The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-08-14

| the Convention prohibited negroes from testl-
flying in the courts. The people who had for
four years done all in their power to destroy
the Union now coolly began to talk OF taking
an immediate part in the Government. Gov.
Perry, in November, again eulogizing the
President, coupled with his compliments per-
emptory demand that, when Congress met, the
Clerk of the House should call the names OF
men elected from the unreconstructed States.
In the same month Mr.. johnson wrote to Gov.
Perry, VINO heSitated about adopting the
amendment abolishing Slavery, that the clause
giving Congress the power to enforce it by
appropriate legislation, really limited Con-
gressional control over the subject Thus
sssured that Congress had no right to legis-
I late for the negro after he had been freed,
| Gov. Perry's fears were allayed and South
| Caroliua adopted the amendment. People
wondered at Mr.. JohnSon's strange exposition
! of Congressional enactments, and their sur
prise was not diminished when he publicly
disclaimed any intention to dictate to the
Rebel States, adding that he wished only to
mildly aud kindly advise. These signs which
alarmed loyal men, delighted the old Northern
| friends of the Rebellion, and as early as An
gust q Copy erhead convention indorSed Mr..
Johnson's policy. In September the ajority
of the Copperhead papers began to praise
! him. Still the Union party did not oppose
him it disseated from the tendencies of his
policy, but it waited, endured, and hoped.
| It's organs even declaimed against the Cop
perhcads who insulted him by aff3rmingstha
he had deserted the party which elected him,
/ scorning the idea with an indignation which
time has shown to have been the most in
/ tense, though unconscious irony. ''1lr.
Johnson" said THE TRIBUNE in reply to these
/ terrible accusations of the Democrats, "has
/ fttingly characterized the culpable faulty of
John Tyler in seeking f-aggrandizement
! through the ruin Of the great party which
elected him, and no man has ever had deep
er loathing than he for the character Of Ben
edict Arnold" October and November the
President employed in attempting to reconcile
his old policy with the new one, but with less
success than he probably desired. We did
not complain of his rnagnanimity to Rebels
that we could have heartily approved if its
dangerous tendencies had been neutrslized
! by Justice to black UnoniSts. The bitter
tconviction was forced upon US that the kind
| of mercy he extended to the enemies of the
Union was destined to be unmitigated cruelty
| to its friends . ''
| Thus when Congress assembled, December
| 4, it found that great things had been done
during the legislative vacation. 1t had left
the war raging; it found 1t ended. 1t left
| jeff Davis a tyrant at Richmond; it found
him prisoner in solitary confinement, and
charged with conspiracy in murder. 1t left
Abraham Lincoln the ruler Of the nation it
| found-not him, but his grave. 1t found
/ Andrew johnson the successor Of his place,
but practically the repudiator of his policy.
1t was confronted with new men aud new du-
ties, with political situation unprecedented
! in the history of the country. On the very
opening day of the session, the representa-
tives from the Rebel States attempted to take
part in its proceedings Fortunately for the
nation, Mr. Edward MCPHERSON, the Clerk of
the House, had the ability to understand and
I the courage to execute his duty. The House
was organized by the representatives Of the
loyal States alone, and the election ofSchuyler
CoIfax removed all immediate danger. But
the future was dark with perils of unknown
magnitude. Action was demanded. We hold
it well for the United States that Thaddeus
Stevens on that day offered the famous reSo-
luton by which Congress was saved from the
disgrace of having Rebels to legislate upon
the conditions of their own return. ''ReSoI0ed
(by the Senators and House of Representa-
tives in Congress assembled), That a joint
Committee of Is shall be appointed, nine of
of the Senate, who shall inquire into the
condition of the States which formed the So
called Confederate States of America and re-
port whether they or any of them, are entitled
to be represented in either House of Congress
with leave TO report at any time, by bill or
otherwise; and until such report shall have
been made and finally acted upon by Con-
gresS, no member shall be received in either
House from any of the so-called Confederate
States, and all papers relating TO the Repre-
sentatives of the said States shall be referred
to the said Committee. This resolution gave
Congress the basis ola policy from the be-
ginning 1t was passed in the House by
vote of 1913 to &c, receiving the approval of
Mr.. Raymond and few others, who have
since opposed the principles it embodies.
Though the last clause was struck out by the
Senate, its efficacy was not impaired.
The Presidents message, which was read
the next day, though more moderate than had
been expected, placed him at once in opposi-
ton to the Union party. by his assertion that
"a concession Of the elective franchise to the
freedmen by act of the President of the United
States must have been extended to all colored
men, wherever found, and so must have es-
tablished change Of suffrage in the North
ern, Middle, and Western States, not less than
in the Southern and South Western" This
argument if valid in ore respect was valid in
all from that day to this no one has dared
to deny that want of power to interfere with
the Rebel States in this inStance-implied
want of power altogether. We held then, we
hold now. that the President had precisely
the same right to authorize loyal black citi-
zens to vote that he had to appoint Provis-
ional Governors. His argument omitted the
all-inportant fact that the Rebellion had
placed the North and South in very different
relations to the Government. r.. -.
Early in the session the spirit of Congress
found expression in numerous proposed
amendments to the Constitution, providing
for the establishment of civil rights for all
citizens, without distinction of color, aud de-
mandiug that representation in the lower
House should be based upon the qualified
number of voters in each State. Bills pro-
l,;b;t;pc tho aSSumDtiOD or paVment of the