The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-12-01
The Cecil Wing.
ELKT0N, DECENaBEss 1, 1866.
The Duty of Congress.

Reconstruction being the problem for Con-
gress to solve this Winter, it becomes of
grave interest to decide upon lis COURSE
What shall be done? The Union must be
reconstructed in some manner: and it would
be folly in US TO fail in doing it in a manner
advantageous to us, and at the same time
securing through future times the manten
ance OF those great principles for which loyal
men fought through Il desolatng war. In
securing those, it is not our duty, nor is it
our purpose, to consult the late armed rebels,
whose treason forfeited their rights to u con
sideration of their wishes We will protect
ourselves first, and then forgive them
AS the people Of the seeded States csta-
5lished government at variance, and at
war, with that of the United States, they
became belligerents, and as such entitled to
the same treatment as alien enemies. Such
they were in public view. Considered
domestically, they were armed traitors -
When they were subdued their existing or
CARNATIONS were thereby destroyed and, as
they had previously traitorously destroyed
their lawful State governments, the close of
the war found theta without any kind Of State
organization whatever. BY the laws Of war
they had no right to any, except by consent
Of their conquerors. They were subject to
no authority except that of the military. in
this cxigency it was their duty to call upon
Congress TO give them power to iorn local
organizations, and to fit them for rcsuming
their former practical relations to the Union.
Because OF the dcscrtion of the President
from The party that elected him, this was not
done. Conceiving the design of recovering
crlost control of the country, they induced
him to usurp the powers Of Congress, by
attempting TO reconstruct them upon his and
their plan. This arrangement was promptly
rcpudiated by Congress and the PEOPLE. The
So-cal!cd Southern Senators aud Representa-
ives were refused seats in Congress, and the
people by large majorities have voted down
the schemes and plots Of Tie President.
The present acting State organizations be
ing declared to be against the consent Of
Congress, it follows that they are void, and
that their assumed right to pass laws, and to
consider national questions, does not exist
in fact. Or in other words, they are mere
territories, and must he Governed as such.
Now that the nation has, as above indicated,
decided, it is undoubtedly correct to say that
for the purpose Of making the pcndine
amendment part Of the national constitution
the consent of three iourths OF the nov
represented States is all that is needed.
The sham southern legislatures should be no
more consulted than the legislature of a
western territory. In fact, thcyar not in the
advanced position ola territory. as they have
no kind Of lawful organization. Congress,
then, must give the southern people State
governments before they can have any voice
in the affairs Of the country.
Most Of these positions have been sustain
ed by the courts, and the Supreme Court has
Iavorably noticed them mgncndo, but has
not so decided. Certain it is, they are SUP
ported by strict reason, and by public law.
And they are no less lawful than lust. The
future will say that we have already been too
lenicnt with traitors. 1t is time to protect
ourselves.
From this we think orr readers viii agree
with us in believing that Congress should
declare that territories only exist in the
south: that its present organizations are
bogus: that the pretended laws and elections
are void and that, consequently, three,
fourhs Of the loyal States are sufficient to
ratify any present amendment to the Consi-
tuition.