The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-25


cy OF providing rather by law than by con-
stitutional amendment the guarantees which
the entire Union party with exceptions too
insignifcant TO mention), agree in consider
ing essential to any safe Organization
To such suggestions the president has re-
piled that he considered Mr.. Ashley's meas.
ure simply bill for the dissolution of the
Union. He had risked his own life and prop
erty to preserve the Union. The people of
the country stood and had stood upon the po-
sition that the rebellion was to be put down
and the states thereby kept in the Union
Mr.. Ashley's bill now proposed to turn them
out and prescribe conditions for their return
lie thought that the true course for the
Union party to pursue was with open arms
and cordial hands" to welcome these states
into participation in the governments
Thus we would have them as the friends of
| the Union party. aud not make them it's enc.
mics by slamming the door in their faces.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT OF HIS OWN THE.
DRY OF RECONSTRUCTION
| in such connections the president has
more than once stated his own theory of re.
| construction in words much more explicit
/ than have found their way into the public
| documents.
During the rebellion, the loyal government
t had, in sense, been overthrown. 1t was,
therefore, the duty of the United States and
| of the president, during this time, TO do all
in their power to secure to these states repub-
| llcan governments This became especially
| his own duty, as charged with seeing
that the laws were executed. His own action
| in prescribing terms upon which these stat ties
should be recognized, in TAR as he had
prescribed any, not in harmony with their
| forms OF state government, or in 50 Tar as it
seemed to imply that they would not be rec
ognized as states unless they complied with
| his conditions, was, In reality. and was
meant to be only advisory. lie had not In
| tended that his own requirements should be
| considered as conditions precedent which the
executive. or any branch or all branches Of
the government had any right to exact be-
| fore these states should be entitled to recogni-
| ton as states in the Union.
Ia fact, these states were entitled to be repre-
| sented in congress all through the rebellion
| Indeed there was greater reason for their being
| then represented than there was at other times
| Congress had repeatedly dealt with them as
| states during the rebellion. Members from Vir-
| ginia, for example, were admitted Direct taxes
! were apportioned among them just among the
! other states. The 9th section of the act of the
9TH of June, 1862, in its latter clauses recognized
| the same principle.
The rebel states are, therefore, now in the
| Union. Indeed, their governments more
| publican, more democratic, more in harmony
with the spirit of OR institutions than they ever
were before. II congress would only look out
there now it would legislators, governors
| state officers OF all grades members of congress-
all elected by the people; courts in session, taxes
| being collected, mails being carredRa Surely
these made states in the Union, if they were ever
| in II.
oE THE ADMISSION OF SOUTHERN MEMBERS OF cor
GRESs
/ In numerous Interviews the president has sta
ted to different gentlemen, in substantially the
! same language, lis views concerning the admis-
| sion OF rebel congressman. In one of the mnu-
ties before me, find memorandum TO this eff
/ feet
( He repeatedly alluded to it's being the prero-
gatlve ard constitutional duty Of each house to
judge of the merits of each claimants election bv
/ ttSe.J. This, also, was the wise way of keeping
/ bad men out of congress, who might not, through
| personal disqualification, be entitled to seats
! But 1t was grossly wrong to exclude states be-
| cause of objections to individuals Each claim
! ant case should rest on and be decided accord
. ing TO his individual merits.
Representation in congress was but one OF the
rights of states under the stituton. Exclu-
/ sion from congress does not, therefore, prevent
these rebel states from enjOyin and exercising
other constitutional rights, over which congress.
IN spite 0! its denial OF rights has no control.
THE PRESIDENT ON PARTY POLICY.
In the same line Of conversation. the president
a few days ago said, 20 certain representatives.
the south had travelled great wav in short
| time They had freed the slaves. They had
/ provided that future legislation should enslave
/ them They had recognized certain civil rights
| of the late slaves They had adopted the con-
stJationai amendment prohibiting slavery
! Under such circumstances the public senti-
/ mcnt Of the country would sooner or later in
. sure their recognition by congress For himself
| he would feel personal pride in having this &C.
compiished By the same Union party which had
carried the country through the war. Such
work by bringing back all these states into their
| true relations in fully restored Union
Recently certain prominent men of Massachu-
sets, in conversation with him, had disclosed
| fear that party aScendancy might tie endan
! gered if the south should come in and should nc
/ las it always used to actt as a unit. Yet how
/ many members were there to be let in from the
rebel states? Ouy 58. But the house now has
! ever 300. Tin this tue president made mis-
take; the house has but 1927 1t argued large
amount OF distrust of the north and large esti-
mate of the power of these So, TO suppose that
| they could rule the government or obtain the as
| cendaDcy in congress.
gEELING AND BEARING OF THE PRESIDENT
! dents manner has been kind aud considerable
No lack OF respect has been shown for congress
men 10 disposition to attempt any coercive
measures. On the other hand, he had exhibited
no sense of dependence on congress- and no feel
ing of even the slightest apprehension as to the
result. He constantly refers to ''the people
with manifest conviction that public sentiment
is Overwhelmingly on his side and that, in the
event of any difference between himself and con-
gress on these points the party and the country