Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-21
UNION STATE TICKET.
The AdmIs.ton Of tennessee.

The good new comes over the wires
that Tennessee has ratified the Constitu-
tionaI Amendment by tie vote Of a ma
iority in both branches of her legislature.
The first of the eleven states of the Con
federacy has therefore come into the fold
by the acceptance of the conditions pre-
scribed blythe law-making power of the
general government. While we regard
this IS a matter of great and exceeding
JOY, we regret the disposition manifested
by s part of the Republican majority in
the House of Representatives, led by Hon.
John A. Bingham, to cooperate with the
Democracy in Immediately admitting
Tennessee to full power in the Union.
Our main objection to this action is the
bad precedent which it involves. If Ten
nessee alone was to be affected by it, the
harm, if there be any harm, would be
comparatively trivial, and we should raise
no objection 20 q special favor being ex-
tended TO the men who have borne and
suffered SO much for the salvation Of the
country as have the devoted and liberty
loving Unionists of Tennessee. But this
state, having been classed thus far with
those which participated in rebellion, can
not at this late hour be separated from
them. We may regret that it was not re-
garded from the commencement in the
category of kentucky rather than that OF
Mississippi, for we believe that Tennessee
never really went out o the Union, but as
it has been classed among the seeded
stores its treatment mnst be similar to
theirs. Therefore, by admitting Tennessee
as soon as she ratifies this amendment, we
set a precedent by which we are bound in
subsequent cases. Surprising that Ten
nessee is admitted, and that Congress ad-
journ on Wednesday next. Supposing
that on its meeting next winter Congress-
men from Arkansas and Louisiana ap-
ply for admission, with certificates
TO prove that the amendment has. been
ratified by the people of these States.
Congress, bound by its Tennessee prece-
dent would be forced to admit them. But
meantime the amendment itself, owing to
the combined opposition of the President,
the copperheads and the rebels, has failed
TO receive the assent of th~ree-fourths Of
the states, and ali hope of its becoming
part of the Constitution has departed. Is
it not apparent hat the rebels Of Arkan-
sas ~and,Louisians have been restored 10
full power in the Union, while the guar
antees demanded by the ,oyal North have
not been accepted. Arkansas and Louis
lana would come back, substantially, with
out conditions, " unhouseld unanealed, no
reckoning made" Worse than this, these
representatives of rebels, having by this
trickery gained seats IN Congress, would
claim the right to prescribe the conditions
of reconstruction, which, the Constitu-
tional amendment having failed, Congress
should substitute for it.
Against this peril the Enabling Act
reported by the Reconstruction Commit
tee guards by providing that the Southern
States which ratify the amendment shall
be restored to power only tcheH that
Amendment becomes part Of the Constitu-
tioH Of the United States. At that moment
the reconstruction question, with all its
perik and difficulties, is settled. Before
that time it is unsettled. Until a settle
ment is fairly reached we protest against
allowing the representatives of rebels any
share whatever in the legislation Of the
country.