New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-26
gress should pause and inquire in what spirit,
with what feelings aud purposes, they como
Evon in his extraordinary speech. the President

EvOn III ms extraordinary speeoh. tne freSiueit
says:
When these States comply with the Constitution
when thoy hars given sufficient evidence Of thcif o
ATTY, aud that they be trusted WIEN they y'ed
obedience TO the law say, extend 70 them the righ,
hand OF fellowship and lot peace and union te restored
Loud cheers. l.
VERY well: "evidcnce 10 whom IL not
Congress now seeking such evidence Inc
Joint Committee on Reconstruction has no other
object or purpose but the collection and digcs'
ton of such evidence" And that it seeks II
from all SIDES is known by the fact that Gen.
Lee Gov. Aiken, the leading spirits of the Va
ginis Legislature, &c. &c, have been called
and heard, as well as Union Generals, special
agents. &C.. familiar with tho condition of tie
South If there DO one more whom The claim
ants Of seats wish summoned they have only to
name him, and he Will be called and heard.
What, then. is the fault Of the majority in
Congress, that If should be likened to Sidel and
Toonibs and Jeh Davis, and accused OF kindred
treason Il it not clearly assumed that
Congress has 10 right to pause to consider. to
investigate, but il bound to admit or reject
delegations as the President shall dic,ate-to
extend to tArm the right hand Of fellowship
at Whatever moment he shall indioatc--to re-
COVE his word Us law. and defer 10 hun rs the
solo Autocrat of Reconstruction
Surely IL must DO obvious that Congress cannot
40 act without abGicstlng !ts functions and stul'
tifying lis past record. For there il a law on
the statute-bGok winch expressly excludes from
either House any aud eyory person who has vol
unfairly aidedadc Rebellion. and cxactS Of each
O solemn adiurati0u that he has never done So
This must be repealed. if eA-RebelS are TO be
adm:tted; and it is absurd to talk Of admitting
the hal.dozcn consistent Unionists as even
beginning OF restoration" To admit these,
while excluding Others, VIII r0wise pacify, nor
satisfy, nor pacate "tnc SOuth"--On the contrary,
it will intensity her discomfort. The vital ques
ton concerns the admission Of Rcbel5--this
she demands, and this she will have, or all goes
for nothing, or worse. And not only does the
law stand IN It's way. but the Constitution
which those wholatcly renowned now profess 10
adore-SecmS to US "a present an embarrassment,
if not positive obstacle. Wearcquito aware that
Art XIII (Amcndment) though adopted by two
thirds Of both Houses Of Congress, aud printed
in many editions Of the Constitution, was reti.
fed By twelve States only, at a time whom We
had eighteen, and therefore is not. IN words, n
part Of TIE fundamental law. If it were, the
case would bs decided, since it provides that
"If aay citizen Of tire United States shall accept
ella M receive retain titir Of mobility or honor
or stall. without the consent - Congress ncccni nd
'tais any YTcsch', pension ctcf Or e'01"ntT' 81 dfJ
kind ri5,e-,r from any emperor king prince Or Jor'ign
poser sueh person stall cea.c % be cti1,n u The
United States, and shall be Incapable ~ holding NJ
Office OF trust lro, under then or either o! them
We say this is not ~ terms the Fundamental
law. but rs spirit is there. Art !, -, pre-
scribes that "No person shall loo a representa-.
tiye who shall not have been sever
years citizen Of The United Slates" and 3
mo person shall be Senator who shall not
have been for nue years a citizen Of
the United States" Now, we will assent that
a liberal. generous construction may allow those
who have been four years fighting to divide and
overthrow the United States to hsyo been Cit.
gems" all the time; but al this is matter Of in
Guiry and Adjudication; and no is not ncces,a-
nly traitor or d.sunionist who holds that thosc
Judge Monroe OF Kentucky or Gusia-
vus W. Smith Of this city--rcnounced their
country and became voluntary subjects of =
foreign, hostile power. should undergo some
sort OF probation, if not pureaiion, 10 qualify
them 20 sit in Congress and vote to pay or rcpu- u
date the National War Debt.
u-h, Ia ftfrs.
has already reprobated, the terms wherein the h
President saw lit TO characterize leading Mem
bers of Congress. who derive their main import
ance from the fact that they are in substantial
accord with large majority of either House.
The public press. with scarcely a whisper OF
dissent, reprovcd Mr.. Sumner whoa ne spoke
of y decorous Message from the President as u
withdrawing" document. Such was not fit
language wherein to characterize a respectful
communication from the National Executive.
In the same spirit, the country deplorcs and
condemns the terms wherein the President spoke
last Thursday of eminent Members Of Congress
Whoever is right, whoever is wrong, on the
main points at issue, Congress is an integral !
anu very llnpoflhHl poiNi"l vi tht NoNtIIlncNl :
and is acting within its proper sphere in care
fully investigating the condition of tho States
lately in revolt before admitting their repre- !
sontatiyes to seats. We shall be very glad to !
chronicle an early conclusion Of the scrutiny
and an early admission OF loyal mem
bcrs to seats, provided always that salts
factory guarantees are given for the