The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-11-02
Congress-.

Congress.
1t is indisputable that the Congress is not
composed of representatives from all sections
OF the country as provided for by the Consti-
tuition. This provides that all the States shall
be represented but a large portion of them
are excluded and their representatives denied
admission into the halls of legislation, by a
tyrannical majority of the present members
from the remaining and larger portion of the
States The policy adopted by Congress is
opposed to the sentiments expressed by Presi-
dent Lincoln, and the resolutions of Congress
passed in 1861. Mr.. Lincoln proclaimed
that so soon as the seeded States laid down
their arms, they stood in the Union precisely
as they did previous to the war And Con-
gress passed resolution to the same effect
This resolution was passed in 1861, and was
entirely in accordance with the plan of re-
construction by President Lincoln-and was
passed by an almost unanimous vote by both
Houses Of Congress. 1t stated in substance
that in prosecuting the war there was no pur-
pose on the part of Congress to destroy any
State, or deprive it of its rights, its equality
Or its dignity but simply to put down the
rebellion against the Government of the
United States; and when the supremacy of
the Constitution was established, the war
should cease Not only was this resolution
in harmony with the plan of President Lin
coin, which likewise pledged the country to
prosecute the war, not with view to destroy
the States not to deprive them of their
equal rights and dignity; not to deny them
representation, nor any other right guaran-
teed by the CONSTITUTE but this plan Of the
President and the resolution of both houses of
Congress conceded with the proclamations is
sued from time to time by the Generals in
command, and under the sanction of Presi-
dent Lincoln.
The plan was also in accordance with the
platform of the so-called Union party in 1864.
All these facts are stated by Senator Doolittle
in his mastery speech at Buffalo.
At the very commencement of the war the
Government of the United States declar-
ed that the object of the war was simply to
maintain the authority of the General Gov
ernment-that it was not waged to destroy,
but to preserve and maintain the integrity Of
the Union. The South claimed it had right
to go out--the General Government disallow-
ed the claim, and maintained by force of arms
its theory of the indivisbility of the Repub-
lie. Since the triumph of the General Gov
eminent the seeded States have repealed the
legislative acts which they regarded as hav-
ing taken them out of the Union ; and by
consequence, they are placed in statu quo, by
their own act which status was always re-
garded by the government as always existing
the acts of secession and the resort to arms,
to the contrary notwithstanding.
That the present Congress is not the repre-
sentative body contemplated and required by
the Constitution is evident. This is the clear
and logical inference according to the provis-
ions of the Constitution and the theory of the
general Government.
These conclusions being undisputable, ii
would seem that the reorganization fthe pre-
sent Congress as the legislative body contem-
plated by the Constitution becomes matter Of
legitimate inquiry and judicial investigation.
1t is the province of the Executive to see that
the laws are duly executed and to sustain and
uphold the Constitution of the United States.
The position which President johnson occu-
pies is substantially tie same as that occupied
by his predecessor and by Congress before it
proposed the present inconsistent and uncon-
sine qua non to the so-called re-admisson OF
the representatives of the Southern States,
with no guarantee Of such admission in the
direful event of its reception by the South
The inquiry, therefore, is pertinent one
and such as the Executive Department might
properly PROFOUND to the decision of the Judi
ciary. Is the thirty-ninth Congress the body
contemplated by the Constitution-such an
assemblage of representatives Of the United
States as the Constitution provides for, and
requires to constitute the Legislative branch
of the Government
Recent Developments demonstrate that the
only hope of the South is in the promises ant
decisive action of the Executive Depart
ment.
The Present and Future of Eng and
When we take up the glowing volumes o
Allison and read the just exultation will