The Placer herald., 1866-03-03

In conversation with Lincoln last February, he
indicated desire for an amendment compelling q
the States to send Senators and Representatives
to Congress, because it was part of the doctrine
Of secession that the States might withd raw their
Senators and Representatives refuse TO elect
them. Now we find Congress persistently refus-
ing admission to Representatives, though daily
imposing new burdens of law and taxation on th e
unrepresened South, 1 regad this as a fun
damena error. l never insisted on en-
crOachments the Constitution, and l stand
prepared to resist them to-day. Would to
God the whole American people could be assem-
bled here to-day. as you are, and could witness
the great struggle going on to preserve the Con-
stitution of their fathers. They would settle the
question, if they could only see the kind of spirit
manifested to break up the principles of free
Government.
On the evening Of the 22nd. large meeting
convened at Cooper's Institute, in the city Of New
York, to ndorsc the President Speeches were
made by Secretary Seward, Postmaster General
Dennison, Henry J. Raymond, f. B, Cutting,
Daniel S. Dickinson and George Opdyke, and
dispersed at late hour.
The following is synopsis of the speech Of Mr.
Seward:
"Congress a2onizcs over the question Of recon-
structon not because the war has not come out
flRnt. DuL DeCalS InCy nave nOC lnulNluuully u
a hand in bringing it to q happy termination.
hoped there would be serious difficulty from
the conviction that there was not and never can
be, any successful process for restoring tho Union
and harmony among the States except the one
with which the President has avowed himself sat
isfied The President is in harmony with oil the
States that were in rebellion (D and the EXecu-
tive and Judicial Departments are resuming their
functions. Loyal Representatives more or less.
from these States are now standing at the dO' rs
of Congress, and have been standing there for
three months. asking to be admitted. Meanwhile
Congress passes law after law, imposes burden
after burden, and duty after duty, upon States
which against their earnest desire, are left unre
presented. Say what you will, the States are al
ready organized in harmony with our amended
Constitution. and are in earnest cooperation with
the Federal Government. 1t is impossible to re-
duce the States to a Territorial condition. Con-
gress has had reconstruction Committee of ff-
teen members. who have stopped the wheels Of
| Legislation for three months to enable them to
submit plan different from that which is now on
the eve of happy consummation. And what have
they given us? A proposed amendment to the
Constitution to compel the excluded States to
equalze the suffrage on penalty Of abridgmcnt
of representation. This was no plan Of recon-
struction. but obstruction. The conflict of opin-
ion between the President and Congress in refer
ence to the Freedmen s Bureau is, in its conse-
quenccs, comparatively unimportant. 1t would
excite little interest if it stood alone. Both agree
that this Bureau was created for the transition
period between war and peace, and should cease
at the end of that period. The President thinks
that the period is nearly passed, and that the
original provision needs enlarging. Iagree with
the President, and hope that any extraordinary
provision is not necessary. Ought the President
to be denounced in the house OF his enemies; much
more ought he to be denounced in the house OF
his friends for refusing. in the absence of any me-
cessity, to receive or refuse 20 exercise any pow
ers greater than those which are exercised by
any imperial magistrate in the world? Judge ye.
trust this fault of declining imperial powers,
too hastily rendered by a too conliding Congress,
be sad hour for the republic when the refusal of
unnecessary power and patronage by the President
shall be held crime. When it shall be 30 con-
sdered. the time will have arrived for setting up
at the White House an imperial throne and sur
rounding the Executive with imperial legions."