Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-11-30
MEETING OF CONGRESS.


On Monday next, the thrty-ninti
Congress will again come together. I
will continue till the 4th of March
when its term will expire, giving plac,
10 the fortieth Congress recently. elect
cd. Never did the National LcgisIa
tnre convene under such an over
whelming popular verdict of approval
for its previous acts, as at the pres
ent time. And never did the people
look with more interest than now, tt
see'what would be the further devel.
oremenis. g.. .os..s... s... a.al2 GHl"
rf6oale dire expecting Congress. under
the telling endorsement which 1T has
received, to initiate at once additional
and more emphatic conditions of re-
construction. But we are not of that
Eambcr. We regard the recent decisive
Republican majoritics Through the
couRtry, as ratifying what has already
been donc by Congress, rather than us
indicating farther steps TO he taken ;
nrt.-we think that Congress will show
its Wisdom by adhering to what has
thus been approved by the Nation.
L1tthe conquered States see, that they
have. still q day of grace, wherein to
fipi ghGigl original status, like Tcnnea
tdeof,yi tho adoption Of the Constitu-
tiafAl Amendment. II maybe that u
sufficient humber, at least TO consum-.
mate that amendment, may yet be
foaud ready to take that psGdent
course. But if they shall utterly re-
fuse, it will be time enough for. the new
Congress, year hence, to set that plan
aside, and-fX new and more decisive
terms Of re construction.
/. But meanwhile, rs there is this pros
Feet of some delay in the full rcstora-
ton, at least of sonferot the conquered
States, il may be wise for Congress I'd
inaugurate, some system for the better
government of them until.they are ro-
stored. This we understand to be the
I'lan already Announced III influential
quarters, and We believe that q bill il
already being drawn up for the purpose
to be introduced. at tho opening of the
session. All the governments now ex.
ieting in the Southern States, are mere
provisional governments got up by An
drew Johnson, without any sanction of
Congress, or any Constitutional basis
whatever. or course they cannot be
permitted to go on any length Of time,
without full revision and establishment
by Congressional authority. Now is
the time to DO it, as it Scent. TO us; and
this il the first great business OF this
Winters session.
This will be virtually keeping the
Conquered States in q territorial capaci-
t., until they are fully restored And
thus will the original plan of Mr.. Sum
or and others be finally arrived at,
though by different route from that
proposed ~ the:n. The States will be
:"rritoriaily governed for time, as
conquered provinces, whore fall State
lights have- for the time Icing lapsed
ty reason OF r, hclli0n but this viii
lave been arranged only after g full,
aud easy, and honorable mode Of res
I"caton has been established, whereby
tLcTl may at once escape this state
And such n finishing Up0f the re con
ttrNction policy, under The well-dcfin.
81 popular sentiment expressed al the
polls, viii be cmincntiy wise and aus
pcioVa. ItWM haTmonizc. and com
hine tho ditIerc;it loyal views express
cd from the start; sand though deeply
isunlil!@titgte the cowcd and conquer
cd johnson, Whose whole ''policy'' is
tAqs ignored and wiped out, it will hap
PLY set iofth The people and tie loyal
nation rs fully victorious at last.
-oAs for the President, We consider
him now sufficiently Inundated and
deprived oChis power to harm. without
pressing at present the matter of his
impeachment. lie H,uy do that which
will render such a step imperative.
liut for while We think that proposal
"oaii! better rest on tine shelf, without
taking Up The precious time of Congress
even in is debate. Tie peri! may
hang, if You please, as Il rod over the
debauclci Presidents head, to intni-
date from further Unconstitutional en-
croachments. But for the time being,
rt all cnergies. be bent on the Single
work Of. demonstrating his miserably
constructed policy" and govcruing
the conquered States as they ought Il
sc governed, until such time as they
are willing to come back to represents
ton en- the just terms prescribed fol
rhOm. .H.." ..,.
And 90, after all the botcliing of tht
Whiie-lIo0sr, We shall come out safe
and sound, from our Fcrils of war and
our worse Fefils OF rcace.