The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-24
The President and Congress.

lue EI6bAu6nL anu COnBIBSSs
From The Times.
The Albany EUening journal, which has been
in the man supporter of President Johnson's
policy, thus states, in moderate terms and with
substantial Justice, the points OF difference
between President Johnson ana the majority of
Congress:-
"Mr. johnson wants the States represented in
Congress SO do a majority of the members and of
the people. so far there is agreement The differ
ences which exist arise as to the &c MS upon which
representation shall be vouchsafed Congress re.
GU IT sufficiently satisfactory evidence that the ds
trc winch elects representative Is lOyal-that h is
chosen by men VINO are qualified TO voc. The Presl
dent would be willing to taSe the de egat upon his
own record, irrespective Of ali other conscientious
II that was loyal and uQnt, gran ing him admission
WI hout further question. Tlis in nutshell, is a
statement OF The po nts of difference between the
Executive and the Legis ature Everything else
that seems to involve sharp controversy, may be
reduced TO mere personal piaue una passion on both
the ont OF divergence so slight it does not seem
that with splnt of mutual accommodation and for.
bearance, such as the grave interests stake de-
maLd an agreement would not Ue impossible or
even 6itcult On the one hand, let Congress dis
card the rash and imperiOus coLnsels of mistaken
leaders nke stevenson the other, let the President
ABANDON ms lnl'abe and Tar too egotlstic method
OF asserting himse I. Then let ovh parties consult
the opil ion and interests of The people, whose dele
gale0 representatives and servants they are In this
way the controversy can be brought to speedy and
pcous termination, winOut the least sacrifice OF
prICple of homer. The present attitude can only
be ma'ntained with the continual danger of acts,
upon one side or the other thai VIII be fatal to the
future relation, Ofthose most concerned"
Upon the action of the Reconstruction Com
mlttee, more than anything else, now depends
the question OF a conflict between the President
and Congress. Each House OF Congress, at the
outset OF the session, abnegated It's Cunstlu-
tt"nal right OF deciding upon the returns cleo
tons, and qualifications OF is MEMBERS and
handed over 10 this JOINT Committee the entire
and exclusive jurisdiction of the whole subject.
mat Committee was made up in the House by
the Speaker, of the most extreme and uncom-
promising radicals, so far as the Union party is
concerned, with two extreme COpperheads as
the representatives of the Democrats. The con-
servative or Union Republicans were excluded
IRON all voice in its consultations and from all
share in its action. The Committee has spent
five months ostensibly in taxing testimony con-
cernmg the condition and temper OF the South
ern States-some OF which, with one or two con-
stitutiona amendments, has been reported for
the consideration of Congress- Some six weeks
ago, moreover, 1t reported a resolution profess
ing to Ieadmit the State OF Tennessee into the
Union upon certain conditions; but il has
steadily refused, from that day to this to bring
even this question before the House tor conside.
ration.
The President, from the day he entered upon
that office, has sought by direct action TO effect
the restoration of the Union. Following the
theory and practice Of his predecessor he led
the way to a reorganization of the State Govern.
ments, reopened the Courts, restored the postal
system, and renewed the operative vigor and
of the section lately in rebellion. All that
remains is the practical representation of those
States in Congress. Upon that point the Presi-
dent believes that these States lately IN rebellion
ale still in the Union-that as such they are
entitled 10 representation-tha each House is
the exclusive Judge OF the qualification of its
own members-that tOyaby is, beyond all ques-
tion, one of the qualifications Indispensable td
membership-that each House may, by an oath
or any other test, determine whether claimants
TO seats are or are not loyal-and that while
every disloyal man should be excluded and sent
back to his constituents. every loyal man. duly
commissioned, should be admitted to his seat in
Congress as the representative of those who
sent him there.
This is the Presidents policy. He believes it
to be in conformity with the Constitution and
conducive to the encouragement OF loyalty in
the South, the restoration OF peace, and the
prosperity and permanent safety OF the whole
country.
II is now for the Reconstruction Committee TO
! accept this policy in its general features, or
TO present another in its stead. Until they
/ take action in The premises, it is impossible to
say whether we aIe to have a conflict of views
or not They have it III their power to avoid
all collision between Congress and the Execu-
tive, and to report plan OF action which
shall compel the acqmescence of both con-
sohdate the Union party, and restore the
INTEGRITY of the Union and establish the
permanent peace and prosperity of our com
mon country. spirit of mutual ac.
commodation and fOrbearance" will, as the
ECeHtHg journal Ienarks render the practical
solution OF all these difficulties perfectly easy
But everything depends upon the action of this
Committee. If it desires an accommodation 1t
can have it. All power is vested by Congress in
its hands: whatever measures it may recon-
mend in the direction OF Cancellation and har-
moDy will be adopted. But if il insists upon
extreme views, if it demands the exercise of
unconstitutional power, if it eXacts conditions
which Congress has no right to impose it can
not expect the acquiescence of the President,
nor will it command the undivided support of
Congress or the people.
But until this Committee acts, it is impossible
to speak of the political future 1t holds in its
hands the destiny of the Union party, and to a
great extent that Of the country also. The next
ten days will probably give us to understand
what we may expect in this regard.