Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-24
THE PROPOSED READsussIOx or
TENNESSEE.

| From the New York Worla.l
II is given ont that the Reconstruction
Committee have matured, and will within a
day or two report resolution readmitting
Tennessee TO the full enjoyment of her fed
eral privileges This win be skillfnlly
played card in the Radical game. 1t will
establish precedent of the greatest service
to the disunion party hereafter. Tennessee
is, politically, in precisely the same condi-
ton as all the other seeding States. If
they passed ordinances Of secession, so did
she. III they we're held by the rebel forces,
so was she. If they recovered from rebel
occupation by military conquest, she had 10
be so recovered too. Like the rest OF them,
she was temporarily under a Provisional
Governor like them, she formed a new
State Constitution under bis superintend-
ence !; like them, she rejected negro suffrage
If they are ont Of the Union, she Is IL she
is in the Union, they are not out for in all
legal and constitutional aspectsA their cases
are just the same.
TIE passage by Congress Of joint resolu-
ton readmitting Tennessee, Is a stratagem
for entrapping President johnson into a ialse
position. The resolution, If passed, must be
submitted to him for his approval. II he
signs ID, he thereby commits himself to the
fundamental principle of the Radicals, that
the joint action OF both Houses recognizing
the right Of the States to representation Is
necessary preliminary 70 the separate con-
sideration, by each, Of the elhims Of pa-ticu-
lar members. II he vetoes il, a catch argyll
ment is furnished To the Radicals, 10 prove
that President johnson Is cooperating with
them IN their policy Of exclusion and that
he even goes beyond them by keeping out
his own State, which they would admit.
This cunningly contrived dilpmma, is asnare
laid for the President, whose course, act as
he may, will be perverted into . seeming
support of the Radical policy. 10 Is a dis
honest trick for operating on the Connecticut
and subsequent elections, by furnishing mob
orators with Arguments to convince the rab-
bic that they can vote for the Republican
ticket without repudiating the President.
The action proposed In the case Of Ten
nessee dsgrades all the unrepresented States
into the condition Of Territories, without
the courage openly to declare them such.
When Colorado elects Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes and scrubs thsn TO Washington,
the Senate cannet act on the claims OF the
Senator's, nor the House ON those Of the
Representatives, until Congress shall have
previously admitted Colorado into the Union
as a State, while in the case OF State, no
previous joint action Of the two Houses is
necessary. Territories are never admitte,
in body, but only one by one; separate
act Of Congress being requisite Tor each.
What Is now proposed in the case Of Ten
nessee is perfectly analogous. II sets pre-
eedent which puts all the seeding States in
the condition OF Territories, IL u very
common for Territories 10 elect their Sena-
tors before they are admitted g. States.
Michigan did so Kansas did several 9TH
ers have, but those two are particularly re-
meTnbered owing TO the controversies at
tending their admission. BGt, in nsueh cases,
the two Houses cannot exercise their pre-
rogative Of judging separately Of the quail
fications Of their members, until after the
formal act Of admission. This Is the very
course now proposed to be adopted in refer-
ence to the Southern States. ssag
II Tennessee which Is regarded with more
favor than any of the others, IA aibiected 10
this treatment there is no reason 70 suppose
il will, in any ease, be departed from II
will be virtual decision that tho saceding
States stand ON the same level a. the Terri
tories that, like the Territories, they
require the previous notion Of Congress %
entitle them 20 Senators and Representatives;
and that, like TerFitories, they must be all
mitted ore by one, al such intervals as Con
gTess may see IL.
This mode Of proceeding, is directly in
the teeth Of President Johnssn's Annual
Message; and We do not ace how be en-
sanction it. lie cannot be bribed 10 desert
his principles BY offering 70 his own State,
as an act Of grace, what he believes all the
States entitled 10 a. n constitutional right.
And yet, If he inierposes the veto, uuscEu-
pulous politicians win represent him asopt-
Heroding the Radicals themselves, or even
Of shifting places with them in reference TO
has own State. His best method Of ciFeHn-
venting this lat crafty trick sd Thad. Ste
vens & Co, would probably be 70 allow the
resolution 70 take effect BY the lapse Of the
ten days, tins inserposlng no obstacle to any
State getting its rights, ard, at the sane
time, giving no eouEtenaHce 70 aa unoonsii-
tuiional prinsiple.