The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-16

cessary amendment of the constitution. The pro-
position took root, it was acted upon
in Congress, the amendment by the re-
quired two-thirds vote in each house
was adopted and passed over TO the
States for their ratification; and now, three
fourths of all the State Legislatures
having favorably responded, the thing is fixed.
| II becomes part OF the supreme law of the
land. And here We may mention the remark
able fact that the words slavery, slave, slaves
and shareholders were carefully excluded
from the constitution by It's trainers, and that
slavery" will first appear in that great
charter with the abolition and prohibition of
the institution.
We are cOntending however, against these
unconstitutional radical schemes of reconstrac-
ton as practically good for nothing, and as in
volving a worse than useless waste of time
and agitation. We contend, too, that all the
schemes Of reform which these radicals have
to offer beyond the authority Of the constitu-
ton should be proposed as amendments to that
instrument Good or bad, there can be NO OBJ
lection to putting themto this test for 1t Is test
which nothing really perniciOus can survive.
Hence, when the Union State Central Commit
tee Of Pennsylvania ask Congress to- start
amendments to the constitution against the
payment Of the rebel debt or the Reputation
Of the national debt, or for the power to ool-
lect duties upon exports, or for provision de-
barring any State from secession; or when Mr.
Jcnckes, of Rhode Island, proposes in the same
way to secure the election Of the President
directly by the people, or when Mr.. Delano, Of
Ohio, by The same authorized method proposes
to "make it the duty of each State to provide
for the rightful pursuit of happiness Of all its
inhabitants, without distinction Of color or
race" we have no objection to interpose. If
the thing you offer be good, bad or Indifferent,
seasonable or premature, 1t will so appear in
running the gauntlet of two-thirds of each
house of Congress and three fourths of all the
States.
Entertaining the opinion that the country
has outgrown it, we think that upon various
important subjects the federal constitution
needs enlarging or clearer definition, both in
regard to the powers Of the general govern
ment and the reservations of the States and the
people. We think that some amendments have
become necessary from the tremendous revoln.
ton in the old order Of things which has re-
suited from the late rebellion. We believe,
too, that, whatever may be proposed, tits only
that which is beneficial that will pass the
ordeal of thrce-fourths Of the States, what
ever absurdities may be proposed by two
thirds Of the present Congress. At an events,
if such radicals as Wilson and Sumner are sim
cere in their schemes of reform for which there
is no authority in the constitution, they ought to
seek to gain them in q constitutional way. IT.
in their extravagant and fanatcal designs, they
are simply laboriag to embarrass the admins /
ton and to lengthen indefinitely the exclusion
of the late rebel States from a voice in the
general government, we still say, let them 60
ahead, SO that the people may know how to-
deal with them in the elections for the next
Congress-.