Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-22
BYTELEGRAPH.
rHE DISPATCHES OF FHE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, April 2l.-HoUsE-Mr. Niehol-
son contended that the effect of the proposed
modification Of the test oath would be to destroy
it; there was no propriety in it; the States them
selves are the best judges as to what concerned
their internal order and well being.
He was followed by Mr.. PerhsSa, who took di-
rectly an opposite view OF the question; he
considered it of little importance whether the
late rebel States were regarded as dead, accord
ing TO the views Of some members of Congress. OF
as having had their functions suspended.
according to the views of the President 1t
was the duty of Congress to provide for the es-
Enlistment of State governments which should
correspond with the spirit of those provisions of
the Constitution requiring Congress to guarantee
the States a Republican government; the
Congress had been going TO do for the last five
years with but partial success. 1t was the duty
of Congress to see not only that new States TO be
admitted had such form Of Government, but to
guarantee the old ones also. If there were not
loyal men enough in the South to ill the offices
some Of the Federal heroes of the war
should be appointed and.allowed to take part
ia the administration Of the Government of States
which they had saved by their valor. In these
States the rebels were never in the ascendancy.
Loyalty was the exception and disloyalty the rule
on whom now devolved the duty of deciding
whether the late rebel States on condition ought
to be represented in Congress. Not on Executive
edict was such power delegated to him, not on
the House of Representatives, nor the Senate.
acting independent of each other, but on the law
making power of the Government. 1t was the
duty of Congress to take the whole subject into
consideration as it was now doing, and decide
what guarantee ought to be required to secure
equal and exact justice to all citizens, and prevent
The recurrence of another rebellion. This could
De secured by such constitutional amendments as
could not fail to accomplish the object and the
ratification of such amendments by the late rebel
States as pledges of their security and loyalty. He
would allow them to be represented in Congress
on equal footing with other States. The only
condition he would require would be that all the
leading traitors should be deprived ofall political
rights at least for the present, and until they
should bring forth fruits meet for repentance, or
until the loyal sentiment had become SO strong
as to render them powerless for evil secured all
the rights of citizenship, including Of suffrage
shall begiven all citizens; third that the payments
of Confederate and State debts contracted in
aid Of the rebellion should be prohibited, and
also payment by the Nation or by States for
emancipation of slaves; fourth, that the doc
trne Of secession shall be repudiated and branded
with everlasting infamy. He quoted from the
Nashville speech Of thesPresident. delivered, he
said before his head had become gddy with power;
before Southern rebels and Northern Copperheadg
led him captive at their will. He called upon the
| President to cooperate with Congress in giving
effect to the doctrines enumerated in that speech
| The Union members did not desire to have any
| conflict with the President, and would have none
unless so far as the President repudated the prin
ciples that prompted him in 1864. For himself
he had only to swear that he would never consent
by his vote that the Government of the country
| should be taken from the loyal citizens who had
| saved by their blood. and should be given TO
L