The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-24
Restoration by One Plan or Another the
National Necessity.
From the Herald.

NablOhuA necebSltys
From the Herald.
Restoration of the Southern States without
delay is necessary both in a political point of
view and for the material interests of the
country. If it cannot be brought about in one
way, it must in another. The politicians may
wish 10 keep the question open for party or
political purposes, but the mass of the people
do not-they want it closed up. The continued
exclusion of so large and such an important
part of the country from restoration and repre-
sentation at Washington has political danger in
1t, is great strain upon our institutions and
form of government, and is calculated to
paralyze the productive power of the South as
we'll as the commercial and material interests
of the North. There is, in truth great danger
every way in such an anomalous and unnatural
state of things. We must have prompt restora-
ton at any cost and by all meaus-not TWO,
three, or more years hence, not after the next
Presidential election, but, If possible, before
the term of the present Congress shall expire
next March.
We have seen in history that the richest and
tairest portion of the earth may become a will
derness under paraly zing political clrcum-
stances. The South, with all its natural re-
sources, might become so, In all probability the
productions OF that section of the country, which
have been declining very much since the war,
would become less next year, still less the year
".
restoration be delayed. All the best portion of
the population that could get away would leave;
ambition, which is toe great incentive to indus
lry and action, would be destroyed; and capital
would turn aside from a country so situated.
Shall we suffer this paIt OF our territory, richer
and with more varied productions than India.
to be thus destroyed? Shall we jeopardize our
free republican institutions by keeping hall tie
continent and nearly third of the population
IN an Unrepresented condition, and under des-
pouc rule NO statesman or patriot, nor any
one who has studied history to advantage,
would wish to see such a state Of things
Taxing it for granted, then, that the mass of
our citlzens-that the people OF the North
| earnestly desire a speedy restoration OF the
South to its former relations in the Union,
the question arises, How is this to be accom-
plished?
! We hoped therefore, that the Constitutional
amendment MIGHT be adopted, and thus settle
| the matter. The people OF the North declared
| in the recent elections that to be the plan of
| settlement. IL would have been a safe, ready,
| and easy mode OF restoration. But II does not
| appear that this can be carried through. Three
| iourths OF the States must adopt the amend
| ment before II can become part OF the COnst1-
| tuition. All the Southern States refuse TO adopt
| II, and therefore the overwhelming popular
| majority IN the Northern States in It's favor
is rendered powerless. 1t is even doubtful If a
sufficient number of new States could be erected
to carry the amendment while the South holds
| out. Besides the attempt to oYerrule the South
in this way would cause great delay, which. as
we nave said, would be mighty injurious and
dangerous.
What, then, can be done? Clearly thls:-If
the south viii not accept restoration on the
terms offered through the Constitutional amend.
neni, restoration Que hit to be forced upon them
in some other way by Congress. This seems to
us the only alternative. The interests OF the
North-ot the whole country-yes, the interests
of the South as well as of the North-demand
it, 1t is folly to talk of the rights of the
Southern States. We are in quasi state of
war; the war is not closed up while these
States remain unrestored, and they are COM
petely under the power and AZ the mercy of the
North. The will OF the Northern people, and
consequently that Of Congress- as representing
the Northern people, IS the absolute law in the
case. The South has placed itself in Its present
excluded situation, and must bear the conse-