The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-09
Congress no Congress.

From the Daily Ne1os. r.rN. .G..f rIaN ...
A few weeks ago we showed from the text of
the Constitution, that the denial OF representa-
ton to the States Of the South had destroyed
the Congressional character OF the assemblages
sitting in the chambers of the Federal Consress.
II any iormulary can be held necessary to COM
plete the absolute right of representation
guaranteed the States OF the South in the letter
and spirit Of The fundamental law, we presume
the loosestr believer IN the rights Of the States
must confess that that iormulary has been sup
Piled in the Presidents proclamation of peace.
Peace declared othClally to reign from one end
OF the country to the other, the States declared
officially to be ALL except Texas, completely re-
stored to their original relations 10 the Federal
Government, the exclusion OF eleven States
from representation by tyranncal majority, Is
an act OF revolution which has, plainly, stripped
the men committing it OF all authority in con-
sttutional law. N ''. '-.' 2.
Radical journals have, in their recent attacks
on Mr. Johnson, stated, in terms OF accusation,
that he contemplates "convening another Con-
gIess." Our own Washington correspondent has
referred to such an intention on the part OF the
President, and in Wednesdays Nel0S hints at
some measure of the same character, when he
states that "Mr. johnson is determined to follow
out this principle to its legitimate conclusion;
and to see to it that the Southern States are no
longer deprived of their rights by q factious ma
iority." The course indicated in these words
would, it is true, be one OF apparent boldness;
but no man ever yet has proved himself able to
erapple with revolution who did not dare to be
bold even to daring. Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens is
bold; Mr.. Charles Sumner is bold; radlcalism, IN
every instinct of IFS soul, is bold; and men may
abandon allpresent hope OF dealing with it from
the moment at which Mr.. Andrew johnson
shrnks from advancing to its overthrow with
the courage OF Cromwell.
The men who occupy the Legislative cham
.bers OF the Capitol do not, we repeat const-
tute a Congress. Their deliberate denial OF
representation to eleven Stdtes Of the Union
has, clearly, destroyed the distinctive feature of
the Congressional existence-geaerdl represen-
tation. AS the sworn guardian OF the rights of
the States, 1t is, therefore, the bounden duty OF
| the President to use every lawful means OF re-
| storing these States to their place in the Fede-
| raj Parliament. And, no other means being
open to him for that act OF constitutional duty,
he cannot, unless he lend himself to the wrong,
! by continuing to recognize the revolutionary
| bodies in the Senate Chamber and the House of
| Representatives, avoid the oblieation to con-
| vene ConaI ess of the restored Union. The
| Southern delegations and the constitutionalists
| who now form the minority of the revolu-
tionary junta at the CAPITOL will respond to the
Presidents call, and, throwing open their doors
| 10 all duly qualified members will, IRON that
| hour have become the Congress of The United
! states. Less than quorum though they might
at first be, they would, trom the moment OF their
| assemhlage, have power to compel the attend
| ance of others; and though in the end the revo-
| lutonsts would probably constitute q majority
! in both chambers the country would, at all
| events, have thencelorward been blessed with
! the fact of restoration OF the Union! This is,
| we repeat sworn duty OF the President; the
| necessities OF political repose demand it; the
| legislative wants of the country call Tor It; and
| bold though it be, let Mr.. johnson remember
! that no man who has dared, as he has done, to
| cross the Rubicon of the revolutionary power,
! can sustain himself unless he rush on in reso-
| lutte adoption of the Roman text:-Qutd times
| CGsQTeTn DetiS!