The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-27
Fair PLAY.
From the Daily Hescs.

From the Daily NesCs
The President, IN signing the Joint resolution
purporting to restore the State of Tennessee to
her relations to the Union, has practically ad-
vanCed the work of reconstruction without COM
mitting himself 10 any Jndorsem ent of the radi-
cal theory. His message TO the House relieves
him from any share of responsibility for the
course pursued by Congress, and while it ex-
poses tn absurdity OF the Congressional action
in the premises, 1t fully explains and iusti6es
the act OF atixing the Executive signature to
the resolution.
Mr. johnson too we'll appreciates the import.
anCe OF securing to the Southern States a foot
hold in the National Legislature to become
unnecessarily al agent IN defeating any move
ment that tends towards that consummatIon.
If the radicals, by sophistries and non SeguuurS,
come to conclusion acceptable 10 hun, he is
not bound to reject the conclusion because Of
their bad reasoning. Nor viii the Southern
people refuse to be reinstated In their right
because it comes 10 them in connection with
frivolous legislation. The Joint resolution does
not, so lar as the merits, the law, and the con-
stltuuonallty OF the case are concerned affect
the political StutuS OF Tennessee more than an
expression of opinion by any assemblage of
irresponsible parties; but ii il have the effect OF
removing radical opposition to the admission
OF her representatives to their Congressional
seats, it Will have accom- plished benedcent
result. We accept, therefore, the result as we
would accept restitution of stolen property,
without caring much to argue with The thief as
to the Legitimacy OF the moral influences that
induced HIM to surrender his plumber.
But, now that Tennessee has been restored to
her relations to the Federal Government how
! can Congress consistently, or with any show of
Justice, reject the claims OF other States that par
ticlpated in the Rebellion? What has Tennessee
done that she should be more favored than her
sisters? Has she ratified the amendment to the
Constitution proposed by the Thirty ninth Con-
! gress? No official statement to that effect has
been received at Washington. On the contrary
the President states that unofficial information
nom most reliable sources induces the belief
that the amendment has not yet been constitu-
tionally sanctioned by the Legislature OF Ten
nessee." If Congress has been trapped into a
false position, it should not seek to evade the
1neV1able consequences OF it's folly aud precipi-
tation. Brownlow's falsehood can be no excuse
tor Congressional Injustice. The simple fact
asserts itself that Tennessee has been admitted
to representation without having ratified the
proposed amendment. Shall the. National
Legislature discriminate between the several
Southern States? Is it not bound 20 extend
equal terms to all Is it not imperative upon
the Central Government to measure its relations
with the South With impartialty?
1t will not do to urge that Tennessee's position
OF priority is based upon the mendacity OF her
Governor. That would be placing too high a
premium upon ialsehood. Nor is it possible tor
Congress, having admitted the representatives
OF that state, and duly installed them In office,
to reconsider the JOINT resolution that brought
| them there And still the fact stares the coun-
| try in the face that Tennessee has resumed her
| relations to the Union without having adopted
| the proposed amendment.
| What is TO be done? What does good faith
| demand? What does equity insist on? What
| does the honor and dignity OF the Republic
| require from the central Government? No less
than thls-that the Southern States be placed
| upon an equal footing. That tavoritism be
reDudiated. That the lying despatch of radical
| parasite shall not prevent fair dealing in the
| work OF reconstruction. What has been done IN
| regard to Tennessee cannot be undone; now let
| the same be done Tor the rest, and upon equal
terms. ..r