New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-28
THE MEETING or CONGRESS.

There are two broadly Disseminated classes
of ex- Rebels in the South; /. Those VINO 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 prosperity OF
our whole country. These last regard Slavery
and Secession as utterly vanished-as
thoroughly, irrevOcably dead as the Crusadcs
or the InquisitiOn. They include some OF the
ablest statesmen and bravest soldiers OF the
defunct COnfederacy-mcn incapable OF dupll-
city or hypocrisy, and whose present 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 dis
match of business; but we understand II 10
be generally conceded that nothing VIII he
done that is not expected to conduce to the
restoration of the Union The first work III
hand is such definition of the Military Ike
construction act that the wayiaring man,
though a johnson or a StanbeTy, cannot mis-
constIue or pervert it. The good work OF
nractical Reconstruction, so suddenly and bale
fully arrested, must be Refrigerated, and
placed beyond the possibility of further OBJ
structOn.
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 fuminauons oil
Messrs. Thaddeus Stevens and Wendell Phil
lips 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 Confscation and are anxious that each State
shall be promptly qualified through the actions
of its people under the Reconstruction act, for
self government aud representation IN Con-
gress, so that it may participate III the choice
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 he to insure the supremacy OF
Loyalty aud Order, but let there be no ambigui-
ty, no evasion, no uncertainty or vaclationl
deceit is the weapon of slaves; craft is for
towards and tricksters; let the Republic write
its demands and purposes OH the sky, and let
none have a right to complain OF aggraYatIons
of the former or fluctuations in the latter.
we DO not complain tllaJ heSsl5' oJcNcnS anu
Phillips say just what they mean; we only de-
plore that the reticcnce of others gives undue
emphasis to their maledictions. The Rebel in
terest at the South rccites and reiterates every
utterance in favor of COnfiscation and indefi-
mite Military rule; the voices that should be
heard above these raven croakings are strangely
silent. The South knows exactly how Mr. Ste
vens would deal with her if he could it does
not know, and is not enabled to ascertain, what
Messrs. Wilson, Fessenden, Sherman, Morgan,
Frelinghuysen, Bingham, Kelley, &C., &c, pur-
pose to do, especially with regard TO the
prompt and thorough restoration Of such South
ern States as shall fully and cheerfully comply
with the requirements of the Military Recon
struction acts. We submit that the cause OF
National rehabilitation is suffering by this re-
serve-that the National industry and prosper
ity also languish because of it, Let the session
now imminent be signalized by bene6cent
franlness on the part of those Members OF
either House who mean that restoration shall
be as speedy as is consistent with Liberty,
Justice, and National Integrity, and the cOun-
try will have good reason to rejoice that a
Summer meeting Of Congress was rendered
necessary.
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