenty-five dihereI
S / States. and individually they are expo
nents of at least two very divergent pa
ties, and of multiplied differences of pol
e ular opinion prevailing in each Of thei
= parties. The House Of Representative
t while it is more numerous, IS constitute
: upon the same principle. No measu
f can be finally adopted BY Congress, uni
:. it has attained a majority of voices
? each House, sitting and discussing it
< different chambers. The sentiment
5 feelings, iealousies, predjudices and amE
d tions of their constituents necessarily al
a Justly influence, retard and modify the
: deliberations and their votes. To Ol
:, who should be a stranger to our systel
r it must be more wonderful that Congre