Year: 1866

the Union is assailed by selfish political fac
ton, and the President relies upon the people
fonassistance. Let us forget partisanship, as
before, and unite in one magnificent Union
party at this meeting to declare that New Eng.
land fanatics shall not destroy the nation which
30 many gallant lives have been sacrificed to
has resulted in victory for the President
whose veto has been sustained by the Senate.
Now let us have great meeting tonight to
strengthen his heart for the conflicts that are to
come.


The Reconstruction Committee ana the
,- Administration.


The veto of the Freedmen's Bureau bin was
too much for Thaddeus Stevens and his recon
struction committee. They and their radical
majority of the House, instead of treating it as
an overture for treaty Of peace from the adj
declaration OF war. In hot haste they have
pushed through concurrent resolution that
in order to close agitation upon question
which seems likely to disturb the action of the
government, as well as to quiet the uncertainty
which is agitating the minds Of the people of
the eleven States which have been declared in
insurrcction. no senator or representative shall
be admitted into either branch OF Congress
from any Of the said States until Congress shall
have declared such States entitled to such re.
presentation"


In explanation Of this resolution Mr.. Stevens
said, IL confess, may say that until yes.er-
day (the veto) there was an earnest considers
whether, by act of Congress, we Fould admit
that State to representation. But since ycstcrl
day the veto) there has been stAts of thirGs.
which, the committee deem, put 1t wholly out
Of their power to proceed further in the inves-
tigation without the surrender of a great prin-
ciple, and the surrender of the rights az this
body to the usurpation Of another power"
What principle? What rights! What usurps-
TONI We cannot discover that the veto ia
vadcs any principle or any rights of Congress.
resting upon the constitution. There is no
usurpation in it. The President returned the
Freedmcn's Bureau bill to the body in which it
originated with his objections, and with his opin-
ions in regard to the readmission of the exclut,-
ed Southern States into Congress all of which he
had full authority to do, IS a cooperative
branch of the government, aud as the constitu-
tional adviser Of Congress. Ii was not only his
right, but his duty, to say what he said in
his veto message; for the constitution de-
clares not that he may, but that "he shall
from time to time, give to the Congress infor-
nation Of the state of the Union, and recon-
mend to their consideration such measures as
he shall judge necessary and expedient."
This charge of usurpation, therefore, is utter
ly groundless; and the course pursued by Mr.
Stevens, his committee and his radical MAORI
ty, Is reduced to resolution of mere revenge.
II is aimed at the President and his State of
Tennessee, a State which, If it had no other
claim than its admission into the last Congress,
may justly ask admission into this, 80 far as
her unquestionably loyal members are con-
cerned. The question rccurs-what il to be
gained by her continued exclusion rs o rebuke
against the Executive. The action Of the SEN
ate upon the late veto shows that no recon-


struction bill is likely to pass that body by a


two-thirds vote against the Presidents objec-
tions; and his late veto message covers the


whole ground. Is the work of Southern resto-


ration, therefore, to be indefinitely postponed


because Of this conflict between the President


and Congress' Is II an "irrepressble con-


Aictw This is momentous question, affecting


not only the integrity of the republican party,


but the integrity of the Treasury and oil the


financial and business interests of tho country


because they all greatly depend upon the early


restoration Of the Southern States TO estab-


lished law and order, industry, and heavy


development Of their great commercial


staples.


We would again, therefore, urge upon the


republicans Of Congress q general caucus on


the political situation and consultation with


the President on the ways and means best


adapted 70 secure the hull and speedy restora-


ton Of the excluded Southern States. A course


Of settled hostility TO The Executive will result


In nothing but confusion and disaster to oil


concerned.


Il IHp RFy Hrxruv