The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-24
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Admission of Tennessee.

From The DdAg NetcS.
The process by which the State of Tennessee
is being reinstated Tito the political household
is one that conflicts so much with the principles
OF our tofm of government, that Congress is
sorey perp;eXed in attempting to carry out the
details. In the Senate, on Saturday, a number
of notifications OF the programme followed by
the House were suggested and the radicals
were puzzled TO devise some plan Tor the prac-
tical application CT their theory that the life of
States is III the hands of the National Legisla-
tuIe. The difficulty to be met is the simple TACT
that the Southern States have, III right, State
existence that does not depend on Congress
sional action; and it is, In truth, an absurd
proceeding to legslale il TO existence tbat which
Already exists, or TO pretend TO create, by Joint
or concurrent resolution, that lmpersha0le
political essence that was power, a reality, and
II sovereignty before the INST Federal Congress
was organized under the Constitution.
1t rs true that Tennessee and other States have
been for time without representation IN the
Central Legislature, but that was the conse
quence not OF any interruption Oh cessation of
State existence, but OF the usurpaIions OF a fac
on that had taken possession oil the National
Capitol, and in the exercise of an authority 10
which they had no claim, lgnCred the leg innate
claims OF Others. This monopoly OF central
lee Station might have been assumed at any
period IN the course OF the republic by any fac
tion that had the audacity to attempt 1t, and the
power 10 trample upon right. IL is because the
southern States are weak and poWerIe>s that
the radicals have deprived them of Their prlvi-
leges, anu they would continue to 90 so were 1T
not that they are aware OF popular sentiment
in the North that has been aroused for the yIndi-
cation OF the principles of seltgOvernment and
the in tegrity OF the republic. 1t has been the
confessed purpose of the radicals to dsfrauchIse
the Southern people until after the next Presi-
dental election; and the scheme has only been
abandoned under the pressure OF a popular
opinion so earnest and emphatic IN its protest,
that even the mosLreckless demagogues felt that
| Ii was dang erous and useless to resist it.
But we are willing TO leave to tile radical
! Congress the poor qualification of seeming to
confer upon the South q boon, while they are
in fact acknowledging, upon compulsion, an in
alienable right If our enemies permit our
relntUrcements to march into our camp, we
VIII not too closely question whether they come
! by the byWays or by the highways. The point
is to secure Southern representation in Con-
! gIess. If the Southern States have to bend a
little at the threshold, it is only TO pick up the
! keys to the vaults whtre the treasures of their
! political future are stored. They will resume
Their dignity and independence when they be.
come power and an influence In the National
| Legislature. What though BrOWnloW presents
the passport OF Tennessee stained with his insult
| and alsehoou; the shame is his not heIs When
her voice is heard in the Capitol she can brand
! the talsehood and resent the insult. Soldier
that march to victory do not hesitate to travel q
lilIle through the mire; and the Southern States
should not hesitate to do whatever they honor
ably can 10 secure Congressional representation
1he admission OF Tennessee is the first step
towards reconstruction, and the tlrst step is the
most ditficalt. The radicals are bold and stub
! bo1n but they have been compelled to take 6
! step backwards and in their case retrogressioT
means consciousness OF defeat. The exposure
of their conspiracy TO obtain possession OF the
! Federal arms ana munitions otwar, with inten
to provoke another civil strife, was scarcely
| needed to demonstrate their unWortnineSs ever
TO exist as q party in the political arena Bu
their organization 10 still strong enough TO bt
dangerous, and never more dangerous than no "
when prompted by desperation. Let no attribute
OF strength be neglected III forming the grea
conservative party that is to bear the banner o
the national Union in the coming struggle. W
commence this campaign ausplclously, with tn
rehabilitation of Tennessee as a good omen @
success; let the fight go on till every star in tn
flag OF the Union symbols State in the full eI
joSment of its rights, in the full exercise OF 1t
duties as a State, under the Constitution an
laws of the Rennblic.