The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-22
What she South should Do.

LILO pAOPOSAeAou AaS OoeA 1SCSutly
made-and, we notice, has been dis
cussed, within the last few days, at
some length, and with much ability,
by Judge Nicholas, in the columns of
the Journal-that national constitu-
tional conv vention shall be called, at
an early day, for the purpose of re-
vising the Constitution and incorpo-
rating such amendments as may be
deemed necessary to conform the Co
vernment to the changed condition
of things growing out of the war
We are disposed to favor the propo-
sition, for many important reasons.
First. Because, in such conven-
ton, the voice of the South would be
heard, both in argument for its rights
and in protest against its wrongs and
the schemes of the Jacobin leaders.
Second. The delegates elected to
such convention would come fresh
from the people, fully advised of their
views, and would, therefore. fairly
represent their opinions. They would
be untrammelled by the desire for
reelection, and their action would be
directed rather to the public good
than to the interests of party.
Third. Such body would repre-
sent the whole nation and all of its
multiplied interests, and would be
uninfuenced by party schemes, and
would, in all probability, be both
honest and independent. 1t would
take, for its starting-point, the fact,
that the good of both sections, and
the prosperity of the nation, required
the restoration of the Union, and
that such restoration should rest upon
the basis of the equality of the States
and justice to all sections.
Fourth. Because, if the Constitu-
ton adopted by such body was not
acceptable, it could be rejected by the
vote of one State over one-fourth of
the whole number of States. The
South would, consequently, be in no
danger of losing any right by going
into such convention, while the
North would lose none of its power.
If nothing satisfactory could be agreed
on, both sections would be left in the
| precise attitude in which they stand
now.
Fifth. The personal association and
the comparison of views OF the rep
resentative men of the two sections
might result in the adoption of a
Constitution which would be gene
rally acceptable, and which would re-
store the.country to peace and har-
mony, and amply secure the rights
of all
Surely no fair or plausible argu-
ment can be made against such pro-
position. Such a convention could
do no hurt, if it did no good, while
the probabilities are that its results
would be eminently beneficial.
The Constitution provides that
Congress shall, upon the application
of the Legislatures of two thirds of
the several States, call a convention
for proposing amendments, which,
when ratified by three-fourths of the
| States, shall become part or parts
Of the Constitution.
Now suppose the legislatures of
the ten excluded States, together with
Kentucky and Maryland, which
would constitute one-third of the
States, should propose that such q
convention should be called, could
the Northern States, or at least a
sufficient number of them to make up
the necessary two thirds, refuse to
unite in the call? What excuse could
they offer to the country and to the
world for their refusal? The very
fact that they now feel under consti-
tutlonal obligations to submit consti
tutional amendments to the excluded
States for their approval, is an ad-
mission that they have q right to
participate in the formation and
amendment of the organic law, and
if through their legislatures, then why
not in the other mode Of amendment
prescribed by the constitution
through a national constitutional
convention? 1t could only be an un q.
warranted exercise Of power which
orld prevent them from SO doing.
The radical party profess to demand
of the South only such amendments
of the constitution rs will secure the
Government against future rebellion.
Such guarantees could be as we'll
obtained in constitutional conven-
tion as by amendments thrust upon
the Southern States by Congress, for
in either case, the amendments could
not be ratified without the assent of
at least some of those States. And it
might be that the Southern States
would be more willing to accept
amendments which they were allowed