The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-24

yesterday was NANNY dovotoo 70 pfopofaetons Tor
Christmas, and the art Of spending money rather than
OF making 1t, was most 10 vogue among all GLASSES.
Business pursuits except among dealers in holiday
presents, &C. hardly thought or Both foreign
and domestic produce was quiet Groceries steady
Cotton was unchanged Petroleum dull On Change
four quiet and unchanged Grain was steady, but
rather inactive. Pork firm. Beef was steady
Lard was higher Whskey was lower
Southern Reconstructton-As short Me-
thod for . Fair and Final Settle
mcnt. n
II is apparent that since the delivery of his
message the Southern reconstruction policy of
President johnson has been gaining ground in
both houses Of Congress, and that the domi-
nant party excepting . few malcontents)
realize the necessity Of adhering to the ad-
ministration. The pablo opinion Of the coun-
try is emphaticaliy in favor Of the earliest
practicable restoration of the excluded States
to their constitutional relations with the Union
in every respect aad heAcs the popularity Of
President Johnsop's policy. The ratification
Of the constitutional amendment abolishing
slavery. which gives to Congress the power Of
enforcing the freedom Of the blacks by appro-
pirate legislation, settles that important mat
ter. No system of slavery or involuntary SER
vitude, therefore, except in the punishment of
crime, can henceforth be adopted against the
freedmen in any State, so that no objections on
this score to the immediate restoration of the
Southern States to Congress oan be raised.
But there are other difficulties which remain
to be adjusted-such as the political status
henceforward of individuals participating in
the late war against the Union. the question OF
the reputation Of the debts Of the rebellion,
the question Of negro suffrage, and the future
basis Of Southern representation in Congress
II ia said that whatever settlements may be
made upon these points in the way OF mere
conditions to restoration, the several States
concerned, when fully restored, can set them
aside II ID said that they may in this way, for
example, reconsider their reputation Of their
rebel State debts and provide TO pay them.
But the decisive settlement OF the slavery
question points out the way for settlement,
equally decisive, Of all these other questions.
Enlarging. therefore, upon the proposition
which we have recently thrown out, we would
suggest 10 the two houses Of Congress con-
siiiutional amendment covering these points,
F1rst-A general amnesty extending to all
parties involved in the late rebellion. and the
restoration Of their civi and politica, rights as
loyal citizens
Second-An interdict against The recognition
Of the rebel Confederate or State debts, IN any
shape or form.
Tbird--A new basis OF federal representa-
ton, viz: the number OF actual voters Ia each
State, leaving the States perfectly free, each
for itself. to restrict or extend the right Of
suffrage as II may think best.
Now. we believe that each Of these PROPOSE
lions is 80 good in il elf that II could be carried
through a. constitutional amendment; but,
by putting them all together, they will SO
strengthen each other in Congress and in the
States as 10 he absolutely Irresistible. With
regard to negro suffrage in the South, the Pres
ident's policy Of leaving it 10 the States |. is
evident must be recognized by Congress. or SO
modified in constitutional amendment as to
apply to oil the States. 1t is evident, too. that
in the absence of o constitutional settlement
this question Of negro suffrage will be bone
Of contention, agitation and trouble Cor years
to come. The constitution as il now stands
provides that representatives Tin Congress-
and direct taxes shall be apportioned among
the sevefa. States whict, may be included
within this Union according to their respec-
determined by adding 10 the whole number OF
free persons. including those bound 70 service
for a term Of years, aud excluding Indians no,
taxed. three -fifths OF oil other persons,'' in
other words, ihree-ffths OF the slave population.
Under this provision the abolition Of slavery
adds two-fifths in the counting tor representa-
ton to the black element heretofore counted
in the South. The late slave States will thus
gain some twenty-five or thirty members Of
Congress. With the exclusion Of the four mil
lions OF Southern blacks from the right Of
suffrage, il Is conteoded BY Northern radicals
the Southern representation in Congress will be
controlled. as heretofore. by the landed aristoc-
racy, and that thus they will hold a more un-
fair, corrupting and desnoraiizing power than
under the reign Of slavery. That the elements
OF pernicious sectional agitation are in this
thing must be admitted; but how easily
all trouble may be avoided we have shown in
the constitutional amendmen, suggested.
Make the basis Of representation in the popu-
lar branch of Congress the number Of voters
in each State, and the Southern States will be
reduced to the alternative of admitting the
blacks to the rights Of suffrage, or to the sacr-
gress. Who can doubt that the blacks, under
this constitutional provision, would be admit
ted to the ballot boxes. The New England
States would thus lose Eve or six members;
but II is a sacrifice which they ought to be
ready to make in behalf Of their colored
brethren OF the South. The Great West would
support the proposition, because it would be
Al. D..l H. IF ksa