Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-06
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, May 5,-IIOUsE-The House met
for general debate on the Presidents annual mes
sage, as if in Committee CT the Whole.
Mr. Phelps addressed the House on the subject
of Reconstruction, supporting the position assumed
by the President.
Mr.. Ingersoll was the next speakor-his subject
being also that of reconstruction. At finding the
Democratic party Of the North advocating with
some degree of warmth and some lack of honor,
and the principles which they had formerly ad-
vocated at the dictation of their Southern rulers,
the Northern Democrats were as ready and will
ling as they ever were, to subserve the purposes
of the whipped defunct Southern chivalry. The
patriotic people of the North had not only de-
feated rebels but Northern friends and allies of
the rebellion to fight with all its power. The
Southern aristocracy and the President to
boot, would however have to succomb to
the power of Northern patriotism fight
ing the battles of the Union and universal
justice. A false issue had been presented to the
people and the President had done what he could
to mislead the people. but he. Ingersol would do
all in his power to uumask the deception which
the President would impose upon them.
Mr.. Ingersoll took ground whether the rebel
States were or were not out of the Union. Every
liable to be treated by the Government in all re-
spects as foreigner and remains an alien enemy
until relieved of his disabilities by Congress. This
position he supported by citation from writers on
international law.
He expressed his belief that there would have
been little difficulty in restoration if the Presi-
dent of the United States had sonscientiously and
honestly discharged his duty to the country; if he
had more Judgment and less ambition; more pa
trtotism and less egotism. But the President had
a desire to make himself conspicuous and con-
sequcntly blinded by ambition, he refused to do
what was his plain duty to do-call special
session of Congress at once; Andrew johnson
never had been with the Union Republican peo-
pie at heart in the principles on which the war
was fought; Andrew johnson had been for main
tanning the Union, because he saw no
chance of battling successfully against IT.
and because he wanted to maintain
slavery in the Union; Andrew johnson was essen
tally Southern man. with the prejudices, ami
mosities, hatred and superstition of the Southern
people, Andrew johnson had never been recog-
nized By the Southern leaders who iEaugurated
the rebellion. as one of their peers, so he sacri-
feed nothing when he refused to 60 with them
He never had been with them as one Of
he is to day filed with the poison Of the ma
leria Of slavery, which he inherited in his
infancy, and in the repining years Of his life he
had talked loud Of blaekness, Of treason, when 1t
was his interest to do so. when he could remain
in the United States Senate or have authority as
a Military Governor but as soon as he was clothed
with the power Of President and looked to be re-
elected in 1865. he whispered in the ears of the
rebels that all his talk about Furnishing trail
tors was mere CANNON, and intended for
! New England. As President, he has par
doned his old friends and betrayed the party
which gave him the nomination. He had given
the lie by his own action to the sentiments which
he had expressed within the last four years. The
time would come when johnson would be so low
that none so poor would DO him reverence. In
gersol read from Savage's life Of johnson,
! some extracts from the Presidents speech in