Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-30
For the Chronicle.
Congressional.

j. ME. the last Issue OF the
CHRONICLE you offer the use of your col
umns for discussing the question .twho shall
be our Representative in the next Congress?",
remarking, in passing, that the Union pa
.pers of the other counties IN the District, are
o~ut-spoken in regard to it. 1t is true that
they have expressed very decided prefer
ence in favor of Gen. Garfield, our present
able and distinguished member. It is re-
markable that the CHRONICLE, usually up
with the times, should lag behind public sem
.timent in this matter! !
: GEN. GARFIELD is regarded, both in and
out of Congress, as n of the strong men of
the country; exerting, as a member, a most
hsalthful and happy influence in the coun-
ellis of the Nation. He is right, sound and
safe upon all the live issues of the day
His reputation is national, his talents COM
manding, and his services both in the Field
and in the House of Representatives, point
him out as the man for the place he now so
ably fills. =
The position which the General occupies
on the Committee of Ways and Means, is
one of the first importance and strongly man
ifests the regard in which he is held by his
fellow members; an honor seldom enjoyed
by so young a member. 1t is indeed graf
ifying to his friends at home and abroad to
see the entire Union press of the District,
with but q single exception, out IN advocacy
of his reelection. 1t is very truethat there
are many gentlemen, able and distinguished,
in our District, who if chosen would do cred
it to this constituency. No doubt, however,
their patriotism will prompt them to defer,
once more, under the very peculiar circum-
stances which surround US, to GEN. GAR
FIELD. q. f.
The Union party of this District, of Ohio,
and indeed of the whole country, cannot es-
cape the issue forced upon it by those over
whom it has no control. As a party, seeking
to sustain the best interest of the country, we
must sustain Congress, as against the Pres
ident's plan of reconstruction. The issue is
being made up and we must meet it. The
President says the rebel States, pnrepentant
and vile as they be, with the guilt Of the
murder Of 800, 900 of our brave boys still up.
on them, must be taken into the Govern
ment and fully invested with power, without
first giving us security for the future. Con-
gress saws not vet; the loyal States insist up
on indemnity for the past, so far forth as the
rebels can give ii, and ample security for
the futures; that no rebel debts shall be paid
bv loyal- men, that no compensation for
slaves emancipated be required, that no fu-
ture rebellion shall ever be in~augurated in
the South. Is this asking too much? Who
dare say it is? ~ @ .
The President appeals to the people, and
Congress does the same. The issue can only
be successfully met by nominating, for re-
election, the members of the present Con-
gress who have manfully stood for the right:
stood firm and immoYable in the interests of
Freedmen. men who never yielded TO exec
utiye dictation or the Establishments of
Presidential patronage. Sound policy de-
mands that the issue be met by using
the very men whom the executive denounc-
Ies. If we drop them, and take other men, it
will at once be claimed that we waive
the issue, feared to meet it, lodged off be-
cause of felt inherent weakness. It will not
do. With General Garfield our candidate
the people of the sold I9th'' will return him
with such a majority as viii satisfy all men,
that we wish this Government administered
by loyal men only, that such men as Davis,
Lee, Breckenridge and the like, in our judg-
ment, are eminently worthy of the gallows,
hut utterly unfit for restoration to power.
We have no H~tterances against Gen. Gar
fields competitors. They are our friends
and neighbors, worthy men, but under the
surroundings of the moment we do not think
they should press their desires. During the
next Congress those great questions now so
eminently dangerous, which loom up before
US, will be settled. Reconstruction viii be
an accomplished fact, and we hqmbly trust,
no issue between the Executive and Con-
gress TO be settled. Then there would be
propriety in casting about for new men.
At present, to use the homely language of
the lamented, slaughtered lincoln, 'ft Is no
time to swap horses, when crossing the great
stream Of trouble and difficulties which is
now we'll nigh engulphihg the nation"
Let US keep our welltried, talented Rep
resentative IL his sest, at least until the end
of the fortieth Congress Union neR think
Of these things, H2 71-J i m