Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-08
Reconstruction Permanent.

The rebel papers Of Tennessee are con-
tinually asserting that the State Govern
ments established in The rebellious States
by authority Of Congress are illegal, null
and void, and viii be overthrown as soon as
a Democratic President is elected which
they claim viii be in November; but which
we think viii occur in the year 1900.
That this question Of reconstruction be-
longs wholly to Congress and that, there
fore, the action Of Congress is legal aud
Constitutional, VIC have the authority
Of that eminent Democrat, Chief Justice
fancy fancy delivered the opinion Of
the Supreme Court IN what is known as
the Dorr Case" wherein q conflict arose
as TO which Of two claimants for the Gov
crnmcnt Of Rhode Island was the legitimate
authority Of the State
Referring to-thc provision Of the Con-
sliluuon that "the United States shall
guarantee 10 each State a Republican form
Of Government" the Chief Justice said
Under this article Of the Constitution j.
rests with Congress TO decide what govern
ment is the established one in q State For
as the united States guarantee TO each
State a republican government, Congress
must necessarily decide what government
is established in the State before it can de-
termine whether it is republican or not !
Ind ChcH ttc Senators and Representatives |
81 State are admitted 10 tie councils Of the |
UHlon. nc authority of the government under |
lChtch they are appointed as yell as us Re- 1
publican character, rs RECOGNIZED BY THE
PROPER CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. AND |
ITS DECISION rs BINDING UPON EVERY OTHER /
OF THE GOVERNMENT, and |
could not BE- questioned IN a judicial tribunal" |
Upon this decision the NeU York World,
the leading Democratic organ Of the coun-
try, makes the following important admis-
sion
III this exposition be good constitutional
aw, we tread with sure steps on firm
ground in inierring that no relief can come
70 the Africanized States through the Su-
oreme Court That tribunal will not sit
again until December and before That time
congress viii have recognized the new
State governments rs valid. And its de-
,ision, to repeat the language Of Chief
Justice fancy, " is binding upon every
,thcr department of the Government. and /
'ould not be questioned in judicial tribu-
lal If binding upon every other depart
nent Of the Government, tits binding upon
he Executive, and precludes the hope
i relief by the election of a new President.
$ well rs by any subsequent judicial ac- |
ion
Reading the World as good exponent ]
copperhcad Democracy throughout the [
Jnion, in fact the only Democratic news G
aper which has a great influence out of its |
lace Of publication, we may accept this S
atement as an Abandonment Of tho theory c
nat the President has a right to organize s
ovcrnmcnts in the South by proclama. J
on. II IS recognition, upon the high v
lthority Of the Supreme Court, Of the t
usticc and Constitutionality Of Congress v
onal Reconstruction, and also an admis. O
on that Ihe governments so made are per- L
lament, except as aftorward stated by al
ration through the votes Of their own
eople
This looks somewhat like peace. The y
Forld article closes as follows
There is no Inconsistency in yielding to ii
rents and abandoning hopeless oppos. h
on. When somebody shall have succeed
in pointing out practicable method of
prooting negro suffrage within the next
residential term, we promise our cooper
ion. But il cannot be done, even if we d
ect the President; and as to proclaiming q
vain purpose to do it, we do not see how q
at is to help US gain, either in the North
: South, the votes needed TO make the o..
emocratic party q majority. II