Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-23
ADMISSION OF TENNESSEE.

The Shebyville american Union re
peats the statement that the Hon. Ed
COOPER, who spent some three months
in Washington, is of the opinion there
is at this time no probability of the ad
mission of Tennessee Congressman tc
their seats in Congress. Anxious, that
paper SAYS. as Mr. COOPER was that the
State of Tennessee should resume its
former relations with the General Gov
ernment: and earnestly as he had striven
to prove the good faith and sincerity OF
its people in reconciliation and to show
that they have, by legal enactments, done
everything in their power to hasten the
day when the State, should be fully
recognized as part of the great Amer
lean Union, yet when he ascertained
the terms and conditions proposed, he
infinitely prefers that Tennessee should
remain in its present anomalous position
to accepting the debasing terms proposed
BY the Committee on Reconstruction
These views are so important, and in
such remarkable contrast to those OF
BRowYLow, that We feel justified in quo
ting at length. Continues the Union
The terms and conditions are so
completely revolutionary and humilla-
ting in their character, that II may be |
safely assumed that should such resolu-
tions pass Congress they would never
receive the signature Of the President,
or the indorsenent Of the people of len
uessee. In fact. II Is impossible for such
conditions 10 be accepted, without out
raging oil sense OF justice and equity,
and without violating the principles OF
our form OF Government
Mr. Cooper understood the late war 10
have been conducted by the United States
upon the distinct assumption that seces-
sion was unconstitutional, and that one
State could not leave the Union without
the consent of the others When, there
fore, the war terminated by the capture
and surrender of the rebel armies, 1t was
at once concluded by all that secession
was a failure, and the Union was pre-
served. This was and is the view OF
President johnson and of all the promi-
nent Union men of the State
But if the doctrine of this "reeonstrut-
committee" in reference to Tennessee, be
received as presenting the correct theory,
then il is clear that the war was fought
upon false issue, and that, so far from
secession being failure, it is an accom-
plished fact, that the seven States recent
" in arms have accomplished the main
purpose of the war For, it is assumed
by the committee in their report that
Tennessee is out of the Union" and
requires formal readmission by the con
sent of the law-making power, and
that until such consent is given, Tennes-
see is a mere conquered province, TO
be governed as the Congress may declare,
and excluded from all the rights and
privileges of a coequal State. Nor do
The remarkable assumptions of this most
remarkable committee stop here Not
only is it gravely maintained that Ten
nessee Is out of the Union, and must
undergo in her readmission all the for
malities of new State, but tits proposed
to impose upon her conditions, which
were never heard or dreamt of before in
the admission of State, and which, in
Mr. Cooper's opinion, is as unconstitu-
tional and tyrranical in Congress to i'm
pose, as il would be dishonorable for
Tennessee to accept