The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-29
The Meeting OF Congress.

From Ie Tribune
There are two broadly Disseminated classes
of ex- Rebels in the South:-1. Those who are
not to-day fighting against the Union only
because their weapons have been stricken
from their hands; and 2. Those who are this
moment good and hearty Unionists, sincerely
devoted to the integrity, greatness and pros
perity of our whole country. These last re-
gard slavery and secession as utterly vanished
as thoroughly, irrevocably dead as the
Crusades or the Inquisition. They include
some of the ablest statesmen and bravest SOL
diers of the defunot Confederacy-men incapa-
BILE of duplicity or hypocrisy, and whose pre-
sent loyalty is as fervent and profound as that
of some, at least, of those who would seem to
question it.
Congress is about to reassemble for the des-
patch of business: but we understand it to be
generally conceded that nothing will be done
that is not expected to cOnduce to the restOra-
tiOn of the Union. The first work in hand is
such definition of the Military Reconstruction
act that the wayfaring man, though a Johnson
or a Stanbery, cannot msconstrue or pervert
it. The good work of practical reconstruction,
so suddenly and balefully arrested, must be
reinvigorated and placed beyond the possi-
bility of further obstruction.
But we trust Congress will not adjourn till
it shall have fully and finally deprived those
who are still at heart Rebels of the advantage
they now derive from the frequent fulmina-
tions of Messrs. Thaddeus Stevens and Wen
dell Phillips. If majority really favor a
sweeping confiscation of Southern property,
or mean to keep the ten States now under
military rule in that condition indefinitely, let
the truth be made clearly manifest. But if,
as we firmly believe, two-thirds of each
House are opposed to confiscation and are
anxious that each State shall be promptly
qualified, through the actions of its people
under the Reconstruction act, for
self-government and representation in Con-
gress, so that it may participate in the choice
I of our next President, then let this likewise
be made clear and indisputable. Let the
States now under military rule be plainly told
what is required of them, and let everything
be done that need be to insure the supremacy
|, of loyalty and order, but let there be no am
biguity, no evasion, no uncertainty or vacilla-
ton; deceit is the weapon of slaves; craft is
for towards and tricksters; let the republic
write its demands and purposes on the sky,
and let none have right to complain of ag-
gravations of the former or fluctuations of the
latter.
We do not complain that Messrs Stevens
and Phillips say Just what they mean; we only
deplore that the reticence of others gives undue
emphasis to their maledictions. The Rebel
interest at the South recites and reterates
every utterance in favor of confscation and
indefinite military rule; the voices that should
! be heard above these raven croakings are
strangely silent The South knows exactly
| how Mr.. Stevens would deal with her if he
could; it does not know, and is not enabled tC
ascertain, what Messrs. Wilson, Fessenden
Sherman, Morgan, Frelinghuysen, Bingham,
Kelley, etc. ETC., purpose to do, especially
with regard to the prompt and thorough re-
storation of such Southern States as shall
fully and cheerfully comply with the require
ments of the Military Reconstruction acts
We submit that the cause of national rehabi
| htation is suffering by this reserve-that the
national industry and prosperity also languisf
because of it. Let the session now imminen
be signalized by beneficent trankness on the
part of those members of either House whC
mean that restoration shall be as speedy as il
consistent with liberty, justice, and nationa
integrity, and the country will have goot
reason to rejoice that. summer meeting
| Congress was rendered necessary.