The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-13

honest men who went out to save our lib
critics and our Union, now sleep in for,
gotten graves, and in every household in
the land there is mourning for their un-
timely death. Their murderers. rcd
handed and unrepentant, meet and send
some of the more prominent among their
number to torepresent them in our Congress,
and Andrew johnson says let them in !
1t Is monstrous
Why repeal the test oath? Is any
man fit for seat in Congress who can't
take it When Breckinridge, Slidell,
and others left the Senate to 60 into the
Rebel Government, they left unexpired
terms of Office in this. Why not repeal
the resolutions that passed, expelling
themy They are loyal now, and | pledge
my word would make better officers of the
Government than some who have been
elected. | assert, without fear of sue
cessful contradiction, that the Presidents
policy, if carried out, would lead to the
payment, in less than ten years, of the
rebel debt, and the reputation of our
own. 1t would make the South unsafe,
as the residence of any loyal man, black
or white.
Now what is the policy of Congress
1t is to admit the members from the
Southern States at the earliest practicable
moment. Itseeks first to inquire whether
the applicants are loyal, uext if their
States are in a proper condition to be
represented by loyal men. The present
Congress has passed 40 laws imposing
burdens upon any Of the Southern States.
The Freedmans' Bureau Bill did but
scantily provide for, and protect class
of loyal citizens, who, if left to the tender
mercies of their late masters, must suffer
unhearG of cruelties. La conclusion, and
10 connection with this subject desire to
quote few newspaper remarks of recent
speech of Hon. Lyman Trumbull, of Ill.
''Mr. Trumbull took up and successfully
refuted the various objections urged against
the bill, and scathingy rebuked those who
had at first voted for it and subsequently ap-
proved the Presidents veto. Congress had
been condemned by the Secretary of State for
declining to admit such men as Alexander H.
Stevens and Herschel V. Johnson, recently
occupying prominent places IN the so-calleu
Confederacy, to our National Legislature at
Washington city Until the Committee or
Reconstruction decided favorably in regard
to the ates referred to, matters would re-
main as now. 1t had been q source of regret
that such loyal men as Colonel w. B. Stokes
and Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, were kept
ont thus long; but until Tennessee was in a
condition to maintain her loyalty, such men
could not desire to obtain their seats. Too
much blood aud treasure had been expended
10 permit rebels to take charge Of State Leg
fslatures. Congress is making no war upon
the Presidents policy, in his judgment. We
will triumphantly accomplish all our difficult
ties before Congress, closes and perhaps before
many days some of the eleven States may be
aiuitted; but we will not receive those who
will nale treason honOrable-loyalty dishon-
'orabe This is the fixed and determined
bolicv of Congress and he hoped ii con-
cIusion, they would all adhere to it until
none bat loyal States should ceme iRte this
Union"
1t will be gathered from the above that
the policy of Congress is not to keep the
disloyaI States out, but to make them
loyal and then let them in,-"not," (as
friend of mine at CouderSport, would say
rto save them in their sins, but from
their sins" And so mote 1t be.