The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-09
Tho Cabinet and Connresu.

W his houor, 10 meet nc D L. III. on Thursday
next.
Tho Cabinet and Congress.
Secretary Seward has at last taken decisive and
unequivocal ground upon the question OF restora-
ton. The recent constitutional amendment re-
ported by the committee on reconstruction ia Of
snch compromising, equivocal character, and
80 ,c c9sey resembles the plan agreed upon by the
thought it not Improbable that the Secretary had
made some suggestions concerning the terms Of
agreement. It SCENE, however, that bis tactics
but not his opinions were adopted by the commit
tee. His newspaper organ, the New York Times,
has condemned the amendment proposed by the
committee in such severe terms that 1t cannot do
Seward stands firmly by the Preaident and by the
other members OF the Cabinet in opposition to the
disorganizing dsunion scheme reported by the
when the subject was under consideration, Score.
tary Harlan expressed no opinion, and Attorney
General Speed was absent.
When MIR. Harlan was elected United States
Senator, We said the Legislature Of Iowa would be
very unlikely to elect him to that Office unless no
gave distinct pledges to unite with the Radicals
IN Congress in their warfare against the President.
How he can reconcile his continuance in the Cabi-
net with honor and manhood while opposing tho
President and wo-thirds Of the Cabinet upon the
most m important Questions Of policy is mystery
has decided that there should be harmony of
opinion between the President and his Cabinet.
The late action in Congress looking to restric-
H..
the arguments employed in advocacy Of such re-
stricton, will not avail to shield Mr. Harlan Even
admitting that it is proper to provide against the
sustain the policy Of the President it will not be
claimed that the President should not be permit
ted to choose his constitutional advisers. II Mr.
repect Of Others he will say plainly, and without
delay, whether he is for or against the pending
amendment and il he is for it, he will at once re,
sign. Any other course will prove him to be
mere treacherous place-hunter.
What are the Radicals going to do about the
detection OF Secretaries Seward, Stanton, McCul-
paratively an unknown man. We do not mean to
speak disparagingiy OF him in saying that his in
fqence would not greatly affect any party to
which he may ally himself; but the members of
the Cabinet who have declared against the pend
ing amendment and the committees scheme are
men who WELD an immense influence in the Re-
publican party. We shall be much surprised if
the decisive manner in which they have declared
against the amendment does not materially in
huence the action of Congress in passing upon it,
They will bring to the support Of the President
all OF the conservative element in that party and
Radical politicians who hope for continuance in
Office and power, will hesitate in pressing a mea-
sure which can not but rive in the centre tho Re-
publican organization. We're there a hope that
the party could maintain itself should Congress
recede from it's position, the Radicals would make
haste to abandon the bantling of the committee.
The proposed amendment is not satisfactory to
them. They only accept it because of the patent,
partisan necessity Of agreeing upon something.
Bays the New York Tribune:
"Our own preference for a much shorter and
simpler programme is we'll known Universal
amnesty-impartial suffrage-such are it's condi-
tions, and the whole OF them: We would amend
the Federal Constitution to this extent only:
CART. :. ALL persons born in the United States
except Indians not taxed and the children OF for
eiSners who choose to remain subjects of some
foreign power, are hereby declared and arc henco-
forth to be regarded as citizens OF tho United
States.
CART. =; All citizens Of the United States are
citizens Of the States wherein they respectively
reside; and none Of them shall be disfranchised
save by State laws constitutional provisions
which bear impartiaily on men of whatever race
or COLOR"
And again:
"Our adversaries have too long taunted us with
our inability to agree on plan OF reconstruction.
Let NC all now resolve that we can and shall
agree. 1t is deplorable that the precious months
when tho legislatures OF half the States we're
sitting have been lost; let us resolve that May
shall not pass till our matured plan, adopted by
Congress, is before the States for ratification.
Men and brethrenl deliberstion is well in its place.
but it is high time that we should nctl"
We doubt whether q more shameful exhibition
OF bservisnoy to partisn nshp and desertion Of
principle has been given by Newspaper in this
country. The plan Of reconstruction reported by
the committee is in direct oppposition to the one
wanted by the Tribune, but IL counsels Congress-
to agree upon it Immediately, and the Republican
party to endorse it. This confessedly upor isauea
tho most important that have ever engaged the
attention OF the country.
~ i is indeed n thigh time that Congress should
whether it will its enforcement There is
o clear two. thirds majority Of Radicals In both
houses. What is to hinder the passage of the
amendmentf Will the stern opposition of such
Stanton and MoCulIooh frighten Congress2 It
would do 80 were there not greater danger in re-
treat than In going forward Chicago Times.