The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-01


Will the ten Southern States excluded from
the present Congress, viz Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Texas, be allowed to vote in the next Presi-
dental electioni This is question of some
at large; but we think that il may be even
now decisively answered. We have no doubt
whatever that the admission Of said States into
the Presidential election of 1868 will depend
upon their admission beforehand into Congress,
and that this admission will depend upon the
ratification Of the pending constitutional amend
ment by each State directly concerned or by
the constitutional three-fourths of oil the States
required to make the amendment part of the
supreme law Of the land.
The whole number Of the States OF The Union
is now thirty-six. Within another year or
so Colorado and Nebraska may be admitted,
which will make the whole number thirty-eight.
But take 1t at thirty-six, the three-fourths re-
quired to .consummate constitutional amend
ment will be twenty-seveD, the number upon
which the Secretary of State officially pro-
claimed the amendment abolishing and pro-
hibiting slavery part and parcel of the federal
constitution. In addition, therefore, to the
twenty Northern States SO called, we, shall
need seven Of the Southern or late slave States
to make this new amendment part OF the con-
stitutiOn. II we can get those seven the other
nine may DO admitted without rati-
6cation on their part, for the amend
ment, as part Of the supreme law,
will be equally binding upon all the
States. But in the meantime, according to
the precedent Of Tennessee any excluded
State, upon It's ratification of said amendment
will be restored to its full membership in the
government with Its restoration to Congress.
In other words, Virginia, for example, by rati-
flying the amendment comes at once into the
copartnership for the next Presidency and the
Congress to be elected I'm the same campaign;
but by holding of she must await as an "out-
slider" the full ratification by three-fourhs Of
all the States.
This Is the case plainly stated, and we think
il will admit Of no appeal. The amendment
passed by the present or Thirty-nin Congress
will be sustained and adhered to by the Fortieth
or the next Congress. This is as certain as
anything in the future Of human affairs can be.
The next Congress win exercise its authority
over the question Of the admission Of the out
lying States, and according to i,s action they
will be admitted TO participate in or be OK
cluded from the Presidential election. The
constitutional power over ths business il vested
in Congress, and as the complexion and decision
OF Congress may now be considered as settled
to the end OF President Johnsons term Of Office,
the simple alternative presented 10 the ex-
cluded States Is whether they will accept the
terms OF restoration now offered by Congress
and the North or await outside in the cold the
issue of the next Presidential election.
In this practical view Of the matter one would
think that every consideration Of sound policy
and common sense would operate with
the South In favor Of the pending
amendment. But the case is in The hands
Of the excluded States each for itself 10 make
its choice. Taking II for granted that the
whole twenty OF the Northern States will ratify
the amendment, New Jersey having already
oone so, the question recurs what seven OF the
late slave States shall we count for the rati-
fcations Tennessee Is one, already secured;
Missouri may be counted as another, and West
Virginia another. Delaware and Maryland
ought to come next; but which are TO be the
other twof Kentucky may be one, and South
Carolina, the instigator OF and leader In the
rebellion, or Virginia, its main reliance, will
suit exactly to make up the requisite three
fourths. II they can make this sacrifice Of
their old notions concerning "niggcr-,r State
rights and chivalry, the rest OF their con.
fsderates may be excused.
What . glorious opportunity for genuine
chivalry 10 here presented Why not seize Il I
Sooner or later than The next Presidential
election every outlying Stale willbave to come
10 IL and recognize the terms Of this amend
ment ~ the law Of the land. Old things are
done away with and all things In our political
affairs are becoming new The old sectional
party Or slaveholdips oligarcby Of the South,
which mdnsscd tho government from The time
Of Jefferson to the breakup 81 Charleston, are de.
mollsbed, dead and buried. The New England
faction Of radicals aspires to take lie place; bu,
the great Northern Central States, from New
York 10 Illinois, have the reins In their hands,
and this constitutional amendment 70 their
work They, henceforth, are TO be the con-
trolling geographical element in the govern
mens and the balance Of power against all sec
uona' extremists, East, West, North or South.
sonsssssrn politicians and statesmen, looking
not to Vie dsad Oa,. ou, W INC pressn. szIsl.