The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-30

A Republican Party.
AS the time for the assembling of Congress
approaches the question in regard to the adj
mission of the Southern delegates becomes
more and more important From the oracular
kilograms sent on from Washington from day
to day we conjecture that the republicans
the rebellious States. Mr. Mcpherson, the
Clerk Of the House, claims to have entire con-
troll of the roll, and has already announced that
he win not allow Southern members to partici-
pate in the organization of Congress. After the
organization is effected the test oath prescribed
by q former Congress will act as an edectual
bar against those representatives who, to put
1t mildly. have resided in any Of the seeded
States during the recent war. President john
sons reconstruction policy may thus be Inn
peded by the refusal Of Congress to repeal the
test oath, and the republicans may accomplish
their design Of having both houses exclusively
to themselves.
We have already shown In these columns
that the exclusion Of the Southern delegates by
the republican majority b not in accordance
with the constitution. Either the Southern
States are in the Union or out Of II. II they are
in the Union they have the right to representa-
ton in Congress, II they are out Of the Union,
then the South was victorious in the late war,
in different sense from that which Wendell
Phillips intends; for we fought to keep the re-
bellious States in the Union, and, according to
republican logic, we have failed to do so. In
this view the HERALD has denounced the
anticipated action Of The republicans as
revolutionary, and we have yet to see
single one Of their organs that dares to
meet the issue as presented in our previous
ar .icles. Indeed, the republicans appear to
consider that, having the majority in Congress,
they may do just as they like, and need no ar
guments to justify their eccentric and extra
constitutional proceedings. In course Of time,
however, they will certainly discover that
might does not make right in this republic.
Like all politicians the republicans deal
with the question Of the admission Of the
Southern delegates simply as matter OF
policy. They believe that it will be for the
interest Of the party to keep out the Southern
members, and consequently they resolve upon
policy in the end, and no other policy can be
permanently successful. This exclusion is the
first great mistake that the republicans are
making. II shows how narrow are the views
and how deep is the ignorance of the radical
leaders. Why, if all the representatives from
the South were admitted the republicans would
still have majority, and could do just as they
pie sed. By excluding the South they exclude
al, opposition, they leave themselves nothing
to fight against, they transform the national
Congress into mere sectional body, and the
result will be chat in a few weeks they will
commence fighting among themselves, and,
like the cats of Kilkenny, they will ultimately
destroy each other and the party. Admit the
Southern members, and grant that every South
ern member will join the experimentation is
by no means probable-and tho republicans
will then have an opposition that will keep
them together, that will give them rallying
point while at the same time it will always be
easily defeated, and will lend to their partisan
triumphs the eclat Of a contest and the color of
national legislation.
Thus the admission of the Southern repre-
sentatives is commended to the republican
leaders, both as matter OF constitutional
right and of temporary expediency; but it is
quite as we'll worthy Of attention in its rela-
tons to the future Of the party. The republic
cans now have the government OF the country
in their own hands, and If they manage them
eelves properly and oonservatively they can
retain it for tho next City years. The demo-
cratic party is broken up, and only some ex-
cccdingly unpopular demonstration on the
part Of the republicans can give 1t any strength.
The exclusion Of tho Southern delegates Is just
such an unpopular demonstration. The people
want the war ended. Having fought for four
years in the field, they do not desire TO keep on
fighting in the forum. Our merchants want
their Southern customers. Our manufacturers
want the Southern staples. Our commerce
wants its Southern market. We all wan. peace.
Shut out the South, delay reconstruction,
throw difficulties in the way of the return to
peace, prosperity and progress, and you at
once offend, not only the whole Southern
people, but also the great masses of the North
ern people. The democratic party will then
be revived as an opposition. party, and 1t viii
have universal sympathy and support The
President-who is host in himself-wili be
with it, for II will adopt his plan Of restoration.
At the next State elections the republicans will
be beaten; at the next general election they
will be annhilated. The saying Of President
Johnson that those who try to keep States out
Of the Union arc az raitorous as those who
try TO take States out Of the Union will be
adopted ms the popular shibboleth, and the
republicans will be put down as thoroughly as
the original secessionists. As, therefore, their
scheme of excluding the Southern representa-
tives il unconstitutional, impolitic, unnecessary,
unpopular, foolish and dangerous, we hope
that il will be quietly and speedily abandoned.