The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-25
Coasrsss n.t.blisAi.g the Right Of Sc


oossion.
The refusal Of the radical leaders In Congress
to admit those representatives from the South
who come with clear Union record Il totally
indefensible. There Is and can be no question
as to the proper course to be pursued in re-
gard to the Southern delegates. The record
and the credentials Of each member elect
should be examined separately, and decision
given In each individual case. Whenever q
true Union man is found legally elected from
any of the seeded States he should be instantly
admitted to Congress and cordially welcomed
to his seat. Whenever representative IL
found to have been rebel, and cannot take
the oath prescribed by Congress, he should be
sent back to bis constituents, in order that they
may elect another and better delegate. This
is the simple, common-sense, constitutional
manner Of dealing with this subject; and
while there is every possible motive OF
patriotism, legality, dignity and interest
to lead Congress to adopt this mode,
there is no motive, except Of the lowest
and bitterest partisanship, to be urged in favor
Of any other mode. The disgraceful weak
ness Of the conservative majority in allowing
the radicals to exclude the Union members
from the South makes us ridiculous in the eyes
Of Europe, prevents the reunion Of the country,
and is practical encouragement 10 disloyalty
and q virtual recognition Of the right Of
secession. The radical members are rcspon-
sible for the present plan of exclusion; but the
conservative members are also responsible for
permitting the radicals to rule.
During the recent rebellion the European
wiseacres predicted that we would never be
able to re.establish the Union because the
seeded States would never join heartily with
the North, even II we succeeded in defeating
the rebel armies and breaking up the confede-
racy. But what do we see now? We see the
Southern States anxious to return to the Union
and the Northern radicals barring them out
We see the country still distracted and divided,
not by Southern secessionists, but by Northern
fanatics. We see Union representatives sent 10
Washington by the late rebels and turned
away by the new rebels under Thad: Stevens.
We see the very men who professed to be
in favor of the Union during the war now
doing their tmost to destroy the republic. We
see half Of the nation shut out from the ma
tional Legislature. We see the theory gravely
preached that the South is merely conquered
territory and that the Southerners have no
rights which Congressman are bound to re-
speck Was ever inconsistency 80 outrageous!
After fighting for four years to keep the South
ern States in the Union, we now c0Olly cast
them out. After insisting for four years that q
State could not sscede, we now declare that
the Southern States are oblitersted by the act
Of secession. After encouraging the Union
men of the South during the long .war, and
building our whole theory Of the war upon
the existence Of this GLASS; we now refuse to
recognize any distinction between these pa
triots and the most atrocious rebels. II the
statements Of the radical leaders be true-and
for the sake Of the argument We sccept them
the Southern Union men are still discount
tenanced by the disloysl majority Of their own
homes; but when one of them chances
to be sent to Congress we treat him as
No VNio tuo WOkcs VI aoAsVhes hu"y
nard Of Tennessee, and Marvin Of Flo
rida receive no more consideration than
II they had been secesslonists, instead Of
Unionists, during the war. Although we
accept President from Tennessee, we will not
admit her Congressman TO their seats nor ao-
knowledge that the State Is in the Union. Such
b the absurd position in which CHS Congress
has placed the country. Such Is the attitude
which we must occupy 80 long as we permit
such q Misrepresentation Of the sentiments Of
the people by The radical minority.
But the evil effects of the proceedings of the
present Congress do not stop here. Not only
are we guilty of the grossest inconsistency; not
only do we find organized States at the South
recognized by the President, but ignored by
Congress; not only Is the war, which was ended
by Grant in the field, now prolonged by Sum-
ncr and Wade in the Senate and Stevens in the
House; not only do we restore the Union by
arms only 10 discover that Il Is dissolved by
radical Legislation; not only do we prevent the
return of peace and prosperity and keep our
commerce from the seas, our merchants from
their Southern trade and our people under
heavy taxes, which should be shared and Light
ened by our Southern brethren; but We establish
most dangerous precedent which, some day
or other, may cause another civil war with Ia
lavish expenditure Of lives and money. If a few
radicals In Congress can deprive the Southern
States Of representation they oan deprive New
York Of her representatives by the same process
Nay, the tables may be turned upon the rcdi-
Gals and hey may be kicked out Of Congress
by democratic majority. The rule is very
plain, and II works both ways most admirably
II Is only necessary to appoint . special com
mittee, like that Of Thad Stevens on Recon-