The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-06-26
The Meeting Of Congress.

Mc McctAn& Oh COm8reses
The indications now are that Congress
will certainly re-assemble on the Sd of next
month. This has been rendered especially
necessary by the recent extraordinary opinion
of the Attorney General, Mr. Stanbery. tits
taken for granted that the President win act
upon this opinion, and unless the Congress
shall promptly and sternly interpose, all the
good fruits of the reconstruction measures of
that body will be lost. Governments provis-
ional in their nature, and merely tolerated
for the time being by Congress, Mr.. john
son assumes exist in full vigor as part of
his plan. and he would continue and exalt
them over the heads Of our loyal people. thus
holding us under rebel rule, and destroying
all hope of sound and healthy reconstruction.
This must not be- We entirely agree with q
distinguished Republican member of Con-
gress, who writes us under date June IS,
that 4ss.3 M.
"Never has 1t been more important to se-
cure session of Congress. It is now plain
that the work of reconstruction can not go
on under the lead of Mr.. johnson. Congress
must again and constantly assert its power,
or the South will be given up once more to
the domination of those who ruled during
the war, and after the war, previous to the
legislation of last March. The opinions of
the Attorney General have robbed the legis-
lation of Congress of all its benign and
healing fruits. It is due to the South and
the North that such perversity in law and
morals should be controlled by the legisla-
tive department of the government"
We are not surprised at the report that
Gen. Sickles has asked to be relieved. Every
General in command has been grossly refec-
ted upon by the President through Mr.. Stan
berry. They are held up as usurpers, as hav-
ing trampled on Constitutions and laws, and
as to one of the Generals it is charged that
he has set himself up as "The State" It is
true, the poor concession is made that they
are honest in their intentions, hut they are
lectured in this Cabinet pronunciamento as
blunderers and usurpers. The effect must
he, in the absence of further action by Con-
gress, the defeat of the reconstruction meas
ures, and the continuance and increase of
distress among our people, with the prospect
of anarchy and convulsion in the future.
The latest news is that in Cabinet meetings
held on the 18th and Goth, the opinion Of
the Attorney General was approved, and
instructions will accordingly be issued to the
Generals commanding the Districts. The
President submitted the matter to the Cabi-
net, and after their decision sustaining the
opinion unanimously with the exception ot
Mr.. Stanton, he announced his purpose to
act accordingly.
Here, then, is work for the Congress. Lei
it meet, and let it act promptly and firmly
The destiny Of the country is in its hands,
If it should hesitate, or do halfway work
! the perils that environ us will increase, and
the end may be disastrous in the extreme
The President has pluck. Let Congress be
firm in the right, and the country will bt
saved.
Another Letter from Mr.. Stephens.
| Hon. Thadeus Stevens has addressed th,
following letter to the Editor of the Wash
ington Chronicle: at2 c
LANCASTER, Pa, June IS, 1857.
think it proper to suggest the prophet!
of having a quorum in Congress on the is
proximo. The opinions of the Attorney
General seem to require some explanatory
or supplemental acts. I need not point ou
the errors in favor of the rebels, as there ar
many of them easily seen.i For instance, j
is provided that to entitle to be registered
requires one years residence in the State
Every man can see that this means continu
Gus residence Immediately before the elec
ton. The Attorney General holds that tn
party may take nine months when he was
boy and three months now. Andrew John
son, by going month before the election t
North Carolina, where he lived thirty year
ago. could vote So with regard to clerks
4 military and civil officers, and the holdin
of Confederate officers while in rebellion
But will not take time to criticise now.
mistake more Objectionable than, either
the fact of usurpation by the Attorney Ger
eral in acting at all in the question, an
treating his directions as binding officially
The Attorney General has no more right t
interfere than the President had to recor
struct, which pretension Congress has gel
tied. since it has been adjudged that tn
conquered States are to be treated as sui
dued territory, and rebuilt without referene
4 to their former condition by the legislativ
power alone. It is to be supposed tbs
Congress alone is to be appealed to in case {
difficulty. It is true that the Attorney Gel
eral is too good q lawyer to pretend, to q
under the constitution, as it is well dec
ded that, admitting new. States, and,
course, rebuilding conquered territory, do'
not come within the provision of that instr
ment. His opinion is just as good as On
good lawyers, and no better. Il is the .
tempt to treat it as official that is objection
able. When he rules what shall be evidenc
if obeyed, he does great wrong sHe;has
fair excuse, however, under the iinvitation
the commanding generals / have said th
much with great reluctance; but, fndin
my colleagues indifferent to the question,
have not been able to refrain. II feel paint
fear least it should be thought that Iobtrut
my opinions too often in public matters b'
my anxiety. possibly, my oyer; excited anx
ETY., relative to reconstruction, must be q
excuse. With great respect, your obediel
servant, - THADDEUS STEVENS.
We publish on urfourthpageto-d day an !
teresting ard instructive dialogue between
white Republican and . 'coiored1 citize
showing the position Of the Republican y
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