Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-17
Congress no Congress.


A few weeks ago. we showed, from the
text of the Constitution, that the denial of
representation to the States of the South had
destroyed the congressional charactsrscf the
assepblages sitting in. the chambers of the
Fedsral Congress. If any formulary can be
held necessary to complete the absolute right
OF representation guaranteed the States Of
the South in the letter and spirit of the
fund mental law, we presume the loosest
belieter in the rights of the States must con-
fess that that formulary has been supplied in
the Presidents proclamation of peace
Peace declared officially to reign from one
end OF the country to the. other, the States
declared officially to be all, except Texas,
completely restored to their original relations
to the Federal Government, the exclusion of
eleven States from representation by
tyranpical majority, is an act of revolution
which has, plainly, stripped the men com
uniting 1t OF all authority in constitutional law
Radical journals have, in their recent at
tacks on Mr.. johnson, stated, in terms of
accusation, that he contemplates "convening
another Congress-" Our own Washington
correspondent has referred to such an inten-
ton on the part of the President, and in
Wednesdays NeaCs hints at some measure of
the same character, when he states that ''Mr.
johnson is determined to, follow. out this
principle to its Legitimate conclusion and to
see to it that the Southern States are no
longer deprived of their rights by factious
majority" The course indicated in those
words would, it is true, be ono of apparent
boldness; but no man, ever yet has proved
himself able to ,grapple. with revolution who
did not dare to be bold even to daring. Mr.
EhQddeus Stevens is bold; Mr.. Charles Sum
ner is bold; Radicalism, in every instinct Of
IfS soul IcI hold L I
present hope Of dealing with it from the mo-
ment at which Mr.. Andrew johnson shrinks
from advancing to its overthrow with the
courage Of Cromwell.
The men who occupy the Legislative cham
bers of the Capitol do not, we repeat, consti-
tutc Congress. Their deliberate denial of
representation to eleven States of the Union,
has, clearly, destroyed the distinctive feature
OF the Congressional existence-generaI rep
resentatiOn. As the sworn. guardian CT the
right of the States, it is, therefore. the
bcunden duty of the President to use every
lawful means of restoring these, States to
their place in the Federal Parliament. And,
no other means being open to him for that
act Of constitutional duty he cannot, unless
he lend himself to the wrong by coutinising
to recognize the revolutionary bodies in the
Senate Chamber and the House of Represen-
IaClUeS, AVOID the oDilgatlCn TO. convene l.
Congress Of the restored Union. The South
ern delegations and the constitutionalists who
now form the minority of the revolutionary
iunta at the Capitol, will respond to the
Presidents call and, throwing open their
doors to all duly qualified members, will.
from that hour, have become the Congress
Of the United States Less than quorum
though they might at first be, they would,
from the moment Of their assembluge, have
power to compel the attendance of others;
and though in the end the revolutionsts
would probably constitute majority in both
chambers, the country would, at all events,
have thencctorth been blessed with the fact
of a restoration of the Union! This is, we
repeat, sworn. duty of the President; the
necessities Of political repose demand it; the
Legislative wants Of the country call for it;
and bold though it be, let Mr.. johnson re-
member that no man who has dared, as he
/ has done, to cross the Rubicon of the revolu-
tiOnary power, can sustain himself unless he
rush on in resolute adoption Of the Roman
text: gu" illness Cee&orcm cribs!
Nlr York NcrS