Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-17
Bad Advice From Northern Sympathizers,


The Cincinnati Enquirer of the 18th inst.
thus expresses itself in regard to the proper
course to be pursued by the Southern mem
beEs elect Ofthe two Houses Of Congress:
=. The Proclamation of Peace having removed the
last pretext for the exclusion OF the members Of
Congress from the Southern States, they shoule-
senators and Representatives. once proceed y
Washington and take their places IN Congress Inc
twenty-five Senators, and the sixty members Of 1ls
House. who have been excluded, should, after tax
ing their seats demand Of the proper officers 70 ad'
minister 70 them the constitutional oath OF once
II they refuse some person should administer It 10
them and they should then proceed IN the business
Of legislation BY demanding that their names be
called upon every question when the yeas ana nays
are taken Physical force is used TO eject them
will be an act of revolution and usurpaton, ana
should be met in that manner. The ume mas sI-
rived when Congress Of the United states can as,
sembe and il will be the fault OF the PRESIDENT Shu
the conservatives in Congress If they allow usurpa-
ton and violence to defeat IL.
OF like tenor is the language Of General
JOHN A. McCLERNAND, who led regiments
against US, after having encouraged the South
TO the remedy she tried. Here is his advice
.. What sbould the DISTINGUISHED States do As
an humble individual reyering the Constitution and
respecting the rights Of ALL say let these states
elect their Senators and Representatives TO Congress
let these Senators and Representatives repair to
washington, and take their entitled seats in those
bodice peaceably if they can forcibly if they must
and let the consequences take care OF themselves
We are always gratiHed at any evidence Of
good feeling that comes to US from the North,
but feel constrained TO demur when it assumes
such a shape as ia presented in the above. We
of the South have had trouble enough. We
have Just emerged from bloody and disastrous
war, from which it will require years to recov-
er. We fought for our Interpretation Of the
Constitution, and, in so doing, fought the bat
tie of that Northern party to which the Gin
cinnati Enquirer belongs, and fought it without
any help from that party. We had abundant
announcement, but no material assistance. 1t
pstted us on the back, but when we went into
the fight it turned against US. We lost the
battle, and are now suffering the consequences
of defeat. Is it kind of the Enquirer to urge
Us into another contest We think not. Nor
have we the slightest idea of being made the
instrument or cat's-paw Of our good friends OF
the North. We do not intend to place our
selves in such a situation as to bring upon us
the "physical force Of the Government" or
any branch of it. 1t would be poor consolation
to us to know that by so doing we should fur
nish the Enquirer and its party with prOmis-
ing issue. Ifthey want an issue let them make
it themselves. This may all be intended for
disinterested kindness and friendship, but II
smacks very much Of craft and selhshness.
The monkey used the cat's-paw to draw the
chesnuts from the fire the Enquirer, we sus-
pect, is trying in this case to prodtby the mon
keys unfeeling shrewdness.
The Southern States held their elections IN
der the authority and direction OF the Presi-
dent of the United States, and to him they look
to give effect to those elections. At the as
sembling of Congress, the returned Southern
members went to Washington so as to be in
readiness to take their seats. They were met
by a resolution Of exclusion. 1t was thought
advisable that they should be quiet and unOb-
trusive. They remained in Washington as long
as it was deemed prudent, and then returned
to their homes. They determined to act &C
cording TO the understood wishes Of the Presi-
dent, and have done so up TO this time. They
will continue to do so. When he intimates to
them that it is his wish that they shall demand
their seats, they will make their demand in the
manner indicated, and not before. They look
to him to secure their seats to them, as it was
by his authority and under his direction that
the Southern elections were held. We have
no authority to speak for the Southern men,
bers, or any one of them, but do not doubt that
the views we express are the views entertained
by one and all of them.
In conclusion, if our good friends at the
North desire to get up difficulty, we hope
they Will have the manliness to act for them
selves, and not endesvor to make use Of the
Frustrated people of the South to bring it on.