The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-17
From The EeE York Evening" a.,
How the Southern states May Secure
Their places in Courress


How the Southern states May Secure
Their Places in Congress.
The chief anxiety Of the Southern people
appears now TO be to secure admission for
their representatives in the next Congress.
We, too, think it good thing to have all the
States "a rly represented there's and il occurs
to Us 70 awe hins 70 the Southern men Of a
way By which hey may make this matter
sure beyond peradvsnture-by which, in
deed. II ey will secure the full and free con
seat Of the doninsnt party in Congress, and
in the bati,n, to their admission.
Il IS well known that the Of President
Johnson's most cherished desires Is for the
ratification, by the requisite number Of
States, Of the Constitutional Amendment
Graduating and forever prohibiting slavery.
He has frequently expressed his wish for
the passage Of this amendment; be holds
that {, Be the proper, constitutional and
legal method Of forever settling and putting
away disturbing question. He wrote1n its
favor in these forcible words:
"Tbe mode by which this great ehange-
the emancipation Of the slaye-csn be ei-
fected, is properly found in the power TO
amend the Constitution Of the United States
This plan is effectDal and Of no doubtful
authority aud while it does not contrayene
the timely exercise OF the war power by the
President in his emancipation ppoelama-
ton, il e61nes stamped with the authority
Of the people themselves, acting in aeeor
dance with the written rule Of the supreme
law Of the land, and must therefore give
more general satisfaction and quietude 10
the distracted public mind"
| Now the Southern States lately in rebel
lion have, all but Texas and Florida, amen
ded their own Constitutions, by forever for
bidding slavery within their State limits.
II, then, their legislatures should meet, at
once, before the assembling Of Congress,
and adopt or ratify, in due form, the gen
eral Constitutional Amendment, they would
merely confirm the previous action Of tina
State Convention. But having thus ratified
this important measure, they could then
present themselves to Congress, saying T:
ave have passed an act Of ratifeation-it is
for you to say whether il is valid or not.
Admit our representatives. 10 Congress, ap-
prove our smended Constitutions, and you
will thereby declare our ratification legal
and o. forcs-but if you refuse Us, OF course
you repel also our help ia completing
the adoption Of the Constitutional Amend
msnt"
/ Il any Southern State should present it.
self in this shape to Congress. we are conf
dent it would secure the favor OF the Presi-
dent and his influence, as well as the votes
fthe administration patty in the national
legislature-thats is TO say, ii would make
certain its immediate reinstatement, sup
posing, Of course, that its Consultation has
been made republican in FORM" as we be-
lieve has been done in every State where a
convention has been held.
We throw out this suggestion because we
believe the President is very DESTROYS to see
the anti-slavery ams ndmeat ratified at the
earliest possible moment. He holds that
slavery has died, and that it can never be
revived. He has said
at is vain to attempt 10 reconstruct the
| Union with the distracting element Of
slavery in it. Experience has demOnstra-
ted its incompatibility with free and repub-
iican governments, and it would be unwise
and unjust longer 70 continue it as one Of
the institutions OF the country. While Il
! remained subordinate 10 the Constitution
and laws Of the United States, ! yielded 10
it my support; but when il became rebel
lious, aud attemp ed 10 rise above the gov
! eminent, and control its action, threw my
humble influence against it."
But he wish,s TO see this dead question
buried he wants 10 remove it for ever from
political discussions he does lot want to
see the country distracted by its ill-laid
ghost He is wise in this, al ell will say.
And he has the right to the support Of q l
his friends; 10 the South, North and West
in carrying this important point Of bis poll
cy. lie finds himself opposed il New Jer
sey by the Democrats, who, while pretend
ing to Golfer him their support" in vague
terms, are trying to carry thst ate, as they
carried Kentucky and Delaware, against the
I Amendment. There is reason b hope that
we shall gain the day in New Jersey against
these pretenders, and thus ensure the rati
fcation lhere-but there are yet other States
needed and we have DO doubt the Presi
dent woul regard it as a special eonfrma-
ton Of the sincerity Of southern promises Of
support, if the sou.hera States should call
together their legislatures and 10 tham
adopt the Amendment at once.
1.-The we're, by their action 70 tbs effect,
enab ed to report in his forthcoming mes
sage to Congress the final aud eomplsts rat
| ifcation and adoption Of the Constitutional
Amendment, be would doubtless commit
himself fully &c the immediats and entire
re-establi hmeut Of tie southern States
which had thus helped the great measure,
and urge upon his supporters in Congress
10 do the same.