The Portland daily press., 1866-09-13
Good News from New Jersey.

Mr.. Beecher says in his letter to the con-
creation of Plymouth church, that while he
considers the constitutional amendment
equazing representation in Northern and
Southern States, intrinsically just and reason
able nevertheless "from the present condition
of the public mind and from the Presidents
attitude" he is led to regard its ratification as
for tho present practically impossible. 1t is
Tor this reason that Mr.. Beeeher, attaching
undue Importance, as most Republicans think,
to the immediate restoration of the Southern
States to all their privileges in the Union, be-
heves that their representatives should be adj
mitted to seats in Congress at once If the
ratification of the amendment could be speed
lily secured, MIR. Beecher would be In favor OF
insisting upon the condition.
There are other features of the proposed
amendment, which many Republicans consid-
er quite as important as the one which MI
Beecher has selected for special mention
The security of the national debt, the repudl-
alton of the rebel debt the exclusion OF per-
iured traitors from office, the extension OF the
rights of American citizenship to all persons
born or naturalzed within the United States,
are none of them conditions to which we
should expect Mr.. Beecher to object, if they
were practically attainable.
Even ifthey were not Immediately attaina-
BILE, we should be in favor Of holding the
Southern States just where they are, until
they are ready to comply with conditions so
excessively mild. Mr.. Beecher is not, tho ugh
by this time he has probably seen cause to
modify his judgment with regard to the prac-
ticability of the measure on which Congress
went before the people. 1t is the ccnstitu-
tional amendment which is at stake in this
quarrel between the President and Congress.
The Republican party accepted that measure
as the exponent of its policy, and frankly
went into the canvass prepared to stand OF
tall with it. Tennessee ratified the amend
ment, after hard fight get quorum
The majority of Union men in her legisla-
ture was so clearly in favor Of Congress, that
ratification was foregone conclusion if the,
were allowed to assemble. They did assem-
bic; the Pres ident's tools were ferreted out
together; and Tennessee consented to the
conditions of Union rendered necessary by
the war.
That was the beginning. Mr.. Beecher
knew this when he wrote his Cleveland letter.
But since he wrote that letter he has heard
from Vermont, and Maine. Vermont counts
up her Republican majority of twenty-five
the usand, and Maine exceeds that number by
five thousand. These results, SO glorious, so
exceeding all anticipation, ought to give Mr..
Beacher some new notions concerning 'the
present condition Of the public mind."-
Scarcely have the shouts died away which
welcomed the significant election OF last Mon
day, when 10! from New Jersey comes a re-
sponse-iiom New jersey, which in 1850 had
IL slaves, which in 1865 delayed to ratify the
amendme nt forever aboiishing slavery till her
consent was no longer necessary. The legis-
lature of New Jersey on Tuesday, passed the
new amendment by a majority Of one in the
Senate aud ten in the House. The State
which was last before stands now second in
the line. In good time Mr.. Beecher will dis
cover EoW greatly nc lids uliuSfrateu tnc liz
teligonce and patriotism of the people, and
how much ne has overrated the power and
influence of the President. The Presidents
latitude" is not very attractive. The exhibit
ton he mas made OF himself on the stump
has helped Congress more than anything else
he could have done. Before the Fortieth
Congress assemblies, we predict that the
amendment now pending will be part Of the
Constitution, and the question of reconstruc-
ton will have been practically settled.