The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-23

same before msntioped States. II needs just the
congressional reconciliation, and nothing more
OF course recognise the past-that the separation
which exists between tho acting Senators and act
ing Representatives, and those loyal Senators and
Representatives who are ALREADY or may hereafter
DO elected In the Southern States 10 understood to
indicate q corresponding alienation between the
constituencies OF these parties irrespectively.
Bat this does not Affect the view have taken Of
the case. It only shows that what Is wanted Is
reconciliation between the alionaed constituents
we'll as between the respective representatives. Let
the reconciliation be made first either In Congress
or In any Of the constituencies and u will follow
In the other place immediately. The Presidents
position is absolutely taken, we'll defined, and uni
versally understood II 10 thus reviewed. That 90
far and so fast as the unrepeented States present
themselves In loyal attitude by represents ives
unquestionably loyal they are entitled TO repre-
sentation 10 Congress equally with all the other
States, and just so well as II there had been
beliion.
The representatives Of the National Union party
in Congress do not agree with the President, but
think, differ only In essentials
A State ought not to be accepted which insists
upon or readmits the validity Of the debts Of the
rebellion. The President agrees with them In re-
gard TO secession and the reputation Of the rebel
debt. Others agree that, as q consequence Of the
| abolition Of slavery, o change Of the basis Of
| representation 10 desirable and necessary. This
can be done only by amending the Constitution Of
the United states, while congress disagree among
themselves upon the form Of such an amendment.
The President says Let us amend the Constitution
| o as to proportion representatives according to
uffrage. This seems to to be the only essential
way Of reoonstruotion. Two Of them are already
secured by the unrepresented In their oonstitu-
| tions. The third 10 = work Of time. requiring the
notion Of threef Of the States by amendment
| Of the Constitution.
why, then, the delay Of reconciliation by Cou-
press? With some II may be q matter Of opinion.
They ask why Congress should be expected TO
agree with the President upon q plan. Rather
| than he, we expected to agree with Congress upon
| plan to be originated by them. I answer, be.
cause the President has plan and Congress has,
| yet proposed none-at least none that Is imme-
diately feasable-and In truth II Is not question
which Of the two the President or Congress Of
the United States has devised, or shall devise plan
Of reconciliation. Neither the President nor Con.
gaess could arbitrarily devise project In this
case. We speak habitually and even fippantly oil
the policy which the President supports, as II II
were plan that has been conceived and framed In
his own brain. II Is no such thing. It Is a plar
which grew up as "Topsey." II grew out Of th,
unavoidable predsstined change from war to peace
What was required was form Of reconstruction
that should be reasonably acceptable to both par
ties while II should harmonic with returning 10y
atty renewed allegiance in the States which wer,
In the rebellion.
[At four O'Clock this morning we were compelled
to put our paper to press without the remainder o
the report of Mr.. Stewards speech.