Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-09
The South In Congress.

the Reconstruction committee speedily to
report bill for the admission into Con-
gress of the loyal representatives of Ten
nessee. If newspaper reports are oil any
value, the committee have finally decided,
by majority, that the State which has
supplied President for the Union is en-
titled to recognition on the floor OF the
Senate and the House; and legislation is
anticipated with the view Of according to
loyal Representatives the privileges which,
from the commencement of the present
session, should never have been denied
them. H'' '.
In one aspect, perhaps, this decision OF
the committee of fifteen ought 20 be accept
ed without a too close scrutiny into the
motives which prompt it, or the reasons
upon which it rests. 1t should be enough,
mayhap, that the rights of Tennessee to
representation in the National Legislature
are finally conceded, irrespective OF the
policy which has until now denied their
| force, or the precise mode in which tardy
! justice is eventually to be administered. In
the Judgment Of many, it may be enough
that Tennessee shall no longer be excluded
from its proper sphere of influence. And
certainly, estimating things by comparison,
and measures by their immediate effects the
purpose of the Reconstruction committee,
so-called, may merit approval. Anxious
as the nation is to see the noble State which
contributed Jackson to grapple with one
crisis, and a johnson to overcome the peIils
of another, fairly and fully occupying once
more its constitutional position at Washing
ton, there will probably be general in
clination to seize such proposition as that
which imputed to the committee, irrespec-
tive of the objections that may be raised to
the shape in which the committees action
shall finally appear.
There are one or two considerations, how
ever, which require us to ask that good
deed shall be gracefully perfOrmeG-that a
decision in itself just and eXpedient shall
be so rendered that it loses nothing of its
Justice or expediency when viewed as a
part of the well-weighed policy of the ma
ton.
Tennessee has right to be represented
in Congress, or it has not. If right be on
its side. its Senators and Representatives
should be admitted, subject only to the de-
cision of the House as TO the qualifications
of the persons presenting their credentials.
If right be not on its side, legislation in its
favor admits of no defense; its Senators
and Representatives have no claim what
ever to recognition in either house. From
these alternatives we see no logical escape.
If, then, Tennessee is not entitled to
| place in Congress- why are we to have
| bill introduced in its favor? The question
| is one of constitutional right, not of the
will of Il committee, howsoever illustrious
be the fifteen gentlemen of whom it is COM
posed. To concede that legislation is nee
essary to the admission OF the representa-
| tiVes of Tennessee, is to Concede the whole
question at issue between those who hold
that the South is made up of conquered
Territories, and those who maintain that
| hn Sfotn LOT nj In rnhpllinn H.
in the Union. A necessity for legislation
in behalf of Tennessee can only proceed on
the hypothesis that that State, in common
with other portions of the South, is at pres
ent out of the Union. The just, consistent
course would therefore seem to be, to affirm
by resolution that all the Southern States
have forfeited their existence as States
that the whole South, Tennessee included,
has no constitutional title to a seat in Con-
gress-and that bill providing for the
admission of Tennessee is but the beginning
ofa series OF measures providing respective
ly for the admission of the remaining
Southern States. Is the Reconstruction
committee prepared boldly to assume this
ground? Is Congress prepared by its ac-
ton to sustain this position, whether the
committee declare it or not? ..
For, on the other hand it is manifest
that if Tennessee is within the Union, the
measure talked of will be work of super
erogation. The Reconstruction commit
tee has, properly, nothing to say or do
in the premises, except so far as it may be
able to throw light upon the tormalities
observed by the State in respect of the cleo
ton, and the qualifications of the individ-
uals claiming to be elected. And if Ten
nessee, being within the Union, has right
to be represented in Congress, why have
not the other Southern States the same
right? From this point of view the ques-
tion to be decided is one of principle, by
which the whole South is affected-not one
OF favor--which Congress or any of its COM
mittees is at liberty to determine according
to its pleasure,
Nothing that we know offs to be gained by
an attempt to evade the points really in con-
troversy. The issue is not one of sympa-
thy, but of right; and whatever the Re-
construction committee may report, we ap-
prehend that the action of Congress will
ultimately rest upon some Ineligible and
we'll defined general principle, rather than
upon an exceptional preference for Tennes-
see or any other State. Why is not the
question so dealt with by the committee, If
its object now be to promote the restoration
of harmony within the Union? The times
call for frankness and promptitude. And
if partisan strife is at last to give place to
patriotic effort, it would be difficult to find
a better basis for Cancellation than is pre-
sented by the question of the right OF the
South to representation in Congress-
N. Y. Times. ..H