The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-12
CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT.

CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT.
If the President means by his proc
Iamation only TO place beyond the fear
OF trial and punishment for their
crimes, certain persons in the Southern
States formerly excepted from amnes-
ly, his proclamation will be thought of
little consequence, even by the persons
in whose favorit is drawn.
IT. however, he means by it to restore
to these persons political privileges
which, by their crimes they had forfeit
ed, as his organ, the National Intetti-
Oencer, prelends, then 1t should be re-
Xarded by persons whom it pretends to
favor, as dangerous trap; and it Will
strike the general public as deliber-
ale attempt by the President to delay
and interrupt the work of reconstruc-
ton of the laws of Congress.
Even Mr.. Johson admits that Con-
gress can admit or reject members rs il
chooses. Now, Congress has made GER
tain rules 10 govern the preliminary
elections in the Estates lately in re-
bellion." Ifthese regulations are OBJ
served, 1t promises to admit members
of Congress- from those States. But
here comes the President, and-if the
I1teiLigenceT' correctly represents him
tells the people they need not mind the
regulations OF Congress. What follows?
If they suffer themselves to be misled
by the President, is it not plain that
they will be rejected by Congress2 I
Congress has in its Reconstruction
Act clearly laid down the conditions,
upon the ful6lment of which i'll the
Southern States, il will receive Sena-
tors and Representatives from those
States. Is 1t not plain that Congress
will reject persons sent to it under
other conditions? ..r..
Congress-, newly elected by the peo-
pie, expressing therefore their will, has
prescribed measure of reconstruction.
In this reconstruction act nothing un-
lust is demanded; no cruel or unusual
pnnishmentS are deCreed against those
who tried to destroy the government;
the great mass of the persons who had
engaged In rebellion are restored at
once and without condition to all the
rights of citizenship; and even the po-
litical leaders, without whose active aid
and sympathy the rebellion could not
have occurred, even these are punished
| in no other way than by temporary ex-
clusiOn from the privilege of holding
office and the kindred privilege of vO-
ting. These leaders are not menaced
by Congress in life or limb, or prop
erty, or their personal liberty; the ma
tional legislature says only, in Its re-
construction acts: nYou who were the
political leaders of those States, and by
whose crime the people were led into
rebellion, shall have no share in the
work of recognizing them, shall have
no political power until at least the
State governments you overthrow are
re.established. We will not kill you;
we will not drive you out of the coun-
try; we will notimprison you; we will
not take away your property; but, for
the security OF The whole nation, We
will not let you have any part, either as
voters or officers, in the work of reor-
ganizing the State governments which
once. when you had the power, you
overIhrew."
Now, we repeat, about this there is
nothing cruel or tyrannical; and as il
is highly important for the Southern
States and for all the States, that the
work of reconstruction should be COM
pleted as soon as possible, we have ad-
vised the Southern men to accept at
once the conditions-precedent of Con-
gress.
Mr.. johnson, whose course hitherto,
in regard to the Reconstruction Act, has
been one rather of grumbling and un-
willing consent, in the proclamation
issued this morning puts himself, as We
have said, in direct opposition 20 it. He
has before this, with more or less skill,
left the laws to enforce themselves
without his aid; now he opposes him
self to their execution-unless his or
gan misrepresents him. The Iutelii-
genceT says: -
! "Dnring the deliberation of the Cal1i-
met yesterday, 1t is understood that 1t
became evident that, in the opinion OF
every member present, the legal effect
ofthe contemplated amnesty proclama-
ton would be TO relieve an persons in
cluded within Its terms from all quaIifi-
cations, as well as all penalties incurred
by their completely in the late rebel
lion, and OF eourse(so far as the action
OF the General Government is concern.
edl from disability as TO The ri1ht OF
| suffrage" - -, = =
That simply means that the Presi-
dent deliberately tries to put Of recon
struction, to defeat the efforts of Con-
gress to give peace and security to the
country; and that lie prefers Co have the
country remain In trouble, disorder
snd, danger for at least two years long
er, rather than give up his own defeat
| ed wishes. sos = - -..-,'. -5.5.I = ~ !
1rthat isthe true interpretation of his
proclamation, he has. in It, done that
Tor which Congress can impeach and
remove him; and he has done bis bjlsl
to convince the country that it is necas-