The New York herald., 1862-04-01

and the rebel State government Of Harris
out of Memphis, and among his retreating con-
federates in Arkansas or Mississippi, and doubt
less we shall have a speedy and universal
| acknowledgment by the people of Tennessee OF
the provisional Union government of Andrew
johnson. As Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-
souri, have been saved from secession without
disturbing their local institution of slavery, SO
President Lincoln believes the States which
have seeded may be reclaimed. Hence this
conservative Union policy which, under his
Provisional Governor johnson, has been inau-
gurated in Tennessee.
The same ground is covered by the concilia-
tory proclamation of General Sherman to the
people of the State of Florida, from which the
armed forces of the rebellion have been ex-
PEELED We congratulate the country, there
fore, concerning these things, because we be-
lieve that they settle the question, and remove
all grounds for doubt and despondency in re-
gard to the final restoration of our revolted
States to the supreme government of the Union.
With the suppression of the military power OF
the rebellion in those States, the people thereof
have only to fall into line, submit to the strong
arm of the government, and they will be re-
stored to its protection, full and complete,
without further trouble, and withoutany neces-
sity, in any quarter, for tinkering or tampering
with their paramount institution Of slavery.
This is the true policy for the restoration of
the Union. 1t has worked admirably in Mary
land, Kentucky and Missouri; it opens well
in Tennessee, and the people of Florida, in
accepting it, cannot restrain their rejoicings at
their deliverance from the insupportable des-
potism of jeff. Davis and his armed incendia-
ries. Another Union victory or two in Vir-
ginia and in the Mississippi Valley will at once
effect the deliverance of three or four more
dermined and unroofed fabric of Yanceys
Southern confederacy on military principles"
tumblng to the ground with glorious crash.
Very soon now we expect to report the glad
tidings Of the expulsion of the rebels and the
rebel government from Virginia and North
Carolina; and we have reason to believe that,
when this good work shall have been achieved,
the people Of the cotton States themselves will
speedily end the groans and pains of the
London Times under its silly conceit that this
war is to 60 on through half dozen genera
tions.
The overwhelming armies, navies and war
like means and facilities of all kinds placed at
the disposal of President Lincoln for the sup
preston of this Southern rebellion will
assuredly within few weeks reduce its means
of resistance to petty guerilla warfare in
distant holes and corners. How long, then,
will such miserable and useless resistance as
this be tolerated by the exhausted people of
the South? Not for month, we dare say,
after the fight of jeff. Davis across the Mis-
sissippi river. On the contrary, with all the
inducements of safety, protection and the
blessings and prosperity of the Union held out
to them. we believe that the people of the cot
ton States will begin to rebel against the rebel
lion with the expulsion of JEFF. Davis from Vir-
ginia We shall not have long to wait for the
settlement Of this opinion; and we have un-
bounded confidence in the best results, even in
South Carolina, from the wise and infallible
restorative policy inaugurated by authority of
President Lincoln in Florida and Tennessee
The Abolition OF Slavery in the District
OF Columbia.
The Senate has been engaged for several
days past in debating the bill for the abolition
Of slavery in the District of Columbia. There
seems to be no question Of the jurisdiction Of
Congress over tie District, and from present
indications it appears probable that the bill
will pass both the Senate and the House.
Then it will have to be signed by the Presi-
dent. in order to become a law; and what his
opinions are upon the subject is question
which does not seem to be considered or dis
cussed by the learned Senators. The Presi-
dents opinion, however, is of some Importance,
and knowledge Of it will aid our legislators
to prepare the bill in such q form. and with
such provisions, as may secure the Presidents
approval.
During his memorable debate with Doug
las, in 1885, President Lincoln de-
clared that he might he in favor
of the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia provided that, as pre-
limnary step, the measure was endorsed by a.
majority of the people Of the District. In his
emancipation scheme, recently submitted to
Congress, the President takes the same ground,
and makes the abolition of slavery dependent
upon the wish of the people Of the States con-
cerned, adding, also, an offer from the general
government to pay the expenses of emancipa-
ton Now, it is by no means likely that the
President will take other or newer grounds in
regard to slavery in the District; and the bill,
in order to secure his approval, will obviously
have to contain provision for securing the as
sent of the people, and provision, also. to pay
for the slaves liberated. This latter idea is, If
we are not mistaken adopted by most of the
Senators; but they seem TO have overlooked
entirely the opinion of the President, that
the people must decide upon their own domes-
tic institutions-tha of slavery among the rest
In effect, the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia may be attained by simply passing