The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-20

His Platform for = Re-eIection.
The speech Of the Hon. Schuyler Collar
delivered at Washington the other even
ing to serenading party, anS which w
published yesterday, is q thing Of c0nsid
cradle political Importance at this juncture
MIR. Colfax was Speaker of the House O
Representatives during the last Congress
He proved satisfactory presiding officer to
the republican majority, without becoming OBJ
noxious to the democratic minority. He has
heretofore been accounted RADICAL but, from
the speech in question, If he ever has been, he
has evidently ceased to be one Of the ultra
abolition school of Sumner and Thaddeus
Stevens. It is sufficient at all events that, as q
candidate for reelection to the Speakers chair
Mr.. Coliax studiously avoids the radical heresy
Of immediate negro suffrage as condition Of
Southern restoration.
The leading ideas which occur 10 him In re-
ference to reconstruction and the course of the
new Congress we viii briefly reproduce. Hc
wishes to see tho Union fully restored; but he
says that 1--WE cannot forget that history teaches
that it was eight years after the surrender OF
Yorktown, in the Revolutionary war, though
our fathers were Of one mind as to its necessity,
before the constitution was adopted and the
Union thus established" This means that
some time will yet be needed TO get the late re-
belious South into proper shape for restora-
ton. He is indignant at the presumption of
rebels elected to Congress in supposing they
are to be admitted on the day Of its organiza-
ton. He thinks the Presidents conditions of
Southern restoration, adopted by him in the
absence of u law of Congress-, are "emincntly
wise and proper" "But there are other terms"
on which Mr.. Colfax thinks "there is no divi-
sion among the loyal men of the Union" The
emancipatcd blacks must be secured and pro-
tected sin their rights of person and property,
and these frcemen must have the right to sue
in courts of justice for all just claims, and to
testify also, SO as to have security against out
rage and wrong" This means that the States
directly concerned are to have some instruc-
tons from Congress upon this subject
In the next place, Mr.. Colfax thinks that the
new constitutions adopted or to be adopted by
the late insurgent States should be ratified by
the people, to make all sure. Next, he would
hold their candidates for Congress to the test
of the oath of loyalty passed at the last Con-
gress, by which every man voluntarily support
ing the late rebellion is excluded from every
Office under the government of the United
States Lastly, Mr.. Colfax thinks that "the
country has the right to expect that before their
members are admitted to share in the general
government clear majority of the people of
these Sta.es-lately in rebcllion--shall give EVIL
dence Of their earnest and cheerful loyalty; not
by such speeches as are so common, that they
submit TO the arbitrament Of war, but chat they
are willing to stand by and fight for the flag
of the country against oil its enemies, at home
and abroad" In other words, says Mr.. Colfax,
"the danger now is in too much precipitation.
Let us rather make haste slowly" We pre-
sumo that he is thus speaking the sentiments Of
the majority Of the new Congress; that he
knows il, and hence we may infer that the pros.
pect of Southern restoration during the coming
long session is exceedingly slim.
The ex-Speaker, in closing up his remarks.
repeats his "unshalkcn confidence" in President
Johnson; applauds his course during the war,
and, since the peace, in behalf Of justice and
fair play to "all men, both white and black"
and he is sangulne Of the best results from "the
great Union organization Of the country" in
the hands of which the people shave placed the
whole power of the government, executive,
Legislative and judicial. and treasured it by the
brilliant victories OF this fall" But in all this
exposition of his views and necessary measures
of reconstruction the gentleman from Indiana
has nothing to say Of the radical shibboleth OF
negro suffrage. The conclusion necessarily fol-
lows that he considers il unwisc and inexpe-
dent 10 touch upon this delicate, difficult and
dangerous subject at this time. "The elections
of this fall' have doubtless convinced him that
it is best upon this question to SNAKE haste
slowly"-that this thing requires "a good deal
of mighty nice consideration"
II il thus, We conclude, apparent from this
speech Of Mr.. Colfax for reelection as Speaker
that the radical sine qua non Of negro suffrage
as a condition of Southern restoration has but
a small party in the new Congress- Otherwise
Mr.. Colfax would not have 40 entirely over
looked t. But still this radical faction may be
stronger than he supposcs, and may give hin
some trouble. This speech was perhaps de-
signed TO head of cxSpeaker Banks aud the
Hon. ii. J. Raymond and others Of the semi
conservative, sem-radical school likely 10
stand in the way. Who is the candidate of the
unmixed radicals, and what has he to say. Is
Greeley to he left without voice at Washing
ton, or has he surrendered
THE PROPER MAN FOR OUR CoIaEcroR.-We
think that in Mr.. Clinch, the present acting
Collector Of the Port Of New York, President
johnson has the proper man for the position.
We think IL would be difficult TO find another