The Portland daily press., 1866-03-10
. Transformation of the Southern States

with a refractory President. --r---=-,--
? Representation of the Southern States.
The telegraph reports somewhat vaguely
that a series of resolutions was offered in the
United States Senate Thursday, by somebody
declaring that Congress and not the EXecu
tive has the power to re-estaDiish the CIVIL
government in the rebellious States" Ii the
nurport of these resolutions is correctly report
ed, we must enter our dissent to the doctrine
,dvanced., The distinction between the du.
lies ofthe three great branches of our govern
ment, cannot he broken down with safety. 1t
is the business of Congress to make laws, of
the Judiciary to interpret, and Of the Presi-
dent to execute them. The re-establishment
Of civil government in the South, so far as it
is notleft to the Southern people themselves,
must be the work of the three coordinate
branches oil the national government, each
acting freely in its own sphere. We have OPP
posed the Presidents encroachment upon the
rights of Congress. Ii it should become nee
essary, we should no less earnestly protest
against any attempt of Congress to dictate to
he Presi lent. 40 at - 80.
at the present juncture however, the reso-
iutions, SO far as they attempt to limit the pow
,rofthe President, are uncal.ed for. The Pref
lent has made such requirements of the South
,rn States, as seemed to him right and proper.
His requirements have been complied with. 1t
is not proposed, We presume, to go back and
BASS upon Executive measures which have re-
,eived the approval of the nation. 2 1t is not
proposed to enquire, whether the Commander
in Chief of the United States forces had a
light to exact the abolition OF slavery and the
equalization of the rebel debt, from conventions
representing a rebellious and conquered popu-
alton. The only question now pending, is
whether Congress also has not the right to
make its own conditions, precedent to the full:
,esto,ation of the rebellious States. We believe
his right does rest in Congress; that Con-
ress should make laws to meet these singular
circumstances. This view is so consonant
with common sense, that at the Sonth even,
Nothing else was expected. So recently as the
| LIST instant, the Savannah Republican said,
1We mast give to Congress and Northern peo-
-"ple something more tangible and stronger
than wordy pretensions Of our returning 10y
-'alty if we would occupy our rightfu position
in the Council Chambers Of our Nation, and
have voice in its deliberations" ay-..
That is the true view of the case. Congress,
re 3resenting the Northern people, will not and
c IN not accept the arbitrary distum of any
man, be he President or what he may, as sat-
isfactory evidence ofthe fitness of these States
.or rehabilitation. Congress must satisfy itself
in its own way, and the President must
not interfere. After four years Of war, the
mere word of any man, no mattrr how high his
station, is not the guaranty we have right to
require. Congress must see for itself, before
acting in such matter. s4ta 81
To the great majority of the Northern peo-
pie, some condition harmonizing the relations
Of labor and capital in the South, has seemed
20 be of primary Importance. The whole
framework ofSouthern society has been broken
up by the abolition Of slavery. In the process
Of transformation, there was and is danger of
disturbance arising from the changed relations
:
Of social classes. Mr.. Wilson's resolutions
which we print to-day, have the merit Of an
nouncing definite conditions, with which the
lately rebellious States are to comply before
they can be again represented in Congress-
These conditions are-1. That all persons sha
bemade equal before the laws of the States, ir-
respective ofras a tssns NS5
have served in the army or navy, or who own
taxable property, or who can read the Consti-
tuition of the United States, shall have the
right to vote for President, Congressional rep
,Nesentatives, and members of the State legisla-
ture. 8. There shall be no payments by the
States, or by the United States, on account of
emancipation or ofany rebel debts. These con-
ditions do not apply to Tennessee. We hope
to see them fully discussed, and adopted as they
shall be finally amended by Congress.