The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-22
CONFUSION IN CONGRESS.


CONFUSION IN CONGRESS-.
The architects who were engaged in
constructing that great tower OH the
plains of Shinar, found not among them
a greater confusion of tongues than that
which issues from the capital at Wash
ington; and, to carry the sinile farth-
er, if the former were not permitted to
accomplish their impious work, let US
hope that those who are endeavoring
to erect despotism upon the ruins of
the Constitution, will come to grief
from the same cause.
Without waiting for the adoption of
the Constitutional Amendment, which
was as perfdious piece of legislation
as was ever enacted, no sooner did Con
gress assemble, than schemes of recon-
struction were presented by Stevens,
Ashley and other radical members.
Every one of these propositions ignor-
ed, in greater or less degree, the Con-
stitutional Amendment, notwithstand-
ing the oft repeated pledges of the rad
icals that it would be their ultimatum
to the Southern people. But with this
we have nothing to do, now. The Con-
stitutional Amendment has gone to
the tomb of the Capulets, sent there
not by the Southern people, but by the
radicals themselves.
The plan of Stevens, which is per-
feet chaos of crudities, inconsistencies,
malice and perfdy, has gone to the
committee of the Judiciary, where it
will lie, let us hope, forever. Wicked
as Stevens scheme of reconstruction is,
it did not yet go far enough for some
of the hard-baked radicals, who de-
nounced its author because the second
section Of his bill, recognized all laws
and governments within the ten
States, except such as were expressly
modified by Congress.
Ashley, the insomnious impeacher,
next introduced a bill, more acceptable
to many of the radicals because more
atrocious than that of Stevens. He re-
constructs from the very beginning,
declaring all laws in the Southern
States null and void, before permitting
them to participate in his scheme of re-
construction. Stevens bill kicks the
rebel States into the Union without
ceremony, while that of Ashley, with
a refinement of meanness and malice,
tramples them under the hOof of the
radicals before dragging them in. Ash
ley's bill makes the Southern States
subject territory upon which he can try
at liberty any experiment in legisla-
ton. Stevens holds that the Southern
States are foreign to the Union, and
that all the people are alien; and his
bill makes provision for the naturaliza-
tion of all the inhabitants of the South
ern States.
We have neither time nor space to
dwell longer upon the monstrous prop
ositionS contained in both these bills.
Bingham, of Ohio, and other "moder-
ate' men in Congress, have not hesita-
ted to denounce these propositions as
bills for destroying the Union instead
of reconstructing it. They still adhere
to the Constitutional Amendment, and
insist that good faith to the people of
the North demands that they should
adhere to this plan of settlement. But
Bingham and his friends in emancipa-
ting themselves from the domination of
such crazy leaders as Stevens and Ash
ley, do nothing in the way of practical
craftsmanship. The Southern people
will not have the Amendment, and it
would be a dangerous movement to at
tempt to adopt it by the States which
are represented in Congress. There is
no way out Of this Congressional mud
die, but what the Constitution requires.
and what the Democratic party de-
mands, that the representatives from
these States shall be Immediately adj
mitted to seats in Congress, and shall
participate in all deliberations upon
amending the Constitution.
CONOVER.