The national Republican., 1866-11-14
THE POLICY OF THE FUTURE

The elections for 1866 are now substanti-
ally decided, and the Republicans are sup
posed to retain their full ascendancy in the
legislative branch Of the Government, and
will be responsible for tspolicy for the entire
Presidential term of Mr.. johnson; because,
with their two-thirds vote in the two branches,
they can override his vetoes and pass such
laws as they choose, in spite of his objections.
1t therefore becomes serious question, what
the action Of the party shall be upon the
vital subject Of reconstruction. The cleo
tions being over, the old Democratic party
having been thoroughly routed, now is q fa-
vorable time'to talk over, among friends, the
policy to be adopted in the future.
1t is useless to say that certain terms are
lenient, are magnanimous, are better than
the people of the Southern States deserve.
The question for us to consider is, whether
we have the right to impose them. There
is no rigorous mode Of punishment that
can be inflicted upon the individual traitors
OF the South, to which we should be inclined
to demur; but it is quite another thing to
deny to sovereign State, which we have re-
peatedly declared could not be destroyed
or taken out Of the Union, its representa-
tion in the national Legislature on account
OF the crimes of any Of its citizens. The
Constitution declares that leach State shall
have at least one Representative" and that
mo State, without its consent, shall be de-
priyed of its equal suffrage in the Senate;"
and II, as we all have held, there can be no
such thing as State taking ITSELF or the
people Of State taking it, out Of the
Union, it is difficult to see how such an cx-
treme measure as the exclusion of the Rep
resentatives Of State can be justified on
any correct theory Of constitutional inter-
probation.
But it is said that the men elected in most
of the Southern States are disqualified, by
reason Of their connection with the rebellion,
from holding Office under the Government.
This is doubtless true, in most cases, and
justifies their exclusion from their seats, if
on examination it is found they do not pos
sess the necessary legal qualifications. But
it does not justify the exclusion of such as
can take the oaths, and are legally elected.
There is no warrant for such course in the
Constitution, and as amere question Of policy
it is the most suicidal step that can be taken.
q supposed public exigency can Justify the
| denial OF representation to any State, what
shall prevent party vote from applying the
rule to New England or any other communi-
ty which runs counter to the will of the ma
jority Let us not, then, in our day sow
the seeds of heresy that shall fill the land
with noxious weeds in the days Of our chill
dren, if not of our own.
As before remarked, the Republican party
is now responsible for the direction which is
given to the policy Of the country in the in
definite future. The responsibility is a vast
one. Some of the best men in its ranks,
like Mr.. Beecher and Mr. Dawes, see and ap-
prcciatc the dangerous tendency Of the doc
trine of the indefinite exclusion of loyal rep
resentation. No part Of the country can so
i'll afford to adhere to it as New England,
and our public men, if they are wise, will
abandon q doctrine which will, if persisted in,
some time return to plague its Inventors
Yarmouth Register, Nov. Q.