The New York herald., 1867-02-18

Congress is at last bringing the question of
Southern reconstruction and restoration into a
definite, positive and decided shape. After
sitting all day Saturday from the regular hour
OF meeting, and through the whole Of Saturday
night the Senate yesterday Sunday morning,
at a quarter past six o'clock, adopted-yeas
20, nays l0-Senator ShermaA's substitute for
the Stevens military bill of the House, for
the more efficient government of the rebel
States !" and having thus accomplished the
great object in view, the majority at half
past six o'clock yielded to motion of ad-
journment, and the Senate adjourned.
The first question suggested to the uninitiated
reader, from these facts, will probably be why
this all-night session, running into the broad
daylight of Sunday mornings The answer is
ut hand. If this bill does not get to the Presi-
dent within day or two the constitutional
ten days allowed him for its consideration
will enable him to kill the bill by
simply putting it in his pocket. The
object, therefore, of the Senate majority on
Saturday was to get this bill through in season
to return it for the action Of the House this
(Monday) morning. The object of the minority
was simply to delay action, 30 "a to gain time
for the President and, if possible, pocket
veto. As they have no previous question in
the Senate, the contest, as usual in that body
in such cases, was reduced to one OF endurance,
Our old political readers will remember that
under the ancient regime there was an all
night session or two in the Senate on the
Oregon bill Excluding slavery, on the Texas
annexation bill, and on the great compromise
measures (ls50) Of Henry Clay.
The Sherman bill will doubtless be taken up
as soon as possible in the House to-day, and as
in this body they have previous question, its
application will cut OF all amendments and
bring the minority at once to the main issue of
the passage of the bill. But as motions to ad-
journ, TO lay on the table, to have call of
the House, &c., will still be in order, and as
one-ffth of the members can demand the yeas
and nays, the minority, with this sort OF
filibusterlng, often reduce the majority to
fight Of endurance. Thus it is pos
sible that this days sitting of the House may
be prolonged till tomorrow morning. We
dare say, however, that the bill is an under
stood thing among the republicans, and will
be pushed through in season to leave the Pre-
sident no other alternative for its defeat than
veto, upon which test the impeachment ques-
ton will depend. A veto will be regarded as
a defiance of Congress and as a challenge for
impeachment, and Nr. johnson will be i'm
peached but by signing the bill, or, if he gets
it in time, by permitting it to pass into law
by simply pocketing it, as in the case of the
Territorial Negro Suffrage bill, he may escape.
Otherwise he is gone.
What, then, is this bill TO which we attach 30
much Importance? 1t comprehends, first, sub
stantially, though softened down, the bill Of
Mr. Stevens for the division of the ten rebel
States, temporarily, into Eve military districts,
each to be placed under the control Of gen.
eral of the army, to be appointed by the Presi
dent, for the maintenance of order under
martial law. Military tribunals are to take
charge of disturbers of the public peace, and
all interference, under color of State
authority, with the exercise OF military
authority under this act shall be null and
void" Sentences of death by these military
commissions shall be subject to the Presidents |
approval This pretty thoroughly sweeps |
away Mr.. Johnson's State establishments and |
all his legislative acts concerning them. To |
this complexion the conflict between him and |
Congress comes at last.
In the next place. section five, the bill pro-
vides "that when the people of any one Of said
rebel States shall have formed q constitution
and government in conformity with the consti-
tuition of the United States in all respects,
framed by convention Of delegates elected by
the male citizens Of said State twenty-one years
old and upward, Of whatever race, color or
previous condition, who have been resi-
dent in said State for one year previous
to the day of such election, except such
as may be disfranchised for participation
in the rebellion, or for felony at COM
mon law; and when such constitution shall
provide that the elective franchise shall be en-
joyed by all such persons as have the qualifica-
tons herein stated for electors of delegates;
and when such constitution snall be ratified by
a majority of the persons voting on the ques-
ton Of ratification who are qualified az electors
for delegates; and when such constitution shall
have been submitted to Congress for examina-
ton and approval, and Congress shall have
approved the same; and when said State, by
vote of its Legislature, elected under said
constitution, shall have adopted the amend
ment to the constitution of the United States
proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress, and
known as article IA and when said article shall
have become part of the constitution Of the
United States, said State shall be declared en-
titled to representation in Congress, and Sem
ators and Representatives shall be admitted
therefrom on their taking the oath prescribed
by law; end then and thereafter the preceding
sections Of this act shall be imperative in said
State"
Briefly, the bill provides, first, for the abso-
lutte reputation Of the reconstruction labors