The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-03-07
Well Done !!


dilatoriness or backwardness in perfecting any
reconstruction measures; we are satisfied now
and feel like applying the above words of high
commentator to the Thrty-ninth Congress.
We can see now that "there is divinity that
shapes our ends, rough hcw them as we will"
The late rebel States needed the experience of
the past year to prepare hem for accepting
the situation" as presented to them by the Re-
construction bill finally passed and made
law, the Presidents veto to the contrary not
withstanding. Had the same bill been passed
at the first session of the 39th Congress, its
passage over the Presidents veto would have
been extremely doubtful. The Southern peo
pie land even the President HIMSELF were led
to believe by the vain Boosting of northern
Democracy that by uniting. their fortunes with
the conservative democracy they could com
mand their own terms of reconstruction. Pres
ident johnson was led to believe that he had
only to show himself to the people as the ally
of copperhead democracy to inaugurate great
and radical change in the sentiments of the
great majority of the people. In pursuance
of that belief the wonderful and notorious
"swing around the circle" was inaugurated
and carried out, and soon after, the elections
throughout the loyal states took place, and
the result was that northern democracy was
never so completely beat, and used up, in a
political campaign. 1t needed just such a
Union victory to convince the people ofthe
ebel States the utter futility of depending up
on the northern democracy for assistance in
their mad attempts to reinstate themselves,
with all their treason, blood, and violence and
guilt still upon them, in their old places as
! the dictators of the policy of the government
1t needed just such a Union victory to assure
the Union majority of Congress that their
hands were and would be upheld in their work
of reconstruction on the basis of the everlast-
ing principles Of justice, equality and liberty
to all, by the serried hosts of freemen through
out the loyal States.
We have hitherto published the Reconstruct
ton bill in full, as finally passed. and as it
has now become a law. 1t simply provides
that the rebel States shall be divided into
Military Districts, that all persons maybe eff
fectually protected in their rights of person
and property, and that instruction, disorder,
and violence may be suppressed, and that all
may be restrained and punished. And further
that the people Of the several States may be
enabled to form for themselves State Consti-
buttons, il which all the citizens of the State
without regard to race or color, shall have a
voice. And finally that the rebel States may
be admitted with reconstructed and renovared
constitutions, to their practical relations with
the Government and the Union.
We understand that several of the Southern
States have already, wisely resolved to accept
the situation as presented to them by the re-
construction bill, nd are about to take the
prelimina ry steps for framing State constitu-
tions in accordance with its acquisitions.
~
The 10th CoNGREss We publish on our
first page list of the members of tho 10th
Congress as far as they have been elected
The Uuion majority will be probably
still stronger than in the last Congress-
Senator Ben Wade of Ohio was elected Pres
ident of the Senate in place of Senator Foster
whose term of Office expired on the 4th
inst In case Of the impeachment of Presi
dent johnson, Ben Wade will be acting
President
In the House of Representatives Hon
| Schuyler Colfax was re elected speaker, al
most unanimously, several democrats 70
ting for him. Edward Mcpherson was re-
elected Clerk of the house. Sen. Chas. e.
Lippincott of ILL.,, was elected Doorkeeper
VIM. S. King of Mimi, Postmaster and n
Y. Ordway Of n H., Postmaster
Speaker CoIfax on taking the Chair spoke
as follows
GENTLEMEN Elected for the third time to
this responsible and trying position, appre-
ciate more than ever before the inheritance
of trust, and realize more than when enter
ing on its efficient duty the absolute necess-
ity of your confidence and support Nor
do [ overrate the gravity of our position as
Americans and legislators, and the years
have never dropped their sands on mortal
issues so vast and grand as ours to-day. A
nation decimated by conflict of fraternaI
strife a land desolated by destructive mar
ches OF hostile armies; people with the
fruits Of prolonged wars ripenrd into har-
vest of hearts dead with the bullet, as we'll
as hearts heavy with bereavements and
broken with anguish look anxiously from
North and South alike, and by that light
should we walk. 1t is to guide our steps
by the justice of God and the rights of men.
1t is to Danish all malice and revenge and
to justify our faith by our works. 1t is to
anchor our Legislation on what the great
commoner of England John Bright, declares
the simple but sublime principles on which
the great national questions should be set
tled-the basis of eternal right. 1t is to
write on our banner these words; that will
shine brighter than the stars which gem
the flrmauent "Liberty, loyalty and law"
IL IS so to make such history that posterity
shall rise up and call us blessed. The Con
gress which has just pissed away has writ
ten record that will be long remembered
by the poor and frend!ess whom it did not
forget. 1Isrepresented or misunderstood
by those who are denounced as enemies
harshly and unjustIy criticized by some
who should have been it's friends, it proved
| itself to be more faithful to human progress
and liberty than any of its predecessors.
The outraged and oppressed found in these
Congressional halls champions and friends.
Its key note of policy was protection to the
down trodden. 1t quaiied not before the
mightiest and neglected not the obscurest.
1t lifted the slave whom the nation had
freed, to the full stature of manhood. It
placed upon our statue books the Civil
Rights Bill as our National Magna Cborto.
greater than all the enactments that honor
the American code, and in all regions where
civil government had been destroyed by
vanquished rebellion, it declared as a guar
antee of defence to the weakest. that The
freedman's hands should WELD the freemans
ballot. 1t proclaimed that there could be
ne sale or reconstruction on foundation of
unrepetent rebels and disloyalty.
Fortunate it will be for US if when we
surrender these seats to our successors, we
can point TO a record which will show on
our history's page like that Of the Congress