The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-30


stitution itself, where 1t trenches upon the d.
vine rights Of slavery. is subordinate to q
higher law. The fifteen hundred slaves remain
Ing in Delaware are his political capital, and
slavery is still the stock in trade Of his copper
head brethren Of the House. They still bow
down in the dirt before their old political idol,
not daring to lift their eyes high enough to see
that il has fallen from its PEDESTAL that its arms
are gone, its legs broken, and that it never can
be set up on its pins again as the democratic
juggernaut
The members Of the House-a corporate
guard-who swear by Old Abe, and believe
his proclamations of freedom an improvement
upon the constitution, of course desire to
postpone this resolution OF the Senate to
more convenient season. Other mem
bers are afraid, others are Indifferent,
and others are opposed to the proposition on
various grounds, including the plea that the
constitution does not authorize the wholesale
sacrifice Of the private property that will be in
volved in this sweeping emancipation Of South
ern slaves. Certainly not. Slavery, however,
may be abolished by the amendment proposed
without word as TO compensation; but Con-
gress will be none the less bound to compcn-
safe loyal owners for their losses. There is no
necessity Of any special provision to this end in
the amendment. The settlement Of this mat
ter will devolve upon Congress after the incor-
poration Of the amendment into the constitu-
ton.
But, notwithstanding all the impediments re-
ferred to, we believe that there will be found,
upon fair and square test the majority Of two
thirds in the House required to pass this SEN
ate resolution. The honest friends Of the
measure in the House should watch their oppor-
tunity, and seize it when offered, to bring the
question to the ayes and noes Upon such
trial we dare say that less than onethird Of the
members of the body will be found sufficiently
Indifferent to public opinion to enrol them
selves among the half dozen implacable politl
cal pro-slavery copperheads of the Senate.
The HARMONY BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION
AND GENERAL GRANT.-It has lately been ru-
mored, and in some quarters insisted upon,
that there was very decided disagreement
between General Grant and the administration
as to the manner in which the war was to be
conducted this season. Rumors have also been
widely circulated to the effect that Generals
Mcclellan and Fremont were again to have
commands. After most diligent inquiry upon
these subjects we are convinced that not one
of these stories has any foundation in fact We
are certain that there is no difficulty or differ
enoe, as SO persistently stated by the Western
opposition papers, between the War Depart
ment or the President and General Grant but
that, on the contrary, the greatest harmony pre-
walls in all the councils Of the administration
upon the conduct of the war. Mr.. Lincoln,
with the intellectual boldness that sometimes
appears as SO strong point in his character,
ct length admits broadly and squarely that he
has no military ability at all, and consequently
has given everything into the power Of General
Grant, and for the first time in its history the
administration is united in support of the COM
mander of our armies.
Neither is it probable that any change will
be made in the present positions of Generals
Mcclellan and Fremont. General Mcclellan
is not likely to leave his present retirement
through any agitation made in his favor by his
friends, is the government likely to call
him from that retirement except in some great
public necessity and no such necessity can be
apprehended while our armies are commanded
by General Grant.
Some months since General Dix suggested
the employment of the militia this summer
but this was opposed by General Halleck upon
the ground Of its great expense. But even this
objection has now been given up in favor of
the Western militia, and we suppose that soon
the whole militia Of the Atlantic States will be
called out.
Thus the government shows its readiness to
use all the power at its command to end the
war by one great blow, and the country ought
to support it. Any declarations of distraction in
its councils at such time as this can only do
harm, are unpatriotic and false, and ought not
to be countenanced or made
MAYOR GUNTHER AS REFORMER.-His
Honor the Mayor commenced his official career
as reformer. He was to be the new broom
that was to sweep clean the Augean stable Of
municipal corruption. How has he fulfilled
the expectations formed Of hlms With the OK