The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-12


has been subjected. Shall the President be sus.
tanned in his plan for restoring the Union by
the immediate admission of the Southern States
TO the CaprolY or shall the recommendations
of the President be repudlated, and the action
of Congress endorsed ? The question may have
been more or less modified in particular locali-
ties, as in that represented by Mr. Thaudeus
Stevens, but as a rule this has been its shane
the President or Congress? The Immediate
admission OF the South, or the exaction of pre-
limlnary conditions, embodied IN the Constitu-
tional amendmentg And the answer leaves
room neither for equvocation nor doubt It is
Overwhelmingly against the President-clcariy,
and its policy.
Seldom, indeed has a contest been conducted
With so exclusive reference TO single ISSUE
True, the antecedents of candidates dnr1ng the
war have had much to do with the question
of individual eligibility. Clymer has been
consigned to private life because his sympathies
aud efforts were against the war for the Union
while Geary's we're heroiCally in its support
But, after ALL there have been few of the
consideIations which in ordinary times have
entered into party controversy. The tariff IN
teInal improvements, the currency the foreign
relations of the Government, have been dis.
cussed only incidentally. Everywhere the con.
dltlons OF national unity and peace have
formed the theme of debate, and the standard
by which parry nominations have been weighed
and judged. Minor questions, therefore, cannot
be pleaded in abatement OF the account as it
now stands,
1t is a settlement which can be altered only TO
be made more stringent. IL is declaration of
the popular determination 70 exact from the
South guarantees for the maintenance of the
Union as the war has made il; a Union assuring
national citizenship to black and white assuring
equality before the law, the Just representation
OF the sections, and the nviolability Of the loyal
debt, and providing ehectually against the future
assumption of the Rebel debts or claims. This
Is the sum and substance OF Tuesdays verdict.
Not negro sutrage-notcontsca harsh
or Vlndlcuve penalties; but the plan OF restora-
tion dictated by Congress, and designed to be a
final adjustment Of our national difficulties.
1t is too late TO say that the popular verdict
hardly comes up to the rigid constitutional
standard. 1t would avail nothing now to argue
that the amendment equitable and moderate
though 1t be, ought not to be condition oil
restoration. Equally useless were it to consider
by what possible combinations and compro
misses the view Tor which we have Contended
might have acquired greater prominence and
support The people have been heard from,
and from their decision our form of government
provides no appeal. The South, it wise, will
hearken and comply. And the President, il
polite, VIII not refuse TO listen to q verdict
which specially concerns himself and the plan
to which he is committed
at least one source OF apprehension has been
removed. Had these elections ended adversely
to Congress-had promises been held out OF any
considerable change III the complexion of thai
body-the idea OF a second House, with the
Southern representatives Internationally ad.
mitted, might possibly have assumed dangerous
uluSnslOuS' Inc pTOpOelIlOu JndI Il SeCOnO
Congress should be organized, and that the
President should recognize the one favorable to
ms plan, might then have been more plausible
Fortunately this beginning of revolution ha,
been obviated, Not the taintest preteXt can
Low be found tor impugnin9 the validity of the
Congressional decision, or Tor mo ting the
legitimacy of any other body. The people have
taken care that this threatened peril shall not
be heard of more.
They have decreed, not only that Congress as
it now is faithfully represents their convc-
tlons and purposes, but that the Congress which
will come ater shall sustain substantially the
same policy. Neither the South nor the Presi
dent, then, has aught to expect from delay
The South must choose between prolonged eX
cluslon, with the probability Of more stringent
terms, and the acceptance OF the overture
already submitted to them. The President
must be content to see Congress push forward
It's new method of settlement, despite protesta
ton and vetoes, or must frankly accept tht
verdict pronounced by the people who elected
him, and use his opportunities to hasten resto
ration on the only basis that is practicable. HI
has stated his own case, and the people have
refused to accept it. The part of statesman
ship surely is TO concede eraciously anC
promptly to the popular requirements and t.
exert the influence OF the Executive in suppor
OF the compromise now rendered to the South
prn States