The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-23
The President on Representation in
Congress.
From the Times.

From the Times.
When the fever which just now in1ames the
public mind against President johnson shall
have subsided, as it certainly will, candid peo
pie will have no difficulty in seeing that it has
been largely due TO studied and malicious mis-
representation of his position on various ques-
tions OF public Importance. And upon no one
subject have these misrepresentation been
more studied and persistent, than upon his
views in regard to the representation of the
Rebel States in Congress. From one end of the
country to the other, he has been denounced
for urging the admission OF Southern members
loyal and dlsloyal alike, to their seats.
The Just Cry that "Rebels shall not rule the
nation they tried to TuGnn-has been so echoed
and re-echoed as to imply that it was hostile to
the Presidents policy of restoration. Members
of Congress in their speeches have dwelt upon
it in this sense. Hostile newspapers throughout
the land have hlled their columns with the most
bitter diatribes upon this text, and the public
mind every where has been thoroughly filed
with the belief that the President demands the
instant admission to their seats in Congress of
men elected by the Rebel States, without inquiry
into their action in the past, or their attitude
towards the Government in the present posture
OF public affairs.
1t would be useless to deny that these efforts,
systematic, persistent, and unscrupulous as they
have been, have pro iuced marked effect upon
the public mind. They have seriously impaired
that confidence in the Presidents wisdom and
fidelity to the principles which have crushed
the Rebellion, which is essential to the harmo
nious cooperation of the Executive and Legisla-
tive departments OF the Government, and to the
welfare OF the nation in the cris', through which
it is passing.
We have no fear that these efforts or their
effects will be lasting. The impression they
have produced is utterly false, and is as mis-
cheVous as 1t is unjust. In every thing he has
said upon this subject-in his Message to Con-
gress, In his veto OF the Free linens Bureau Bill
in his speech of the 22d OF February, and in all
his addresses to delegations from the Southern
States, he has insisted that none but loyal men
should be admitted to seats in Congress- and
that each House has the right to judge for ITSELF
and by such tests as 1t may prescribe, otathe
loyalty OF every man who claims to represent
any district of any State. And In his speech to
the soldiers and sailors on Wednesday last he
was still more explicit and emphatic upon this
point, After showing that, under the Constitu-
tion and in conformity with the fundamental
principles OF our form of Government the people
OF every State are entitled to representation he
went on to say:-
"And when we say admit representatives what do
we meanE We mean representation IN the constItu-
tiOna and law abiding sense as was intended at the
declares in express terms that each House. the
Senate and House OF Representatives, each acting
for itself shall be the judge OF the returns elections
and qualifications of its own members Itis for each
House TO settle thar question under the Constitution
aao % 9nder ene Solemn st oa a. oath And
any member INTO its body 90 participate in the
leRslation of tue country who was not qualified
and fit to sit in that BODY and participate IN It's
proceedingsS They have the power-not the two
Houses, but each House tor itself. The Constitution
further declares that State shall be deprived OF its
equal suffrage in the Senate OF the United States with
out its consent Ihen where do standI All that is
needed to finish this great work ofrestoraoni forthe
two Houses respectively to determine the question.
Oh! but some one will say, "A traitor might come
in The answer to that Is, that each House must be
the judge, and II traitor presents himself cannot
either House know that he is a traitOrY Applause
And II he is traitor can thev kick HIM out of the
door, and send him back saying to the people who
sent hIm, You must send us loyal man. (Oheers.
and a voice. That's logicD lie there any diff
Guilty about thatS mo, no, and cheers5 Ii a traitor
presents himself TO either House, cannot that House
say to him, "No, You cannot be admitted into this
body. Go back. We will not deny your people the
right of representation, but they must send loyal
representative. tCheers And when the States do
send loyal representatives can yOu have any better
evidence of their fidelity to the Constitution and the
lawsS There is no one learned In the Constitution
and the laws who will say that IL traitor happens
to get into Congress that body cannot excel him
after he gets in. That makes assurance doubly
sure, and conforms the action OF the Government
TO the Constitution of our fathers Hence say, let
usstand by that Constitution bnd In standing by 1t
tho covenant will be preserved"