Year: 1866

Inc IullOF comes lIOLu 50 ludIy
sources that we can scarcely doubt the
intention of the Reconstruction Com
mittee speedily TO report a bill for the
admission into Congress of the loyal
representatives of Tennessee. If news
paper reports are of any value, the
committee have finally decided, by a
majority, that the State which has sup
piled President for the Union IS en-
titled TO recognition on the floor of the
Senate and the House; and legislation
is anticipated with the view of accord
ing to loyal representatives the priVl-
leges which, from the commencement
of the present session, should never
have been denied them.


In one aspect, perhaps, this decision
of the Committee of fifteen ought to be
accepted without too close scrutiny
into the motives which prompt ii, or
the reasons upon which it rests. 1t
should be enough, mayhap, that the
rights of Tennessee to representation
in the National Legislature are finally
conceded, irrespective of the policy
which has until now denied their force,
or the precise mode in which tardy JUS
tice is eventually to be administered
In the judgment of many, 1t may be
enough that Tennessee shall no longer
excluded from its proper sphere OF in
huence. And certainly, estimating
things by comparison, and measures
by their immediate effects, the purpose
of the Reconstruction Committee, So
called, may merit approval. Anxious
~. l. . - - L., r,A,1a
which contributed Jackson to crap
pie with one crisis, and Johnson to
overcome the perils of another, fairly
and fully occupying once more its con-
stitutional position st Washington,
there will probably be general incli-
nation TO seize such a proposition as
that which is imputed to the Commit
tee, irrespective Of the objections that
may be raised to the shape in which
the Committees action shall finally APP
pear.


There are one or two considerations,
however, which require US to ask that
a good deed shall be gracefully per-
formed-that decision in itself Just
and expedient shall be so rendered
that it loses nothing of its justice or
expediency when viewed as part of
the well-weighed policy Of the nation.
Tennessee has right TO be represen-
ted in Congress, or it has not If right
be on It's side, its Senators and Repre-
sentatiYes should be admitted, subject
only to the decision of the House as to
the qualifications of the persons pre-
senEing their credentials If right be
not on its side, legislation in its favor
admits of no defence; its Senators and
Representatives have no claim what
ever TO recognition in either House
From these alternatives we see no logic
cal escape


If, then, Tennessee is not entitled to
q place in Congress, why are we to have
q bill introduced in its faVor2 The
question is one of constitutional right,
not af the will of a committee, howsoever
illustrious be the fifteen gentlemen of
whom it is composed. To concede that
| legislation is necessary to the admis
sion of the representatives of Tennes-
| see. is to concede the whole question
at issue between those who hold that
! the South is made up of conquered
territories and those who maintain that
| the States lately in rebellion are still
within the Union. A necessity for leg
islstion in behalf of Tennessee can on
ly proceed on the hypothesis that that
State, in common with other portions
of the South, is at present out OF the
/ Union. The just consistent course,
therefore, would seem to be, TO affirm
by resolution that all the Southern
| States have forfeited their existence as
| States-that the whole South, Tenness
see included, has no constitutional title
| to a seat in COngress-and that q bill
providing for the admission of Tennes-
see is but the beginning iof a series Of
measures providing respectively for the


admission of the remaining Southern


States. Is the Reconstruction Commit


tee prepared boldly to assume this


ground Is Congress prepared by its


action to sustain this position, whether


the Committee declare it or nOt2


For on the other hand, it is mani


fest that if Tennessee is within the


Union, the measure talked of will be a


work of supererogadOn. The Recon


structiou Committee has, properly,


nothing to say or do in the premises,


except so far as it may be able to throw


light upon tue formalities observed by


the State in respect Of the election, and


the qualifications of the individuals


claiming to be elected. And if Tennes-


see, being within the Union, has right


to be represented in Congress, why have


not the other Southern States the same


right2 From this point of view the
question to be decided is one of princi-


pie, by which the whole South is affect
ed-not one of fsvor-which Congress


or any of its committees is at liberty to


determine according TO lis pleasure


Nothing that we know of is to be


gained by an attempt TO eyade the
points really in controversy. The issue


Is not one of sympathy, but of right !


and whatever the Reconstruction Com
mittee may report, We apprehend that
the action of Congress viii ultimately
rest upon some ineligible and we'll de
fined general principle, rather than
, upon an exceptionable preference for
Tennessee or any other State. Why is


not the question so dealt with by the
, Committee, If its object now be to pro
mote the restoration Of harmony within


the TTnion2 The times call for frank


ness and promptitude. And If partisan
strife is at last 10 give place TO patriotic
effort, it would be difficult TO find q


better basis for conciliation than is pre-
, sented by the question Of the right o.
, the South to representation in Congress
! N J. TImCs.


D A man of singularly minute obserTa
{ ton once said 70 me u have noticed
; | that young ladies seem to 80 through
/ three stages Of feeling with regard u
+ matrimony. When they first grow NJ
| - = .--....,a-- Ah..u - ....-.--.