The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-03-06

for this, but if it cannot be helped, it cal
be borne. If I am one of the unfortu
nate let no friend be concerned on tha
account. As honest, as good, as capable
politicians, state snen, Congressman ant
Presidents will make their appearance,
thereafter faster than needed to command
the ship, as well and as wisely as any tha
have heretofore stalked their hour upor
the deck in the alterations of the calm
and the tempest that always attend polit
cal navigation.
Nevertheless, although ] do not thinl
we are in crisis, the question to-day il
worthy of deliberate examination anC
consideration. The subject before US i
the difference of opinion which reveals
itself but too clearly between the Presi
dent and Congress. The President, a.
we all see, is man of decided convic
tions. The Legislative leaders are trying
not to coincide with him in opinion; they
have appealed to US outsiders, as it we're
to pronounce between them.
The speaker then went on to prove that
there was actually no difference Of i'm.
portance between the President and Con.
gress, however much it might seem other
wise. He said both have got the Union
restored as originally planned; it should
be without slavery, secession or compro-
mise; OF with freedmen and refugees
abandoned to suffering and persecution
but with freedmen employed in product.
i've, self-sustaining industry; with refu-
gees under protection of law and order
The President sees that it has come out
right at last, and he accepts the situation
Congress, the other hand, hesitate
delay; debate and agonize, not because il
has not come out right, but because they
have not individually had their own way
in bringing it to that happy termination
| apprehend no serious difficulty from
the conviction that there never was and
never can be any successful process for
the restoration of Union and harmony
except the one with which the President
has avowed himself satisfied. Grant il
that the rebellion is dispersed, ended and
exhausted-dead even, at the root-then
it follows, necessarily, that the States,
sooner or later, must be organized by
loyal men in accordance with the change
in our fundamental law, and resume their
places in Congress. All the rebel States
but Texas have done just that thing, and
Texas is doing the same as fast as posi-
Bile. sd u Aila aIou
lai The President is in harmony with all
the States that were in rebellion, and the
Executive and judicial departments are
rapidly resuming their functions. Loyal
representatives, more or less, from these
States, are standing at the doors of Con.
gress, and have been standing there for
three months, asking to be admitted to
seats which the disloyal representatives
had previously left. Meanwhile Congress
passes law after law, imposes burthens
efter burthens. and duty after duty upon
the States, which, against theirearnest
desire, are left unrepresented. | feel
sure that loyal men from the now loyal
States will sooner or later be admitted
into this Congress or the next.
When this is done, the process of res
toration will be complete, for that is all
that remains to be done. The speaker
thought that territorial governments for
the seeded States were perfectly imprac-
table; this was also rejected by Mr.. hin
coin. Say what youiwill, The States are
already organized in perfect harmony with
our amended National Constitution, and
are in earnest cooperation with the Fed
eral Government. 1t is impossible to re
duce States to a territorial condition
Congressihas had Reconstruction Com:
mittee, composed of fifteen members, who
have stopped the wheels of legislation
for three months, to enable them to sub
nit plan different from that which is
now on the eve of happy consumma-
ton, and what have they given us?
One proposed amendment to the Con-
stitutioni is to compel the excluded States
to equalize suffrage upon the penalty OF
abridgment of representation. This was
NO plan Of reconstruction,b but an obstrnc-
ton The resolution which passed the
House on Tuesday last directly declares
that loyal representatives shall not be
admitted from loyal States until Congress
shall pass law for that, purpose, which
law cannot be enacted without the Presi-
dents approval, and which cannot CON.
sisteutly be given in view of the opin-
ions heIis known to entertain. This res-
olution, then, is0notlthe plan forarecon.
struetion, but for indefinite postpone
ment and delay. H0 a2ne
When the rebellion began we deter
mined to humble the rebels, and we have
humbled them and brought them back
With humiliation and repentance sueing
for restoration. The popular voice was
that all members of the family, however
prodigal they had been, would be received
at the board. These efforts at obstruction.
then, are as impractieable as I think they
are vicious. No State can keep itself out
of the Union, or keep itself in a terrific
rial condition under the Union.
The States which are in the Union can
not be taken or kept out of its limits
The States that are in the Union can not
keep any States that are outside from
coming in. Congress is habitually in
clined to this experiment.. 1t hesitated
about Michigan and Missouri; reeled and
staggered over Tennessee and California,
and cenvulsed the nation about Kansas
Yet they are all in the Union, all happy,
all loyal,
How many com nittees Of conference
did we have, how many joint resolutions
DENYING that Congress ever would consent