The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-08

precipitancy and deliberatlon; and the influence
exerted by the Senate in favor OF the latter will
L Iot be unwholesome. ID.
Not that the Union majority in the House
have evinced a disposition TO be malignant, in
tolerant or unreasonable. They are strong,
but .withal good-natured. They hold to the
maxim that what should be done is best done
quickly. They are resolved that there shall be
no misunderstanding of their aims or their
strength. But they have begun no idle quarrel
with or about the President. And their pro-
ceedings in caucus, on Wednesday night prove
that the controlling element is averse to need
less disputes within the party. and equally
averseito any attempted individuals TO oproscTlpe
everybody and everything not exactly IN - mar
should be-energy and unity there will be in
party action when measures and principles are
concerned; but the majority OF the party are
evidently dsihClined to submit TO dictation
when neither measures nor principles are at
stake.
If this course be adhered to- the chief danger
to the party will be passed in safety. The only
real causes for apprehension arise out of the
excess OF strength of which the party may
carry matters with too high hand, or IL may
boast 1t may presume upon Its ability, and
ignore the possibilities of division and throw
away support which 1t can i'll afford to spare.
For the exigencies of the time call for all the
power and tor all the judgment which are at
the command of the party. And to make these
unltedly available, IT viii be necessary to DIS
courage rash counsels, hold in check ambitious
men, and so shape its policy that it shall CON-
mend itself to the sober sense and calm pa
triotism OF the country. There should be sub
santial agreement between all shad of
opinion. And this will be possible only if a
spirit of mutual conciliaton prevail.
If there we're the slightest hope that the res
teration question would be settled on the basis
of the Constitutional amendment, the difficulties
of the position would be comparatively incon-
siderable. little patience might then suffice
for the occasion. But the hope does not, can
not exist. Other measures, OF some sort, will
hn ffnI1
the indefinite exclusion OF the South, which
would be unwise and unsafe for both sides.
The country looks for settlement, and will
probably prefer IL on plan as near as possible
to that sanctioned in the recent elections. But
more radical measures may be a necessity.
Restoration may have to make room for recon-
structlon. OF one conceivable substitute we
have foretaste in Mr. Summers resolutions;
and little thought will bring others to view of
a character for which the public mind has yet
been but imperfectly prepared.
what is Ire eminently desirable is, that
nothing shall be done or attempted of nature
more radical than circumstances render abso-
lutely necessary. The policy required is essen.
TALLY policy OF gradual, de iberate develop
ment. If the amendment be, after all, inetfec-
tuai-if other steps must be taken to realize
the results which the amendment has been in
tended to produce-let the eXigencies of the
position be made so apparent that the loyal
people of the country shall be reconciled to
both the agencies and the consequences. Their
minds are fixed upon the cardinal point; they
intend that all the States shall be brought
into the Union upon terms satisfactory to the
States that subdued the Rebellion. If one
measure will not accomplish this, others must
be tried. But in conjunction with this positive
purpose is an unwillingness to employ more
coercion than is manifestly Indispensable.
hence ltIpecomes expedient tor the Union party
IN CONGRESS to make haste slowly" and TO
take care that every step shall be indicative of
an anxiety to promote the true interests of both
sections.