The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-01

The proceedings in the Congress Of the
United States were signalized yesterday by one
Of the most remarkable, important, desirable,
decisive and momentous events in the records
Of this or any other natioR Of modern or an
Client times. We refer to ne vote-1l9 to So
in the House Of Representatives by which the
constitutional amendment declaring slavery
abolished and forever hereafter interdicted
throughout the United States passes from Con-
gress to the final ratification Of three-fourths Of
the thirty-six States belonging to the Union.
The fifth article Of the federal constitution
provides that "the Congress, whenever two
thirds Of both houses shall deem ii necessary,
shall propose amendments to this constitution,
or, on the application of the Legislatures
Of two-thirds Of the several States, shall call q
convention for proposing amendments, which,
in either case, shall be valid to all intents and
purposes, a. part Of this constitution, when
ratified by the legislatures Of threefourtbs of the
several States, or by conventions in three
fourths thereof, az the one or the other mode Of
ratification may be proposed by Congress"
This Is the constitution, and that its trainers con-
templated an amendment abolishing or affect
ing slavery is apparent from the proviso which
Immediately follows---that ano amendment
which may be made prior to the year 1908 shall
in any manner affect" the African slave
trade, which, as q compromise with the
South Carolina planters and New England
slave traders, was authorized by the constitu-
ton to be continued down to the year 1908.
Thus the authority and the intention of the
constitution are plain; and whether by State
or by the State legislatures, we are
confident that this amendment will secure the
ratification of the threefourths of all the States
required to make it part of the supreme law
of the land"
The institution of slavery may thus be con-
sidered as abolished throughout the United
States. The experiment of Southern confede-
racy, by war against the Union, and for the pro-
lection, perpetuation and expansion of Southern
slavery, has destroyed it. Otherwise, by ad-
herring to the Union, the rebellious States, or q
large portion of them, might have preserved
their peculiar institution" for . hundred
years to come. Now the pressure of this ex-
hausting war has driven the rebel leaders to
the dreaded alternative Of discussing the propo-
sition of abolishing slavery to save the confed-
eracy. When they thus admit that slavery, the
cause of their rebellion, must be abandoned to
maintain their confedcracy, they are but o step
from the abandonment Of their confederacy it.
SELF slavery and all.
In this connection, we have some private in
formation from Washington, communicated sew
eral days ago, to the effect that the passage of
this aforesaid constitutional amendment will be
Immediately followed Ivy another peace mission
to Richmond, or by committee Of peace am
bassadors from Richmond, to treat for peace
upon the basis of submission to the Union. 1t
is somewhat remarkable, too, that on the very
day of the passage Of the amendment in ques-
ton, q peace commission of three or four dis
tinguished men from Richmond should be ap-
plying for passage through our military lines
and permit for trip to Washington. 1t has
been further intimated to us that Mr.. Seward
has been exceedingly anxious for the passage
of this const tutonal amendment as the initial
point Of great peace compromise with JEFF.
Davis, embracing q reconstruction of the Union.
We are promised the most wonderful develop
ments in this direction, In consequence Of the
passage of this amendment. Assuming, how
ever, that oil such promises rest upon idle
speculations, we have still abundant cause for
qualification over yesterdays work in Congress.
1t puts an end to all tinkering abolition expert
ments at Washington and Richmond; it ban
ishes all doubts as to the fate Of African slavery
in this country; it settles the slavery question,
and removes that stumbling block from Ameri-
can politics, North and South. 1t cuts Off the
last pretext for European Intervention in be-
half Of Davis, prepares solid and endur-
ing platform for the reunion Of the loyal and
rebcllious States, and the enforcement of the
Monroe doctrine in an easy alliance with all
the independent States Of North and South
America.
Hence we congratulate the American people
North and South, on the grand success Of this
great measure in both houses Of Congress for
the constitutional abolition Of slavery through
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