Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-11

consider lawfully elected to the lower
branch Of Congress. Now it is very prob
able that, in addition TO those losses
which we have before mentioned, the Re
publicans will lose one member in Con-
necticut (Mr. Hubbard), two in New
York Messrs. Humphry and Ketchum) J,
two in Pennsylvania (Messrs. Thayer
and Miller), two in Ohio (Messrs Ashley
ard Hubbell. or Mr. Clark, one in Indi-
ana (Mr HilD, one in Illinois Mr..
Harding), and one In Wisconsin mr..
Sawyer, ten in all; while it is not GER.
tain but that five or six other seats may
be lost. Taking, however, these esti-
mates as the basis of calculation, it will
be seen that the probable loss of % mem
bers, though it would leave Republican
majority of about 40 in the House OF
Representatives as at present (ll3 Re-
publicans to II Johnsoniansl, would yet
give the johnson party l27 members out
Of 242. in case the Southern delegations
were admitted
If the present programme IS carried
out, the Southern representatives will
insist upon their right to vote for Speaker
at the commencement Of the next Con
gress. The Clerk will not call their
names and the plan meditated is for the
10 or Is johnson members who are
clearly entitled to seats to unite with the
So excluded Southerners, elect Temporal
~ chairman in place of the Clerk, choose
Speaker, and apply to the President
for recognition is, of course, to be given,
and the unrecognized House to be forci-
bly, elected.
We need not say that such conduct
wouli lead to the instant impeachment
of the officials concerned in it, if the
majority of the lawful representatives
were allowed to meet anywhere, and that
the President would, as matter of
course, refuse to acknowledge the valid.
ity of the proceedings. This would
equelly, as a matter of course, bring
about a conflict of authority, the decision
of which by the Senate, would be una
vailing to prevent an appeal to force
If convicted by two thirds of the court
of impeachment, as now constituted,
the President would still deny the val
idity of the sentence, the twenty-five
Southern Senators being excluded, and
the issue would be left to the decision of
arms.
Ii the new coalition carries 90 of the |
1874 undisputed seats in Congress, MIR.
Johnson triumph may be as peaceful as
it will be complete; or if it fails to pre-
vent the election of l22 Republicans, he
may abandon the hope of success in the
struggle wherein be can have no pretense
of legality on his side; but We think the
former alternative highly improbable,
and the latter almost impossible. The
only remaining prospect, unless the
courage Of one party or the other fails at
the last moment, is civil war.
The disadvantages of the loyal North
in such an event must not be denied or
moderated. The South would have,
in such struggle, exactly the position
which, if it had taken it in 1860, would
nave insured its triumph. 1t would un-
iertake to crush a divided North in the
name of the Federal Government 1t
would fight its battles in the name of
he United States, and with the sanction
If self.styled Federal Congress 1t
would have an equal chance for recogni-
ion by all foreign powers 1t would
rave powerful aid at the North, es-
)ecially in the States where the local
might be. in the hands of
Johnson men.
On the other hand, it is favorable
circumstance that the Governor of every
Northern State is now Repubhcan,and
hat the only Governors who can possibly
,e displaced by Democrats within the
text year Except in case of DEATH are
hose of Connecticut, New York and
Pennsylvania. The bulk of the North
I'm States, therefore, as far as their ex-
cutive authorities are concerned, will
ertainly cooperate with Congress The
militia would be placed under its control,
nd in the absence of a large standing
rmy, this would be an immense advan-