The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-08-15

sHSSS IN oIoASlNAoi sHSJ
stored to all:tlo rights and privileges
in the Union, which they had 50 rock :.
lcssly, abandoned. The" mypolicy'
1bayiuc allowed tho rebels to vote, lci'
;Etbe loyal whites in o hopclessly' do
;;Eplorablc minority, excluded from all
participation in the administration Of
Government, and, where they had not
military protection, suffering all that
persecution 10 which they had been
subject during the rebellion.
When Congress assembled in De-
ccmber, they found things in this con,
dition, and the Senators and Repre-
sentativcs from these reconstructed
States there waiting to DO rcadmittcd
to their abandoned seats. They did
not admit them. twas thor opinion
that "my policy" had not sufficient
ly guarded the rights oIthc loyal white
minority, nor ofthc freedmen. Neither
did provide sufficient sccurityfor the
future good behavior Of the represent
atives ofthese quoudam rebels in Con.
sress. 1t did not enter tho head Of
the most shrcwd member thas Con-
gross had no right to offer conditions
to these States. Andy johnson had
done it. lie had gone into these States
aud dictated to them the terms on
which they should be restored to their
former privileges in the Union. We
hold that these States had not got ont
Of the Union, but that they had rcck.
lcssly abandoned their privileges in
it; and, consequently, could not re-
sumo them without leave from the
other States. This was Andy's view
Of it, and we think he was right, and
thus far there is no difference between
him and Congress. lie had offered
them terms, which they had accept.
cd, and now claimed their abandoned
privileges. Is this action Of Andy's
finale More than two thirds Of both
Houses Of Congress think not. They
deem it their privilege to approve or
disapprovo these terms of restora
ton. But now Andy changes pc.
sition, and the democratic. conscrva-
tivc.my.policy bread. butter party
90 with him. Seeming to forget that
he had dictated terms Of rcconstruc.
ton to these States, he now insists that
by secession they did not forfeit their
right Of representation in Congress.
They tried to do it, but the war was
waged against them to force them to re.
tain it, and as they were whipped out,
aud had to surrender, the right remain.
ed there uuvitiated. for tho"n To rnann,
at pleasure. Ifthis doctrine is true, oil
the constitutions Of these States arc
void and of no effect whatever. The
abolition of slavery and the repudia.
ton ofthc rebel debt were incorpora.
ted into them at the dictation OF Andy
Johnson, rs the terms on which they
should be allowed to resume their for.
feitcl rights in the Union; and if
thcyhad forfeited no rights, they have
no equivalent for these concessions:
they are, therefore, void, and slavery
is not abolished, neither is the rebel
debt repudiated. These arc Legitimate
consequences Of Andy's new position,
which is the position Of tho party now
being formed at Philadelphia; and if
that party succeeds in obtaining con.
troll of the Government, all the lcgis.
lation OF Congress, since the dclega.
ton from these States left it in 1861,
including the amendment to the con.
stitution aboliShing slavery, will DO
declared void.
But moro than two.thirds Of both
Houses Of Congress believe that these
States, by withdrawing their dclcga.
tons from that body, and forming a
Congress Of their own, had forfeited
their right to DO Represented therein
until they had made on acknowlcdg.
mcnt for their misconduct, and agreed
not to do so any moro. They agree
with Andy in his former position,
only think. his conditions not suffi::
cicntly stringent; they therefore pro-
pose an amendment to. the constitu-
t;on tha ratification of which thnv