Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-29
From the Cincinnati "CImmerclal."
Tho Union Party, P%resident johnson,
and Congress.

The people, to whom all political queS-
tons in this country must be ultimately
referred, should closely analyze the soph-
isms and outside issues in which the con-
troversy between the President and the
extremists in Congress, as to his restora-
ton policy, has been involved, in order to
arrive at the real practical point Of differ
ence between the parties, so as to Judge Of
its proper solution.
Fortunately, the recently published
letter Of the Hon. Henry Winter Davis,
written to the Hon. ]. NJ. Scovil, Of New
Jersey, ten days before his death, furnishes
the true key to all the delays and pretences
made BY those in Congress, who, lacking
the manhood and boldness Of the author.
are trying under a multitude Of words and
irrelevant charges, to conceal from their
constituents the issue that underlies the
whole controversy new going on about
the status Of the rebel States. Any one
who understands the point in dispute, ex-
listing in the Union party when Abraham
Lincoln was re-nominated, and that led
afterwards to the Wade-Davis protest,
that the Union party repudiated by the
subsequent election of Lincoln and John
son on the Baltimore platform, in opposi.
ton to the Congressional plan Of recon-
struction, will readily comprehend the
animus Of the following letter, recalling to
the charge the Congressional cohorts just
defeated BY a popular verdict of their own
party:
Mt DEAR SIR The case referred to is
Luther %. Borden, 7 Howard, s. c.,
Rep, /. .....
I did not say that the States were out
Of the Union in law, by rebellion, or, in
fact, by the result of arms. On the con-
trary, I said the State Governments ceased
to exist in law by renouncing the Consti-
tuition, and, in fact, by being expelled by
arms.
Note the diversity. The States are in
the Union, or else WI are not bound to
guarantee them Republican Governments.
They have not Republican Governments;
and that alone gives Congress the right
to control the restoration under the power
Of guarantee.
Sumner is getting right on this point.
Congress looks Arm; but it must be wise
as well as Arm. II we 60 before the peo-
pie next Fall on a negative issue, leaving
Johnson's government in possession Of the
States, and simply refuse to admit them
to Congress, we will inevitably be beaten.
Congress must annul Johnson's Govern
ments, formally prescribe universal suf-
frage as the condition sine quo non OF re-
cognition, and propose to amend the Con-
ssitution, making it the supreme law Of the
land for all States, and go to the country
on these measures, or the people will ac-
cept Johnson's governments as q solution
and send Representatives, to admit their
Representatives. Sincerely yours,
H. WINTER DAVIS.
BALTIMORE, ND, December 81. 1866.
Now, examine every Congressional plan
that has been presented, Ashley's, Sum-
ner's, Senator Wilson's, etc.. andin no re-
spect do they differ, practically. from the
requirements Of declaring null
and void tho secession ordinances, repudi-
ating the rebel debt, protecting the per-
and property Of the freedmen, and
loyal Representatives, except in
as the sins qua non OF recognition,
negro suffrage. All objections about ad.
rebels to political power, and
against the President as favoring
It (when he has repeatedly insisted in his
messages and speeches that representa-
tiyes be received who can take the legal or
constitutional test vanish as soon as a
proposition is offered looking to negro suf-
with universal amnesty, as was man
fest from the joyous greeting with which
Senators Sumner, Pomeroy, Gates, and
Wilson hail the resolutions Of Senator
Stewart, drawn by his father-in.law, Foot,
who is very anxious to drive a bargain be-
tween Secessionists and Radicals for uni
versal suffrage and universal amnesty, by
which all rebels are to be made inmedi-
eligible to Federal ofice-a clean
weep never contemplated by President
Johnsen's pardons, which restores no ones
eligibility to Federal Office. While in de-
pate on Stewards resolutions, Senator
Wilson, of Massachusetts, said:
~ desire simply to say, I thank the Sen
tor from Nevada for offering this propo-
Iiton. I've no doubt 1t will receive the
avorsbls consideration Of the committee