Year: 1866

Congress has passed the concurrent resolu-
ton. 1t does not require the sanction Of the
President, and becomes rule for Congress
sional action, allaying agitation and uncer,
tainty, both in aud out Of that body. 1t pro.
vides that.in order 10 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 insurrectiou, no Senator or
Representative shall be admitted into either
branch Of Congress from any of the said
States until Congress shall have declared said
States entitled TO such representation.


There is some popular misspprehension
concerning the attitude Of Congress concern
ing reconstruction. We commend to all our
readers the following remarks of Senator
Trumbull made upon the passage of the reso-
luton


at is said and made al objection to this
resolution, that there is somebody who is in
favor ofthe indefinite postponement OF the
recognition of eleven States. | have never
seen that individual. | have never met with
anv one who is not anxious to have these
States restored at the earliest moment prac-
ticable with the safety of the whole Cnion,
whenever they come as loyal State organiza-
tions, represented by loyal men. have never
met with a person in Congress or out of Con-
gress vino maintained any such position.


- suppose that the resolution IS intended
for no such purpose; but it is simply reso-
luton in favor of the admission of these
States No. do not mean to say the admis-
sion of the States. for do not hold that any
admission of the States is necessary, but TO
favor the recognition of the governments
which have been set up in these eleven States,
so soon as we can ascertain that they are loyal
and ft TO be represented here. 1t Is to carry
out what has always been the opinion OF
Congress. whenever that opinion has been
expressed, that the two houses ought to act
in concert in the recognition OF the new
State governments that have been inaugurated
to prevent the confusion and the evils which
would follow from having o State organiza-
ton recognized by one House of Congress
and not bv the other, by admitting members
into one house and not into the other. We
have all voted here, time and again, that IT was
improper to admit representation from these
rebel States into one House until we, by some
Joint action, had the cooperation OF both
Houses.


Here is a resolution declaring that prin-
cinle: and as soon as that is out of the way. l
understand that as speedily as possible TO
ascertain the facts. there will be presented
for our consideration the condition OF these
various States and we shall be able to pass
upon them, declaring, whenever we are JUST
fed in doing go, that the organizations are
loyal and entitled to representation, and then
as matter Of course. their members will be
admitted into both Houses Now, ifthere Is
any single member of Congress that ever en-
tertalned any different opinion | know not
VINO II -. When persons rise here and read
ietters or make speeches about the indefinite
rejection from Congress of members from
eleven States, do not know upon what au-
thority they base such statements. lam sure
Congress is making no such issue with anv
one. he desire Is common we all feel it. to
bring these States into harmonious relations
with the Government as soon as it can be
safely done''


This gives a clear conception Of the position
Of Congress- There has been q rebellion of
most formidable extent, In its result it has
wrought radical change in the social institu-
tions Of the South. Those lately our enemies
in arms, are get by no means friendly to the
government and the Union. The latter were
saved after a heroism in patriotic labors by
the loyal people of this country unparalleled
in history. Congress says these States are
still in the Union. But when we regard the
cost of suppressing the spirit of the rebels we
win be just to our patriots, living and dead,
just to Union and liberty, just TO the civiliza.