The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-03
The South and Congress.

AhO 'Outh hhu COhSiOSo'
From the Times.
One of the evils resulting from the policy of
systematically excluding Southern representa-.
t,tives from CONGRESS, is that we are deprived
of the constitutionally provided means of ascer-
tanning the necessities, wishes opinions, and
sentiments of large section of the Union, com
prising one.third our entire population. We
know that in many things the Southern States
are suffering greatly for want of proper legsla-
ton, or for want Of proper consideration of their
necessities in those matters-iew, but important
over which the National Legislature has con.
troll, The Executive, 80 far as lies in his power
has carried on the arduous work of re-establish-
ing the frustrated interests Of the South; but on
q hundred subjects and in q thousand points,
legislation oita practical cast is imperadVely re-
QuiIed, as might be expected, after the cessa-
ton OF all effective legislation Tor four years.
so far as the entire region lying south
of the Potomac is concerned. In lieu of
interest and action upon these matters, which
come clearly within its constitutional province,
Congress has devoted itself TO legislation on sub.
jec,s concerning which its power is at least du-
bious, and the most important results OF which
have been vetoed by the President on constltu-
tiCnal grounds. We're there representatives
from the Southern States on the 6oor-men ia-
miliar with the condition of things in their re-
spCCtive States, and with all the questions on
which they require legislative action, we might
sion Of those delicate social topics which require
treatment, but proper presentation of those
practical interests OF the South which have
been so long neglected. and which now so i'm
perativelY demand attention. Leaving out OF
notice here all the pressing matters OF South
ern interest which have been left out of notice
in Congress, we viii name but single
question that has been up within q few DAYS
past, upon which the arguments of Southern
representatives would have been of great aid
to intelligent legislation. We reier to the ques-
hon OF an export tax upon cotton. 1t is but
natural TO suppose that the kno Wedge of mem.
bers from the South as to the effect upon South
ern industry upon the cotton culture, and upon
Southern prospects generally, of an export cotton
tax OF two cents per pound, would be more
accurate and intelligent than that of members
from the Northern States. Some may say, even
on tins question, which we bring up merely as
an illustration, the local interests would lead all
the Southern Representatives to vote one way,
if they had the liberty OF voting but this is an
argument, if it be an argument at ALL that works
both ways, and bears against the vote of North
ern members as strongly as it would against
that of Southern members.
We are likewise hinGered from obtaining
through legitimate channels the opinions and
sentiments of the Southern people upon nume-
rous important questions of national interest
by the exclusion of their representatives. Con-
gress itself has to fall back upon such means as
1t has adopted in calling before it Tor eXamina-
ton prominent men, such as Lee, Bolts, and
others from the Southern states The people
generally have to tall back upon what they
learn from the newspapers and this differs so
widely, accordingly to the predictions of diff
ferent journals, that nothing but confusion can
result to the public judgment. Even those who
regularly see Southern papers find it hard to
gather from them the public sentiment of the
body of the Southern people,
In one sense, newspapers are an index to
public sentiment, but like indexes generally
which only give hints and detached glimpses OF
a subject, they are very apt to mislead those
who have not some familiarity with the matter
treated OF. Out of a great body of Southern
papers now before u.s. we could by adroit and
unscrupulous scissoring, detach and bring to-
gether pieces that would represent as prevalent
any state OF opinion and feeling we might de-
sire. We all know what discreditable ends
some OF our contemporaries constantly serve
by this means; and we would as soon 90 to q
mans most malignant enemy to learn his true
character as TO these sources to learn the real
condition of affairs.
We would obtain far more satisfactory answers
to such important questions as those which the
Congressional Committee put to General Lee,
than were given, were the representatives from
Southern State, admitted to places IN the Ma
tional LEGISLATURE We would be no less strin-
gent than the most stTingent-we would be no
less stringent thar President johnson himself
in requiring from these representatives, before
they took their seats, the most conclusive evil
denCes of loyalty of spirit aud purpose. But
being satisfied as to this we should also feel
satisfied that the nation at large would have
more intelligent opinions upon the Southern
Situation and that Congress would be able TO
legislate more mtelligently upon Southern in
terests, were these representatives admitted to
their seats.