The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-05-03
Southern Representation in Congress,

President johnson, in his recent speech
to the soldiers and sailors, expressed himself
more distinctly and defined his position
more explicitly as regards the admission of
, late rebellions states to representation to
Congress, than he had in any of his preyi
Gus public utterances. And we think, as
far as this part of that speech is concerned,
the great majority of the loyal people will
agree with him.
He said, i'll substance, that all that now
remains to fully complete the restoration of
the Union, is the representation of the recon-
structed States in Congress that, being
States in the Union, they ought to be so
representative both houses of Congress
| being, by the Constitution. left to decide
who shall and who shall not be admitted to
Seats they can and should reject any Sena-
tor or Representative presenting himself
for admission if he is not a loyal man, or if
he has been rebel or a traitor-that, in
fact, only loyal men should be admitted to
seats IN congress, and that properly elected
and unquestionahly loyal men should not be
rejected and the Southern States excluded
from Congress out of mere spirit of re-
venge or narrow partsansm.
The test oath is strong, and no ex-rebel
or traitor can or would be permitted to take
it. In private conversation with a gen
tleman OF our acquaintance, the President,
the other day declared himself very decided
ly in favor not only Of the present test oath,
but OF any new test oath that Congress
chooses to frame, stronger and more strin-
gent, if possible. than the one now in force.
All he asks 49, that when a properly elected
representative from Southern State applies
for admission, he should be admitted, if he
be truly and thoroughly loyal, and free from
the amt OF treason. Upon this point, we
fully agree with him and we presume that
! but few candid men in the North will disa
gree with him.
Our object being to reconstruct the
South upon loyal basis, we see no surel
or speedier method of accomplishing THU
! than by applying the strictest test of loyal
f ty to Senators and Representatives elected
to Congress from the late rebel States. |
they send representative to Washington
upon whose skirts there is even "a suspicion
of treason or slave-holding treachery, rejec
him promptly, aud let the principle be i'm
mutually established and published as wide
Iy as the region of the late rebellion extends
} that it will be as impossible for a rebel OF
t traitor to be admitted to a seat in Con
gress as it would be for camel to cree
through the eye of needle. But let tru'
and reliable men from that region, if the,
come with proper credentials, be admitted
thus let Congress enforce the test Of loyalty
as far as its own members are concerned
and thus will Southern reconstruction anc
restoration be guaranteed and secured apo
the basis Of loyalty.
a Whatever Congress may think or do a
regards other points or peculiarities of tn
Presidents policy, we trust that it will coin
: eide with him in this one thing, which in
y deed, is very important matter, anC
e woud, in our Judgment, go farther toward
accomplishing the ends Of national peace
justice and security than the settlement c
+, any or all the other questions regarding re
e construction that are now peuling Chico
4 go Journal