The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-14

and such we believe will be the decision of
President Johnson as soon as he can have an
opportunity to give this question his attention.
The Next Session Of Congress.
The question Of the admission Of members to
the next Congress from the Southern States is
a subject that is now agitating the public mind
and is one pregnant with important conse-
quences With law of Congress prohibiting
any one from holding seat in that body who
had been engaged in the rebellion it ia difficult
to solve the question who the South can send
for there is no prominent man alive in the
Southern States who has not, directly or indi-
rectly, been concerned in the war. The first
matter to be considered, then, is, mauifestly,
the repeal Of the law, 80 "a to relieve the South
of ne disability Of being represented in the
national Congress.
Will the radicals consent to do thiss That
is the question. We have no doubt there will
be an intense struggle to keep the South out,
but the people Of the North are more anxious
for the South to come back than the South her
self is to return. Hence If the majority insist
upon carrying out their plans, and closing the
doors Of Congress upon the South, the Northern
people will arouse themselves to the necessity
of putting down the radicals and opening the
portals Of the Union to every hayward sister
who comes back, casting around her the cloak
of charity and forgiveness, with complete OBJ
liberation Of the past. The South has been
restored to her political rights by the amnesty
proclamation and by the oaths Of allegiance
taken by her citizens. No further tesla can be
required, unless it be the test Of probation, and
that is, of course, out Of the question. The
men Of the South who have conformed to the
requirements of the government are entitled to
VOTE and it is absurd to argue that they have not
the power to select their own representatives;
and it is q still greater absurdity to say that
these representatives shall not be received
when elected. To deny the South this would
be placing her in a worse condition than the
American colonies were before the revolution,
when the deprival Of the right of representa-
ton was one Of the prime causes OF separation
from the mother country. No such doctrine
can stand before the American people. When
a Southern rebel takes the oath of allegiance
he must be regarded az being restored to bis
former political rights. He is as good as any
other citizen in the eye Of the law. The gov
eminent must recognize this fact, else why adj
minister the oath at all. No doubt President
Johnson understands this matter, and If the
radicals do not wish to go before the people
in the pending State elections in position
inimical to the administration they will handle
| this subject with fairness and moderation. The
President regards it to be as much an act Of
disloyalty to prevent recusant State from
| coming into the Union as 1t is for one to go
out; and If the Northern States oppose the re.
storation of the seeded States they are as
criminal as the original secessionists, and liable
to all the pains and penalties Of secession.
Suppose these Southern representatives be re.
jccted, what will follow They will, Of course
be reelected; and il again rejected they will
be again chosen, and there will be no end to
the farce. Congress has no more right to keep
the representatives Of the Southern States out
of the Capitol than it has to keep out the repre-
sentatives of the New England States. Ir
either case the wrong is manifest. and viii
not be tolerated by the people. Between the
intolerant radical and the repentant rebel tbs
good sense Of the people will not be. long In
deciding.
About the question Of negro suffrage, thu
Southern States should insert a clause in thei
constitutions regulating the prerequisites for
negro's vote. Here 10 New York there is {
property qualification. The same provision
exists 10 most of the New England States. TIL
Southern States have the same right to fix tn
standard Of qualification for voting as an.
Northern State. They should make their fran
chise code embrace the requirements Of read
ing and writing, aud good moral, religion
education. This the North has not done. b
this means the intelligent blacks OF the Sout
will have chance to become somebody, an
tho ranting Jacobins Of the North will have
. opoortunity To fraternize with them, "a the