Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-08-02
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, JULY 90, 1866,
The Admission of Tennessee,

Tennessee was restored TO her Tor
mer proper relations to the Union" by
the admission of her representatives to
their seats in Congress on Tuesday.
This action definitely settles several i'm
portant questions. First, 1T demon
strates to the whole country, South and
North, that Congress is sincere in its
wish for the complete restoration Of the
Union at the earliest moment compati-
BILE with the country's safety. Congress
believes that the Constitutional amend
ment submitted by it to the States for
ratification, is essential to future har-
mony and peace. As soon as that amend
ment is ratified by Southern State,
prompt action is taken for the admis-
sion of such State in Congress. Sec
ondly, it is demonstrated that mo fur
ther conditions beyond the ratification
OF that amendment will be imposed by
Congress as precedent to the admission
Of Southern representatives. 1t is dem
onstrated what Congress demands on
the question of negro suffrage. 1t de-
mands, through the Constitutional
amendment, that the freedmen shall not
be counted in the apportonment to the
Southern States Of representatives in
Congress, unless those freedmen are
made voters. The strongest inducement
possible Ia the nature OF the case is thus
held out to the Southern States to grant
the right Of suffrage to their blacks.
Whether they do this or not makes a
difference Of fully one.third in the num-
Der Of Southern Congressional represen-
tatives. Beyond this measure of strict
justice Congress does not go. With this
inducement offered it leaves to each
State to regulate the question of suf-
frage for ITSELF ia accordance with es-
tablished usage. In short, it is practi-
cally demonstrated what the Congress
sional plan Of reconstruction is. And
by this demonstration Congress has
knocked out from under the copperheads
and Philadelphia convention politicians,
all foundation for political capital. The
clamor that Congress did not desire or
intend the admission of Southern men,
bers on any terms the clamor that Con-
gress was striving to force universal me-
gro suffrage on the South at all hazards,
is effectually silenced.
The country is to be heartily congrat-
ulated on the fact that this action came
before the adjournment of the present
session. And it is to be the more heart
lily congratulated because it was Ten
nessee, the Presidents own State, which,
despite his opposition, ratified the Con-
stitutional amendment in season to give
Congress the opportunity to practically
show the working Of it's policy. The
lesson which has been administered to
the President by his ownt Safe, is a Sc
we're one. His friends among the Ten
nessee Congressman elect, had issued
their manifesto against the ratification
of the amendment by the Tennessee Leg
islature. Mr.. JohnsOn's own sOn-in-law
was one Of the signers Of the manifesto
To all intents and purposes the NANTES
to was the Presidents own. The legis.
lature of his State rejected his advice
and by so doing administered to him
and his policy the sharpest possible re.
buke.
The working of the Congressional pol
icy having been thus practically demon.
strated by the speedy admission of Ten.
nessee, there is good reason to hope that
it will be accepted by a sufficient num-
Der of other States, South and North, to
secure the adoption of the Constitutional
amendment, as part Of the fnndamen.
tai law Of the land, and the peaceful res
toration of the Uniou on just and en-.
during basis.