The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-09

DOlAys
The ideas, we are inclined to think. which
carried the Southern States into their late re-
bellion, and for which they fought through four
disastrous years Of civil war with an earnest
ness, unity and tenacity Of purpose without
parallel in the history Of revolutions. are ideas
which will control the public mind Of those
States at least until the existing generation
shall have passed away. The vicissItudes of
nations, dynasties and parties back to the
twilight of tradition will justify this opinion.
The evidence before US in regard to the pre-
vailing tone and temper Of Southern sentiment,
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, leads also
to this conclusion. 1t would indeed be absurd
to suppose that the political dogmas, sectional
and class distinctions and prejudioes OF caste
and color assiduously cultivated for two hun
dred years have, to any great extent, been
eradicated from the Southern mind with their
overthrow in an appeal to arms against the
conflicting ideas of the North; but it is utterly
preposterous to suppose that the triumphant
party in this war Of ideas and this revolution
can be persuaded to surrender the legitimate
fruits Of the victory 1t has achieved.
In laying down their arms the insurgent
States submitted to the fortunes of war and the
law Of necessity; but they made no surrender
not exacted by necessity. From the generous
terms Of Southern restoration first proposed
by President Johnson he doubtless expected
the best results; but in estimating the under
lying forces and the issues Of the rebellion too
lightly he expected too much. His well meant
diagnosis, too, In which he treated the recon-
quered States as provinces w1ested from
foreign power, while holding them as States
reverting to their status before the war, Gre
ated most of the confusion regarding them
which has followed. Thus 1t has occurred
that only by the intelligent popular
verdict of the Northern Sta tes in the
recent elections has even Congress been
brought to broad and consistent understand
ing Of the case. Hence, however, with the re-
assembling Of Congress, not only is resolu-
ton reafiirming the ultimatum Of the constitu-
tional amendment passed by an overwhelming
majority, but other measures are Initiated,
looking at the excluded States as unorganized
Territories, in consequence of their rebellion.
Now, with the abundant proofs resulting
from President Johnson's policy Of confidence
In the South, that the minds of that people
have been alienated by the late war from the
government of the United States, that they do
not like it, that they do not want 1t and that
they do not intend to accept the easy terms Of
the constitutional amendment, but that they are
combined against it because they supposed
their consent to be essential to its ratification,
what are we to Think Does 1t not appear that
the Southern managing politicians still expect
thus to bring about in the North, with the aid
Of the copperhead faction, such conflict Of
parties and factions and such stats Of polit-
cal confusion and Generalization a. will give
them another and golden opportunity, in
some new shape, for the revival Of their
Southern confederacyf
In several Of the Southern journals now be-
fore US not only Is this broadly suggested, but
also the quarter from which this relief is to
come. The Charleston Mercury OF the 9th In
slant, for example, in discussing the Presidents
message touching upon " the policy Of the
radicals to rule the Southern States As pro-
vlnces," says at Is perfectly plain that this
policy cannot be carried out in the South,
30 long as President johnson Il faithful to the
principles be has avowed. Laws made by two
thirds Of Congress, to be Of any avail, must he
The President alone has the
power Of executing them. If he thinks them
and they are passed
over his veto by Congress,
he has then to Judge and determine whether
1t Is his duty to enforce unconstitutional
laws" From this and similar hints from other
quarters we are left to infer that conflict be-
tween Congress and the President is waited
for by the ruling Southern politicians as their
for a great deliverance. We be-
lieve that this conflict will not occur-that the
President will not make himself party in the
creation Of another civil war, Notwithstanding
the apparent desire and purpose of the more
violent radicals a. well as Of Southern implacs-
bles and Northern copperheads, TO push him to
this extremity.
Pleading still only the law Of necessity, we
must yet again repeat to the responsible people
OF the excluded States that Congress has their
destiny in its hands; that their plain policy Of
safety is the constitutional amendment; that
delay involves the harsher remedy Of Terri
torial treatment; that the war has settled this
in the work Of reconstruction the
Southern ideas must give way to the practical
application OF the Northern ideas of the war:
that the late elections have indicated the duty
Of the President, and that there is no danger
that he viii provoke q conflict in which he
would have nothing to gain but everything to
lose; and, finally, that neither President nor
Congress, II so inclined, could shake the fixed
purpose Of the Union soldiers Of the war under
General Grant 70 bold hs ls!ely insurgsnt
States at least to the terms Of the constitu-
tional amendment That, or something much