New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-21

There is good deal OF rambling discussion III
tle journals Of the day respecting the spirit IN
ach the South accepts the result of our late
contest. As it is easy to find isolated facts that
make for whichever side you may wish to up
hold, this sort of controversy may 90 on inter-
minably. Doubtless, there are Southeners
lately in rebellion who do, and others who do not,
evince spirit which renders their restoration to
citizenship and its prerogatives safe and proper:
the only question Of moment is" What is the
proportion Of those who Loyalty accept and abide
by the Union triumph to that of those who mean
to the political power restored to them as dis
Loyalty as they can? When the Southern
States shall have been fully reconstructed,
which will be in the ascendant ?"
| We regard it as fortunate that the Provisional
Governors have generally called Conventions
and designated days for elections thereto with
such remarkable promptitude. 1t is clear that
the Southern Whites lately in rebellion are at
least anxious for q restoration of their State
governments at the earliest day. Even those
who would gladly be out Of the Union ever
more are eager-since that may not be--tO get
fully back into it before the meeting of Congress
next December. Hence, Mississippi has already
Convention chosen on the 9TH inst, and in
session since the 14th. Other States will soon
follow; and the sayings and doings of their
respective Conventions must be accepted at the
North as an authentic exhibition of the spirit
and feeling of the governing race at the
South.
Mississippi had, in 1850, total population OF
791 1896, whereof 354, 200 were free and 43G, COG
slaves. War has doubtless wasted both races,
but the WITHSTAND especially the adult male
Whites-the most. Mississippi polled 69,07J
votes in 1860, and probably had at that time
IS, 900 voters. We have no returns of her late
election, but GO, 900 is probably the full number
of her White males over 81 years of age We
Judge that she may to-day have $50, 900 inhab-
itants, of whom 800, 600 are Whites and AGO. 900
Blacks.
Now we do not ask nor expect the "Conserva-
tives" who compose her Convention now sitting
to accord equal rights in all things to the
Blacks; but we do insist that this COnserva-
among other things, the inalienable rights of
the Black majority of their people to " life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" They
are natives of our country; they are now free;
they have very generally, while slaves, been
temperate and Industrious; they are Christians;
they are in good part ignorant. but eager to
learn and willing to be taught. TO them ap-
plies emphatically the principle asserted by Mr..
Gladstone when, in the speech in Parliament
which cost him his seat for the University Of
Oxford, but gained him the larger constituency
of South Lancashire, he said:
what are the qualities which fit men for political
privilegesf Are they not self.command selfcontrol
patience under suffering. confidence in the law and
respect Tor superiorsf contend that
when you would persist in excluding forty
Of the Working Glasses from the franchise il rests
with you to show the incapacity the untness the mis-
conduct Of those classes. uniting them for jts en-
ioyment"
1t manifestly will not do to exclude in.
telligent, capable, worthy men from the electo
raj body on the assumption that others of their
class or race are ignorant, stupid and worth
less. If that excuse would serve, there would
never be any extension of the franchise at all.
What Convention is bound to do is to estab-
fish a rule which will include as many of the
and worthy while excluding as many
of the incapable and worthless, as may be. To
exclude class on the assumption of their lack
of intelligence, yet admit persons Of another