New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-15
THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED.

The y. D. ItHts, IN the course OF cOSent
advocacy of the early admission Of representa-.
tiycs in Congress of the States latoly in re.
bellioa, says;
D" The true policy is to expedite rather than delay the
readmsSon OF the Southern Representatives and Sen.
atoI Ii is neither right safe for any part OF the
coun.r, 70 legS'ac for another part OF the country
without giving II voice in that legislation EcDrf
scndioH is The rel principle Of republican institutions
Its denial teri inpairs the normal operation Of
our Gcyernmcni, ana opens the way TO ali kinds Of
abuses.
Endorsing every word ofthis, and hoping il
may have due effect, we ask The Times and the
country to consider it, direct bearing on the
case of the Southern Blacks. If il is neither
right nor safe for one part of the country to leg
isate ,or another part is it not equally mistaken
and perilou- TO allow one race to legislate OK
clusvely for another When the lcgslatDg
race is known TO regard that for which ii Is
empowered thus to legisae with sccrn aud con-
tempt the injustice becomes still more fragrant
and palpable. 1.-The vital principle of republi
can institutions" being thus defed, and this dis
regard Of principle pushed "to any extent" the
way must be open" to all kinds Of abuses"
lHlo puSht Hpt W w, anu mo" NV W.. iu'
Southern Blacks arc prominently wards Of the
Union. II has voluntarily incurred obligations
TO them which it cannot rcpudia'e without
black dishonor. Having used them, and tri-
unphed by their aid, it cannot now throw them
over without mourning the cXecration- Of Christ
cndom. False TO its humble defenders it could
not again deceive them nor hope TO use them;
and the next outbreak of Rebellion would find
il left naked 20 its enemies.
II We're idle to shut our eyes, and presume
that others arc blind. These Blacks have in
cured the i'll will of tue great mass of the
southern Whites by their active devotion TO
the Union. To-day, many Of them are return
ing to the humble homes which they left 10 en-.
list III our armies. only to he told that they can
live there no longcr--that they must 'go TO
the Yankees" with whom they have seen fit TO
ally themselves. To-day, they are paying.
throughout the region lately in revolt, the
penalty OF their attachment to the National
cause. Hundreds Of them have already
been killed on that account; as tens OF
thousands more will DO if they are
not cared for in the pending reconstruction.
We cannot iDnocently overlook their case, since
lnon-action is betrayal. If We are merely pas.
siye, the Blacks go under the feet OF those who
regard them as rightfully their chattels, and
who hate them for the aid they have afforded Us
in upholding the Union. We must stand by
them in the process Of reconstruction, or be
| ,,lJ hot fnr, 1.ta
We entirely accord with The Illness d" sober
second thought in favor of an Enthusiastically
generous and magnanimous policy" toward The
South. We are as much opposed as The Times car
be to any unfricndly manifestation toward
the late Rebels But we must not exalt oul
magnaninity at the expense Of our good faith
We must not exhibit our generosity TO oul
late enemies by making them q present Of tho
most precious rights Of our allies in the struggle
wherein those enemies were oyerthrown. Lot
us be generous at our own cost, not that oil
others The Times fears it may be thought that
we wish to domneer and degrade" Let us
prove that We do not, by seeking rather to up.
raise the lowly, and securing TO all the People
OF the South every right that we claim for our.
selves.