The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-03

declared during its progress by Congress and
the Executive, IT recognizes the existence OF the
States with all the rights guaranteed to them
by the Con stitution, and proposes to cousum-
mate tie act OF restoration by admitting them
to Congress without other CONDITIONS than those
enacted by existing laws, Tins nothing IS
assumed which Congress has not already con
ceded; nothing is proposed which the Constitu-
ton aud the law as IL stands does not sanctiooi
no new issue Is presented; no action is required
save that which Congress may az once perform
without departure from Its established routine.
On the other hand, the policy of Congress has
neither consistency nor effectiveness to recon-
mend it. 1t tails short OF the standard which
the Congressional leaders have themselves
erected. II virtually ADMITS the right of the
South to be represented yet proposes conditions
to which the majority OF the Southern States
Will not submit. 1t does not meet the demands
OF the radical faith, while 1t calls for more than
the Constitutional Unionists are prepared to
grant. The latter contend for the right 70 i'm
mediate repre-, entation, while the radicals
preach the doctrine of State destruction with
out acting upon 1t, and clamOr for negro
suffrage without venturing to make il tea.
tuTe of their platform. The policy of Con-
gress, therefore, does not heartily please any
body. The moro bitter the opposition to the
President, the more vehement are the objec.
tions to the plan with which Congress is iden-
tilted. Mr.. Sumner has not concealed his dis
gust; MI. Thaddeus Stevens cannot advocate IL
without Standardization: Mr.. Wendell Phillips
berates 1t as deluson, and its promoters as
hypocries; MIR. Gerr1tt Smith maintains that
Congress is coward" 'lacks faith in
righteousness" and has ''ombarrassed and de-
moralzed" the Republican party by o plan
which substantially acknowledges the principles
contended Tor by the President. Indeed NUT
terings are heard which portend a storm among
the champions of Congress upon this subject.
They find themselves IN a fght without heart to
90 through 1t on the present conditions. They
insist that the plan shall be rendered more
radical-that is to say, more certain to mortify
and offend the South, and more widely at vari-
ance with the views of the National Unionists.
We have, then, to look at certain fact as
well as not remote probabilities. The fact
already fixed is that the Constitutional Amend
ment which the Southern States are asked TO
raufy as condition precedent Of readmsson,
will not be ratified. The South will not pur-
chase a constitutional right, TO the recognition
Of which the Federal Government is pledged,
by accepting the terms proposed Hence the
Congressional plan of reconstruction, as opposed
TO the constitutional plan OF restoration, is even
now failure. 1t will not effect the restoration
of the Union. 1t will not eXtricate the country
from its perilous position. 1t will do nothing
towards producing harmony or perfecting peace.
What then? Will the radicals effect the dis
ruptton for which the Rebels struggled in vain?
Will the South continue for an indefinite period
out of the Union? Will the radicals abandon
their amendment, and admit the South without
special conditions? Or will they obey outside
aeitators, and substitute for the amendment
now repudated by the South ano therp plan more
extreme in its nature more unjust, and more
hateful to the SouthcIn people?
The last of these CONTINGENCIES we consider
the most probable. The radical policy as now
proclaimed exhibits indifference to the require
ments and restraints OF the Constitution, and an
arrogant intolerance which opposition serves
but to intensity. Besides. ulTerior purposes
have been avoWed which il is imDossibe to
misunderstood. General Butler is lot alone in
the work of threatening. Others as we'll as he
have apprised the South of the horrors which
are in store tor it if it shall dare exercise ITS
constitutional right, and repudiate the present
plan. The CHICAGO tribune has declared that if
this plain tall, Congress Will be at liberty to
overthrow existing State organizations, treat
the South as conquered territory, and begin de
moro the business OF reconstruction according
to the most radical ideas. Governor BroWnloW
gives vent to yet more ruffianly violence. He
predicts that the army OF invasion which the
discreet Butler expects TO command will exter-
inmate the southern population, raZe houses
and fences to the ground, and make the entire
Southern Coniederacy as God found the earth
when He commenced the work of creation,
without form and vod." Then the lands
are to be resurveyed, sold to pay expenses, and
settled only by adherents of the radical doc
trine! OF course, these are the rawlings of
madmen or the suggestions of knaves. They
are not likely to commend themselves to the
minds Of any considerable body of the people
in the North, or to be submitted to unresist-
ingly by the people of the South. But though
unworthy of notice from practical point of
view, they ought not to be passed unheeded.
For they undoubtedly reflect the desires and
hopes OF those for whom Brownlow and Butler
speak. and they point unmistakaby to q re-
newal of civil war If the radicals are otherwise
unable to give effect to their policy.
These considerations will not be lost sight of
by the constituencies whose Judgment upon the
great issue will soon be pronounced. There are
thousands to whom q common sense estimate of
the situation will be conclusive, altogether esde
from those who approve OF the National Union
pan as a question of principle. 1t may suit
knaves and windbags TO threaten contiscaton
ana wholesale hanging, but the great majority
Of the people will rate them at their proper
value, and will prefer practical measures for
restoring peace and Union. Mr.. Stoddart, the
writer OF letter, is not alone amongst Repuhli-
cans in his conception of the weakness and
failure of Congress. individuals of this class
may not approve of the Presidents course in
every particular, but they see in his policy q
consistency and feasibility of which they dis
cover no trace in tne proceedings of radical
legislators.
On these GROUNDS the moyement ior the I'M
mediate admission OF the South to Congress will
acquire strength, wherever the question shall
be inteligently discussed. Sooner or later, the
Southern States must be readmItted, and there
is no wisdom IN delaying that which is inevl-
| table. II they would accept the proposed amend
| ment, well-theu acquiescence would silence
complaint from other quarters. But since they
| will not ratify the amendment the wisest course
will be 10 allow it to drop, to insist no further
| upon conditions, and to admit their loyal repre-
/ sentatives without waste OF time. The Union
| has nothing to fear from the presence of the
| South in the Capitol. The only danger is in it
| prolonged exclusion, with all the chances o
| mischief which may meanwhile arise.
Henry Ward Beecher and the CLEVELAND