The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-19

ports upon fair and equitable terms
to the manufacturers of foreign countries,
which 1t were folly to suppose will not be
eagerly availed of; while the stupid and sui
cidal tariff just adopted by the Northern Con
gress imposes excessive and almost prohibitory
duties upon the same articles. Thus the com
bination of abolition fanatics aud stockjob-
beers in Washington has reduced the whole
North to the verge of ruin, which nothing can
avert unless the administration recognizes the
necessity of at once calling an extra session Of
Congress TO repeal the Morrill, tariff, and enact
such measures as may bring back the seeded
States, and reconstruct the Union upon terms
of Cancellation, justice and right.
The New Southern Constftution-The VI
timatum OF the seeded states.
According to the late speech of Vice Presi
dent Stephens, and an elaborate commentary of
the Charleston Mercury, which We publish to
day on the permanent federal constitution
adopted for the seeded States, there can be
no doubt Of its cordial ratification by all the
States concerned. 1t must be apparent, also
to every dispassionate reader, that the consti-
tuition and law makers of the Confederate
States, and The people thereof, are really in
earnest 10 this business, and have not the re-
hottest idea Of coming back again under the
existing constitution and government of the
United States, upon any terms or any tinker
ing compromises whatsoever
The ultmatum of the seeded States is now
before the government at Washington in this
rev constitution adopted by the Congress at
Montgomery, Alabama Heretofore even our
best disposed Northern conservatives have been
perplexcd how to move, and what to propose to
reconcile "the cotton States" to the Union.
Now, however, with their ultmatum before us,
there can be no longer any doubt upon the
subject. In their unrestricted discretion to
shape federal constitution for themselves, the
seeded States have unquestionabiy provided
all those securities, checks and balances
which they regard essential for the mainte
nance of their peculiar Institutions. Thus our
Northern politicians and the administration at
Washington are furnished the conditions upon
which the Union may be re- established or de-
fnitively divided, without war and without
trouble.
This new Southern constitution is the con-
stitution Of the United States, with various
notifications. and some very important and
most desirable improvements. Upon the main
question of slavery it provides-and we put
these provisions in the order of their import
ance--a as follows
l. That African slavery in the Territories
shall be recognized and protected by Congress
and the Territorial Legislatures.
2. That the right to Shareholders Of transit
and sojourn in any State of the confederacy,
with their slaves and other property, shall be
recognized and respected.
3. That the provision in regard to fugitive
slaves shall extend to any slave lawfully car
ried from one State into another, and there es-
Gaping or taken away from his master.
A. That no bill or er post fdcto law (by Con-
gress or any State), and no law impairipg or
denying the right Of property in negro slaves,
shall he passed.
S. That the African slave trade shall be pro-
hibited by such laws of Congress as shall Of
fectually prevent the same.
Such are the provisions of this Southern
constitution which we may accept as the ulti-
matUm Of the seeded States on the subject of
slavery. Upon some other questions however,
here are certain stringent provisions in said
constitution which it would be extremely diff
fcult to persuade our Northern fishermen,
manufacturers and lobby corruptionists to
swallow, even to re stablish the Union These
provisions include:--
L. The absolute prohibition of all bounties|
from the federal treasury, and all duties or
taxes on imported goods intended to promoter
or foster any branch of home industry.
q A positive prohibition of federal approx
priations for internal improvements, and the
substitution of local tonnage duties for such
improvements.
B. The restriction of Congress by majority
vote 10 such appropriations as may be re-
commended by the President or some ex-
ecutive department, all other appropriations
requipipg two thirds vote.
4. The holding of contractors to the strict
letter of their contracts.
s. That the Post Office Department shall pay
its own expenses.
These are excellent constitutional amend
ments. IL they had been In force in Washing
ton during the last ten years they would
have prevented the wasteful squandcring
in swinclng lobby jobs, contracts, &c,
Of three, four or five hundred millions
Of public money and public property that have
boon squandered to the enrichng of the lobby
jobbers, aud the general decentralization of our
Northern political parties and politicians to
the lowest level of moral debasement and cor
ruption
The two classes Of amendments indicated
upon slavery and upon these other important
subjects comprehend the peace Offering of the
seeded States 20 the border slave States, to the
government at Washington and TO the Northern
States. They are radical propositions Of change