The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-07
The First steps of Congress Toward
Southern Restoration.

southern Restoration
From the Herald.
In the House of Representatives on Tuesday
last there were two independent propositions
adopted, looking to the reconstruction and res
toraton of the excluded Southern States. We
may say they we're of the highest importance,
as indicating two.third vote in favor OF a com
prehensive reconstruction embracing the reor-
ganizaton of the States concerned from the
disorganized condition in which they stood
when first disarmed as members of hostile
confederacy.
The first of these propositions was in the
shape. OF resolution from Mr.. Wentworth, of
illinois, TO this efeCt-that in response to the
PRESIDENTS Message on the status of the lately
lnsurgeDt States, still excluded from Congress,
the House finds in their many acts OF disloyalty
recent its eecdns aft i as well as il the
reasons Tor insisting on the adoption OF the
pending Constitutional amendment before 1t
will consider the proprety of giving such
States Congressional representation" Mr.. An
coma (Democrat), of Pennsylvania, moved to
lay this resolution on the table, and the yeas
and nays being ordered, the call resulted-yeas
thrty-two, nays one hundred and nineteen,
wheTeupon the resolution was adopted without
a division. 1t will thus be seen that nearly
four-flths of the House are in favor of adherng
to the amendment as basis of Southern resto-
ration. We may conclude, therefore, that as
the next Congress, lately elected, is substan-
TALLY the present Congress over again, this
resolution is fixed to the 4th of March, 1869, and
covers the question whether the excluded States
shall or shall not be admitted into the Presden-
tial election of 1868.
This is a matter worth considering by the un-
recognized States; for it is morally certain that,
unless their balance of power is brought into
the scales, the approaching Presidential election
will result in another lease OF power to the
dominant party, executive as well as leglsla-
tive. But the second proposition to which we
have referred aims at the cutting out of these
Southern embarTassments by the root 1t was
put IN the form OF resolution from Mr.. Broomall
If Pennsy lvania, instructing the Committee on
Territories ito inquire into the eXpe1iency Of
reporting bill providing Territorial Govern
ments for the several districts of country within
the jurisdiction OF the United States formerly
occupied by the once existing States of Virginia,
North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala0ama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas,
and giving to all adult male inhabitants therein,
born within the limits OF the United States, OF
duly naturalized, and not participants IN the
late Rebellion, full equal rights in such Terri
torial Governmental
This sweeping proposition was adopted-yeas
one hundred and seven, nays thirty-seven-a
| vote OF nearly three-fourths OF the House. To
| be sNre, this is mere inquiry ordered, but the
vote indicates the opinion and, probably, the
| fixed purpose OF both Houses The bill, we eX-
| pect, will in due season be reported, and from
this preliminary vote we infer, that, if put to the
test, 1t can be passed over tine Presidents veto,
when it will be a law of the land. We believe,
| however, that 1t In the meantime the excluded
| States, even as now organized, adopt the pend
! ing Constitutional amendment and shape their
local Governments and Congressional elections
so as to meet its conditions, they will be ad-
mitted into Congress after the example of Ten
nessee. II is because of the intractable aud
defiant spirit manifested by the ruling politicians
OF the States concerned, that Mr.. Broomall pro-
poses the extreme remedy OF reducing them not
| only TO the condition of Territories, but to the
control of their black population. Think of
that-a South Carolina Territorial Legislature
OF blacks making laws for Wade Hamilton.
1t is between this extreme and awful remedy
and the Constitutional amendment that the un
Ieconcied States have to choose-a choice OF a
salivatng treatment of calomel and jalap, or
little Of the sweet spirits of nitre with some
tincture of rhubarb. Nor can we promise that
any very long margin of time will be allowed
for decision upon the subject, We seriously
entertain the opinion, nevertheless, that If
South Carolina, for example, within month or
two shall adopt the amendment and frame her
local institutions and her elections accordingly,
she will be restored as a State without being
subjected to this threatened territorial ordeal.
The warnings which we have so repeatedly given
the States and people concerned are now reduced
to "a fixed tact.n Nothing better will be offered
them than the Constitutional amendment, and
if it is not very soon accepted something NJ uch
worse will assuredly follow.