Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-04

The legislature OF State tenAoted a statute L
pay bounty VI ten cents bushel on the whea
which should be grown within its limits. The
State was q fertile grower Of hay, potsipes, Osts
aud barley wheat was not paying crop. BUT
the farmers, encouraged by u prospect Of the
dimes, woHt iuto the growing Of WhegtAt loss,
nstead Of crops adapted to the soil hnd climate
at profit; aud the loss was made up to them
! by The bounty, two thirds Of which was paid
from their own pockets in State taxes, and the
remaining third by other classes Of taxpayers.
who bought their bread for no less price than
before. Experience taught the people wisdom,
and the law was repeated
Now II Goldfish cannot be taken at q profit, let
them swim; even though the aIstooracy which
reloices IN that name should sink. To tax those
10 whom goldfish are an offence, that those who
delight In their aroma may enjoy them at less
cost, may be a wIoug OF small dimensions, but
II lisa wrong.
As TO protective duties. tits not probable that
the question OF levying them will ever again as-
sumo the Importance ii formerly had in our ma
tional Legislation. The government will require
so large revenue for many years to come, that
tariffs will be adjusted with view to revenue
only, and Determinations in favor of some
branches Of Industry at the expense of others
will come 10 be regarded as an obsolete political
heresy.
neVei had full representation 10 the House -
But so soon rs slavery shall be abolished, the
three-hfihs clause in the Constitution will bs.
come, lpso Idcto, imperative; aud the basis of
representation Ia the South as we'll as ia the
North will be the actual number Of inhabitants
The basis OF representation in the Senate can
not be changed without an amendment Of the
Constitution. The equality Of the States in the
senate, which the trainers the Constitution con-
ceded to the small States--a concession which
gives Rhode Island as much voting power as
New York In the highest legislative body Of the
nation, Delaware as much as Pennsylvana, and
Florida as much as Yirginia-may be depar-
ture from the strict representative principle on
which tue government is founded, and hard
bargain for the great and popnlous States 10 the
North as we'll as In the South. But the bargain
has been made. 1t is one Of the compromises Of
the Constitution, and il cannot be annued
without the consent Of all the States Ia whose
favor the concession was made. II 10 hardly to
be expected that these States will ever relnquish
a right vested in them by the Constitution as a
practical recognition Of their dignity an equality
In the sisterhool of the Union.
But these questions are Of secondary impor-
tance in comparison with the vital issues on
which the entire future of our country hangs in
trembling suspense. When the blighting curse
which has embitteTed all the life OF the nation
shall be removed, they may be adjusted or waiv-
ed and time, the kind physician, will heal the
wounds of war, while nature will conceal with
a mantle of fresh life the CHASTITY decay Of the
battle fields.
II We have not misapprehended the scope aud
meaning Of the proclamation Of amnesty II is
both adroit aud far-seeing. II shows the hand
OF shrewd politician aud wise statesman.-
ny placing the government firmly on the right |
ground before the world, it will be likely to en-
list In our behalf the moral sympathy OF other
nations, which has been hitherto withheld. By |
setting forth detuite object and practicable |
end OF the war, 1t will do much to unite the |
North. By furnishing point Of support for |
legal party 10 the rebel States, which, under q |
reign Of terror bas been dieorganized and silent,
il will have tendency to divide the South
by appealing to the interests aud ambition of |
The loyal minority, it will stimulate them to such
energy that tenth OF the voters in q State, pro.
looteu by the Union arms and backed by the
patronage Of the State and nation, will be nu-
,leus around which majority may be expected |
10 gather by strong attraction The rebels are
but men, and when they perceive that further
resistance is hopeless, they will yield to those
motives which Ia like circumstances control the |
lctions Of men. When the terms OF the Presi-
lent shall be accepted, and bis plan of organiza
lion adopted. In one Of the insurgent States, |
,tbers will soon follow the example; and as
State after State shall submit to tho national
arms, while the forces of the rebellion shall be
irawn more and more closely around the centre
IT it's aspiring life, State after State will appear
BY its loyal Representatives in the halls Of Con-
sress at Washington. And when the ooncentrAt
I'd remnants Of rebel power and hate shall re-
solve their death-blow in the last fortress Of
heir defence, the shout of jubilee will ascend |
from emsnoipated millions, aud the nation,
Emerging from its baptism Of blood, regenerat- |
I'd and purified, will move onward in career of
prosperity and glory which shall oau-e these
years Of doubt and anguish to be remembered
only as chapter in our heroic age.