The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-28

II
: Mr.. Theodore Tilton, the editor O
, the New York Independent, has beer
in Washington, and 'can not say thai
the expectation of reconciliation be-
tween the President and Congress is "a
be finally disappointed He then
proceeds to make very inaccurate
statement as to the main point of diff
ference between the President and the
malorlty in Congress. He saws:
The President's partisans continue
to assume that the rebellious States,
without precautionary inquiry into
their condition, are already entitled TO
be admitted. On the other hand, Con-
gress is of an unslterable mind that
these constituencies shall not be repre-
sented, except after palpable evidence
that they have become loyal enough to
be trustYorthy."
The Presidents idea is. we believe
that loyal men from the Southern
States, who are sent to represent Dis
tricts OF those States, should be admit
ted to Eeats, and that those whc are
disloyal should not be admitted. The
President would deal with the South
by Districts The action Of Congress-
excludes men whose loyalty is not dues,
toned because they are from certain
States The Presidents policy is based
upon ths true national idea that the |
hrst allegiance Of the people is due the !
General Government, and that there |
are reciprocal obligations of the Gov
eminent to the people, irrespective of
State lines. He does not however reeog-
nize 1t as an obligation Of the Govern
ment to eoerce the white people of the
Southern States to accept political 4
equallty with their negroes. And this
IS the point where the Radical theory 4
opposed TO him becomes a policy. A
part OF the Radicals would enfrancbise
the blacks and disfranchise the whites
and the others would pardon all rebels,
and welcome them with open arms, on
condition that they would agree to me-
gro suffrage. And here new tests of
loyalty are eintroduced-testst that would
have been fatal to us during the war.
and that are still very dangerous. Ii
Is made test in Washington by the
extremists of the Radical persuasion.
that one. shall be in favor of forcing
negro suffrage upon the South before
We are ourselves ready TO adopt ii; and 1
latterly it seems in some quarters to be !
accepted as the highest evidence of {
loyalty TO denounce the President as a J
traitor. Before this quarrel progresses
much further and becomes more en-
bittered, we would be glad TO have i
those who are 80 fercely hostile TO the
President specify his acts that convict t
him of disloyalty, according to the prac- 5
teal standard by which men were Z
during the war.
Mr.. Tiltons testimony as to the TEN ;
per of Congress, and of some of the !
eminent men in Washington, is valua- U
BILE, and We give the pith of it in the
following extract. l
"Tke governing majorities in both ?
houses entertain 8 profound conviction l
that, however readily they might other p
wise be disposed TO crafty Presiden- L
Lial idiosyncracy by gracefully yielding h
10 Mr.. johnson on question involving o
no compromise of principle, they have D
no right either in the present case or >,
n any other like it, to subordinate the 4
legislative functions of the Govern
nent 10 Executive usurpstion. This P
as any careful observer here "
,annot fail to perceive, is as firm and .
mmoVable as the cornerstone of the +
CapitoL L will be burnt at the stake, "
aid Western Senator, rather than be rn
! party to such an overthrow of the le
American System 80 surrender this
,oint said leading member of the | y,
lower House, would leave US living ca
tpdap q Ynopapcby ord Tho p,oa;1o,,t / al
night as well be crowned king. Il
lold, said Cabinet minister, that the al
PRESIDENT. as counterpart to his pre- G.
ent position, might just as well claim II
or himself the functions of the Su- pl
RENE Court Not less than forty
nembers of the two Houses have spo a'
en in my hearing similar utterances, cd
'hieh, if not as strong in language as oil
hese, were just as strong in meaning re
,or were these remarks made in anger
T impatience, but with the calmness of v.
ettled conviction, and with the cour- ~ =,
ge OF assured victory. And this In
mobile determination of both Houses II
erives additional strength from the
nusual intellectual and moral quality to-
t the present Congress. One of the "a
eaders of the Democratic side of the ~
over House said to me frankly, I nj
ave never witnessed so much ability fic
nd integrity in any party of any Con- ii,
ress as on the present Republican ca
de. happened to say to ChiefJus- 49,
ee Chase, No Congress ever more IT, IT.,
gnslly received the approval of the B.
eople To which he instantly replied, B.
Ind none ever more signslly deserved Bu
= "-Cin. Commercial he