Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-26
TIE RADICAL SCmEME.

In the remarks made a few days since on
the constitutional amendment, we took the
ground that its presentation at this time and
its chief object was 10 further Republican
party schemes in the Northern fall elections;
and that il was not intended 10 facilitate the
readmission Of the States lately in arms
against the General Government, and COM
plete the restoration Of the Union.
The National Tateliigenoe ofthe Dist, copies
in italics, and under the head of = 4 start
thing appoalto The country At this crisis-A Ju-
gle NOTE" the following extract from the New
York Herald of the day previous. 1t will
be seen that both Of these papers take the
same view Of the subject expressed by this
paper. The views, also, which we gave Of
the scope and intent of the first section Of
this amendment is that held by the Herald
and Endorsed by the Intelligence, viz; that
IL places "Cliies and blacks upon Il footing Of
perfect equality under The STATE authority" or in
other words, that il leads TO negro suffrage.
In it, protested intent and in its phrascology
il is a patchwork Of partizan cozening and
iugglery which the American people of every
section should Indignantly repudiate.
The following is the article referred to
Now the question: About what time may
we expect Tennessee, for instance, 10 be re-
instated in Congress under this enabling
act2 The amendment in question must first
be ratified by three fourths Of the States, in
Guiding Tennessee; and the State Legisa-
ture must then revise all its laws in conior-
nifty with this aforesaid amendment, exclu-
ding rebels from Office, among other things,
subject to dissolution, by two thirds vote
Of Congress, and putting whites and blacks
upon a footing of perfect equality under the
State authority, DC. This is a process Of
publication as BY fire and water, which viii
not be finished this side the coming Presi-
Dental election. The object of the bill is
evidently Job Of work which will keep out
Of Congress and our Federal elections all
the now excluded States until after the set
Element of the question Of the next Presi-
dency, and the Congress TO he elected at the
same time. This point secured, the admis-
sion Of the excluded States NAV be delayed
and put of for two or three or ten or twenty
years longer, according to the convenience
Of the dominant party.
There is no guarantee in this bill that the
States directly concerned will ever be res
tored, under its operation, to their full po-
lhl,al rights. 1t is device of the party in
power 10 retain its power by the continued
exclusion from the Government of the
States which might turn the scale. But
this thing must come to an end son,e day, or
the Government itself will cease TO exist AZ
that Of Republic. We cannot undertake
the indefinite exclusion and alienation of
eleven States Of The Union from the national
councils without hazarding the gravest con-
sequences. Noristhere any way of superseding
this plan, and the party proposing 1t, than
through the elections for the next Congress;
but this remedy is simple enough, and may
he made effective Let the people Of the
North who desire practical restoration of
the Union without further pretexts and eX-
pedieuis Of delay, and who are anxious 70
see law aud Order confidence and industry,
commerce and prosperity restored over the
South, take their ground for a new Congress
ufnew men and conservative principles. and
the game ia in their hands Republican
candidates for Governors may be worthy pa
triots aud popular men. Republican CON
stitutional amendments and platforms may
be all well enough in their way but these
things should not divert the public attention
from the main question-thc elections of The
coming fall for the next Congress.
The real issue we say, covered over as it
may be with disguisos will still continue
the samc-thc indefinite exclusion or speedy
restoration 20 avoice in the Government Of
the eleven Southern States.