The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-08-13
The FOrtieth COngress-Its Re-
construction Record.

The record of the Fortieth Congress
is now before the people. just as that
of the Thirty-ninth was, two years ago !;
that is, before the people as fully as it
can be previous TO the November cleo
tions. No two Congresses were ever
in more thorough accord than these
two. The Thirty y-ninth was not elect
ed upon the special issues of reconstruc-
ton. But it proceeded to the work
with vigor; and, if in its manner it was
to slow and perhaps to Indirect, still
the material result was satisfactory
The Fourteenth Amendment, the Civil
Rights bill. and>th bill continuing the
Freedmen's Bureau met the popular
sense as to what was needed for the Sc
curity of the nation, for the benefit of
the emancipated slave, and for the per-
manent welfare of the south.
This record was ratified by an over
.whelming popular majority in the
elections of 1866. and Congress was
returned in which the Republican pre-
dominance in both Houses was fully
maintained. Sustained by this result,
the Thirty-ninth Congress, before its
final adjournment. enacted the Military
Reconstruction bill. remanded the pow
ers of the Southern States whcih had
rejected the Fourteenth Amendment to
the whole people OF those States with
out distinction of color, excepting only
those who had been prominent in the
rebellion; provided tor the making of
new Constitutions, and established mill
itary Governments to secure the per-
feet operation both Of this and former
enactments.
Scarcely had the Thirty-nintfi Con-
gress adjourned. March 4, 1867. when
its successor receiving its mantle, pro-
Ind fA nr.fra
the new Congress, so far as reconstruc-
tion was concerned, had been already
laid out for it. To retreat was fatal;
to vacilate was both weak and ruinous
but to carry out the programme de-
manded at once unusual tirmness and
moderation. At every step it must
meet the great Obstacle of the previous
Congress- refractory President
Fortunately two-thirds majority
could always be counted upon for any
unnecessary measure-but the necessi-
ty Of this large majority in one respect
opearated favorably, since only such
enactments could be passed as com
manded the full strength of the Repub
Iican vote in both Houses. The Prcsi-
dents power to obstruct or oppose re-
construction within the limits of the
Southern States had been removed by
the Tenure-of-Ctfice act, passed by the
Thirty-ninth Congress. Mr.. johnson
attempted to break these fetters
through the legal pronounciamentoes
of his Acknowledgement; but this only
called forth an explanatory supplement
to the Reconstruction acts which even
the acute Stanberry could not evade by
legal subtleties. Gen. Grant was in
sion. removal and appointment of mil
itary or civil officers in the Southern
States; and the supplementary act to
the Military bill. passed earlier in the
session, and imposing conditions to
control the registration of voters,
times of elections, &C., was explicitly
defined. This explanatory bill was
passed over the Presidents veto by 100
to % in the House, and by 80 to q in
the Senate. This overwhelming ma
jority indicated the steady purpose OF
Congress to complete the great work
committed to it by the people.
1t has been charged that this purpose
was partisan one. Well in the same
sense, the war was partisan. There
was party which opposed the war;
of course, the same party opposed all
conditions for securing the, results of
the victory. AS between the parties,
the simple question is. which was ma
tional? Which represented the popu-
lar will? And about that there can
be no dispute.
The preliminary work of reconstruc-
tion, so far Congress was concerned, as
was thus concluded before the close of
July, 1867. The subsequent steps must
be taken by the Southern States. Reg
istration was then completed; COnven-
tions were elected at various times. and
new Constitutions were framed. All of
these Constitutions provided for uni
versal suffrage, from which only prom
inent rebels were accepted. In con-
nection with the ratification of these
Constitutions. the Fourteenth Amend
ment was also ratified. Three States only
are left in the lurch-eMississipp Tex
as and Virginia. All the others have
been admitted to the representation in
both houses of Congress. By special
enactment the ELECTORAL vote of those
States not admitted to representation
and it is not possible that any more
will be admitted before November
will not be counted. And there, for
the present, Reconstruction rest. This
matter has been the principal business
of the present Congress, and the record
is before the people for ratification or
rejection. Those who support its ac
tion are its true Conservatives. For the
notification of its Reconstruction mea-
sures would result in a commOtiOn, an
upheayel and general disturbance of
our national affairs, from which the
country could not recover for years.
N. Y. Times.
The Wilmington (Delaware) Com
mercial saws: "a gentleman of this citV