The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-06


From the Herald.
We hear from all parts of the South that in
telligent and observing people there are
becoming seriously alarmed about the political
future OF the Southern States. They regard
the present political situation as pregnant
with danger to Southern interests, and argue
that the utmost care and moderation should
mark the course of their friends in the North,
or the South Will be involved in irretrievable
ruin. The men who take this view of things
are not the skulks and towards who in the
crash of battle either fled inglorlousy from
the field or remained in security afaT from
scenes OF peril; out they are those who fought
70 the last for what they conscientiously
beleved to be their rights, and, when they
ialled, yielded like men OF honor and candor
10 the stipnlations OF their vIctors. These are
the men who are willing to submit to any
reasonable sacrifice to be restored again to the
embrace OF the Union; and no line OF policy
should be pursued by the friends OF the South
calculated to inspire them with hopes of better
terms OF restoration than have been presented
by CONGRESS in the pending Constitutional
amenduent. All such hopes will, we feel safe
IN predicting, prove delusive and fallacious
They may be beautiful to the eve but will he
found ashes to the taste. On the otner hand IL
IS barbarOus Tor tne majority, or tnat portion of
them represented by the radicals TO impose
unjust and merciless terms upon the South as a
prerequisite Tor restoration. But it fortunately
happens that neither OF these extremes expresses
the views OF the Northern people on the subject
Neither the Copperhea6s, on the one hand who
advise the South to hold off in expectation of
coming in upon its own terms, nor the radicals
who would keep the South out until 1t accepts
the most abject terms of submission, represent
the true sentiment OF the people of the North.
BY taking the advice of the former in 1860.
when the South might have chosen its own
basis of adjustment, the fatal arbitration of the
sword was selected, and in The contest the South
lost. 1t Will lose still more il it listens to the
n han nla
have not the good sense and sagacity to counsel
the South properly if they mad the power
which they have not, to help 1t in its extremity.
On the question of the Constitutional amend
ment the Copperheads and radicals agree, out
from different motives-one that it requires too
much, and the other that it demands too little
1t was passed by Congress- not by radical or
Copperhead votes, but in spite of them. 1t was
adopted as a middle and moderate course by
the conservatives, as asking not too much
under the circumstances, for the South to ac-
Cept, nor too little for the North to grant
How unfortunate is it, then, for the interests
OF the whole country, that Congress and the Pre-
sldent have got into quarrel ON the question,
Ihe temper shown on both sides has not COM
ported with the dignity that should attach to
these coordinate branches of the Governments
and the sooner the breach is healed and the
Legislative and executive functions ofthe Govern
ment are made to work harmoDiousy together,
the better for the prosperity OF the nation at
home and its standing and influence among
foreign powers.
Now in this crisis of the South is the moment
for President johnson to stamp himself as one
of the wisest statesmen of the age. Let him
relax the rlgidity OF his views on the question
of restoration, accept the Constitutional amend
ment, which enb braces propositions he has him
self at one time and another recommended as
basis for adjustment and advise by proclama-
ton the Southern States to convene their Legs-
latures and ratiiy the amendment without delay.
This he can do gracefully at this time. If he
hesItates or procrastlnates the fitting moment
may be forever lost, and the future of the South
be one saddening to reflect upon. Now is the
opportunity for President Johnson TO make
great man of himself He has the shaping of
the future of the South in his hands.
He can do this now without menace or coer-
con. If he waits until the approaching cleo
tions are over he may be so overwhelmed by
Republican victories that he cannot, with any
degree OF grace, modify policy which he may
be ultimately compelled to abandon The Presi-
dent can do nothing for the South while he
wages war against Republican Congress sup
ported by vast Republican majorIties. This the
Southerners know, and hence is he urged by the
most intelligent among them to so shape his
policy that the South will be saved from those
dangers in the future which an obstinate adhe-
renee to that policy as at present framed is
almost ure to entail.