The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-30
The Recon,s,ttrruction Question in Congress,

The Reconstruction Question in Congress.
y While the Northern Pacific railroad bill was
under consideration in the House OF Repre-
setatives, sharp passage Of debate occurred
between Mr.. Price of Iowa, who reported the
bill, and Mr., iWashburne, Of Illinois, both Re
publicans. Mr.. Ross, of Illinois, one OF the
forty Democratic members, thereupon rose to
a novel point of order--"that brethren should
dwell together in peace and unity" Mr.
Colfax, who is never disconnected, promptly
replied, ''The Chair sustains that point of or
der" We desire to add that the country will
sustain the decision Of the Chair. esrra. s f.s
1t was well to meNe slowly and cautiously
in the weighty matter of legislationiatl this
critical epoch. The destinies Of future ages
turn more perceptibly, if not more really, up
on theiaction Of this Congress than. of any of
its predecessors. 1t is a favorable omen, that
the responsibility Of the duty has been SO
fully appreciated as to. check all undue haste.
Il is well that time has been given to the
President to try his experiment, and to the
South to prove her temper, and to the North
to consider thoroughly and faithfully what
must be the terms of settlement, after this
long and wUea9r;some disn,1fa AZ last dechled Nv
force of arms. If important interests have
been neglected by the Thirty-Einth Congress,
i II has baen because the most, inaaortant ;nter-
est, were vet at stake and could not, be neg
lected. e, p. .qd-4tif Inns os4.o lf.it & .
I Well. as the discussion went On. day after
dav the main features of anv satisfactory
scheme of settlement have grown clearer
The Northern people will never consent to
p any navn,ent of the debit incurred to main
toin tbo rehellion nor to anv navment for
slaves incidentally e,napeipated inconseouence
of t,,e rebellion. They will MT consent after
and in consequence Of the rebellion. 10 Weld
tn the Sa,tber.n States an 'increasnd renrascn.
tation based upon iive-fif1hs instead of three
6tfhs of their eolofed ipoDulation. unless the
freedmen themselves are to cast the votes
They will not consent to receive among the
lawoiyers of the nation men who eonspicr-
oasIy stroye to divide and DESTROY the nation.
There is much talk about Offering "degradine
conditions to the South. Look at the list of
neoat;ve nronositioas inst rac;tedt Everv nre
is refusal to grant terms to which the rebell-
ious States have no legal or moral right to
which we could not accede without condemn
ing ourselves to an eternal infalny OF scorn.-
Il is the South which offers degrading condi-
tions," upon which it will for the present re-
main in the Union, since it cannot 60 out;
and the Northern people, instead of flaming
into mere anger at the insolence of the thing
reply quietly but firmly, mo, gentlemen, we
shall neither pay debts which YOU contracted
during rebellion, nor give you additional in
faence in the national counsels on account of
rebeI! lion; nor can those Of you who organized
rebellion again make laws for us. Until You
getrid of these notions, you are not fit to gov
ern yourselves, still less to govern us. When
you have decided to modify the national con-
stitution to suit the changed condition of at.
affairs since 1861, YOU can resume the place