The New York herald., 1864-04-08
The ConstitutiOnal Abolition or Slave
rY.The Flrst Stem In the Senate.


ry-The First Step in the Senate.
The Senate Of the United States have or
dered to third reading, and will doubtless
pass by the required two-thirds majority, the
bill providing for the abolition Of slavery in
all tho States and Territories Of the Union,
through an amendment Of the federal constitu-
tion After passing the Senate the proposed
amendment will require the concurrence Of the
House by two-thirds vote before it can be
submitted to the States. The next thing re-
quired. will be ratification By three-fourths Of
all the States Of the Union, through, . majority
in the Legislature Of each, or through system
Of State conventions, Is Congress may finally
appoint. We presume, however, that the Le-
gislative alternative Of ratification will be che
sen. In either event . ratification OF three
fourths Of the States will make the proposed
amendment part and parcel sf the federal con-
sttution, the supreme law Of the land
What Is the prospect! When the HERALD
some time ago first broadly advocated this pro-
posed abolition Of slavery, as provided for in
the constitution, the idea was "a new thing un-
der the SUM-" The possibility Of such thing
as two-thirds Of both houses Of Congress and
three-fourths Of the States being in favor Of
universal emancipation within the limits OF the
Union had never been dreamed Of before.
Now, however, from the mighty political
changes resulting from the upheavals Of this
gigantic civil war, we have ceased to be aston
ished at anything. 1t was but the other day
that a man in boldly advocating the abolition
Of slavery in Maryland, whether as . stranger
or as citizen among that people, did SO at the
peril OF his life; and now we find IN over
whelming majority Of the popular vote Of the
State cast for the immediate abolition OF
slavery therein, and without compensation
to the slaveowners. For thirty years
that learned and experienced conservative
Senator from Maryland, Reverdy johnson,
has been a tower Of strength to the pro-slavery
party and interests OF the State; but to-day he
stands among the most radical on the record
for the immediate, universal and uncondti onal
abolition of slavery, through the constitution
These changes are among the numerous
things afoat on the political waves which show
the drift OF tremendous reacting tide Of pub
lie opinion. We think it, therefore, highly
probable that before the adjournment OF the
present session of Congress majority OF two
thirds will be gained in the House, If that
majority does not now exist, in favor Of the
constitutional abolition of slavery. And what
then! A ratification by three-fourths Of the
States, including in the cosnt the rebellious
States. This would give as thirty-nve States in
all, and, with the admission of Nebraska, Colora-
| do and Nevada, thirty eight. Three-fourtbs OF
this number would be twenty nine. There are
twenty-five States now represented in Con-
gress and three more ready to come in-Ar-
kansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. These will
make the number represented twenty-eight
Add Nebraska, Colorado and Nevada, and we
shall have thirty-one. All thcse-exceptng
perhaps, Kentucky-if put TO the test, will ra
tfy this great constitutional amendment; but, as
twenty nine will do the work, Kentucky may be
spared. The amendment thus adopted will b
precisely the same in its binding effect upon al
the States hereafter as IL the outside nine had
voted unanimously against IL. See the consti
tuition.
Ii the administration, then, will give to thi'
important movement an honest, helping hand
we can see no obstacle to prevent the constitu
tional abolition Of slavery throughout tn
United States before this day in April next
We fear, however, that Honest Oh
Abe Is too much attached 10 his peculia
and preposterous schemes Of emancipation ant
reconstruction 10 abandon them. We shoult
like to know the ground he occupies upsn thi'
question; for his position here will 60 far Z
determine the issue OF the Presidential election
II he and his party stick to Lincoln 10 prefer
ence to the constitution touching the abolition
Of slavery they will surely 60 by the board
| We can tell nothing Of Lineoln's position from