The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-28
work for the July Session of Congress,


work for the July Session of Congress.
WE have no doubt that the work of Congress
at the July session will be confined entirely to
the subject of reconstruction. We have seen
no indications of any desire on the part Of
members to engage in general legislation. The
season of the year is unfavOrable to continued
residence in Washington, and the members
will be anxious to get away as soon as they
can consistently with the public interests.
There is, too, very general public sentiment
that il would be inadvisable, at the present
time, to enter upon the wide field of subjects
suitable for legislation at a regular session.
The annual session is but few months off,
and the business interests of the country will
session to action upon the special topic which
has rendered it necessary.
The people will endorse Congress in any
legislation that may be necessary to give full
effect to the national policy of reconstruction.
Kpossible, the provisions of the law should be
made so plain that even a pettifogger like
Stanbery cannot get around them. The
present law is ample. Under IL the work of
reconstruction was going forward admirably.
But the President has chosen to nullify it, at
the expense of placing himself in most in
consistent attitude before the country. Stan
bery's opinion was gotten up to order, and is
merely a dodge. The Presidents real opinion
of the law is doubtless what it was when he
sent in his veto messages; but from some
cause he seeks to reopen the controversy.
Hence Congress is forced to meet the issue. 1t
should now make thorough work. The illegal,
unconstitutional, and worthless organizations
called State Governments, gotten up by Mr..
Johnson in defiance of law and justice, should
be at once and summarily set aside. They are
nothing but so much rubbish in the way of
genuine reconstruction. The law, as 1t stands,
declares them illegal, and makes them subor-
dinate to the national authority, but it left
them provisional existence for temporary
purposes of convenience. They have become
positive distractions, and must be removed.
Those provisions of the law too, which
relate to the matter of registration and suf
frage, should be made plain and beyond cavil
The quibbles which the Attorney General has
manufactured may be useful in pointing out
what ought to be done. Congress never in
tended to put anything within the scope of an
oath that might be falsely taken. 1t intended
that certain classes who had taken part in the
Rebellion should be excluded from partci-
pating in the work of reconstruction. No
room should be left for getting round this
point. No mans mere oath should be suffi-
cient 1t is well known that the doctrine has
been publicly maintained at the South, that
such oaths as those required in the present
law could be falsely taken, without incurring
the moral guilt OF perjury. The determination
of the fact whether man belongs to these ex-
cluded classes or not, should be left to all the
evidence that may be brought to bear upon
that point. The method of evasion having
been disclosed, the proper safeguards should
now be adopted.
And in the proposed revision of the law, we
should be glad to see a provision inserted
which will secure universal education to the
people. Nothing could be more important to
the future well-being of the South herself. Her
masses stand in distressing need of the bless
ings of schools. Some general plan of popular
education should be required in the Constitu
tions to be prepared by the reconstructed
States. Of course, after the States shall have
been admitted to the Union, the subject will
necessarily be left to their own control; but
there is not much danger that educational
eEesissa anss once incorporated i-tv the organic
Law wiifssE oe thrown ,ut.
In q worA nee C,ngress is forced by the
action Of tha xecative to once more take this
subject in hand we hope thorough and com
plete work win be made of it, Members have
had a chance feel the pulse of their con.
stituents. The Tnow what the people want
and expect. jence has shown the weak
points In Ii ent law, the methods by
which it nd - eyaded, and the subterfuge.
that may be Fesorted to to nullify its provi
sions. Asl these points Congress will guart
with new vigilance. But aside from the Re
construction law, we trust that no Legislation
will be eraersd upon. Questions of currency
taxation. .venue, etc., should all be left 70
the regultr session. Reconstruction is tn
great busisess in hand; and when that ha
been dispossd Of, members should return
their hcnlesl