The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-17
The Adoption OF the Constitutional
Amendment the Great Measure of Peace

The Adoption OF the Constitutional
Amendment the Great Measure OF Peace
and Union.
UNDER our usual heading of the New York
Press, will be found to-day a very sig
nifcant and well-considered article from the
New York Herald, urging the adoption of
the Constitutional amendment proposed by
Congress, as the speediest. surest, and best
means OF securing the early return OF the late
Rebel States to full relations with the Union.
The argument is an able one, and is well
worthy of the consideration OF candid men OF
all parties.
It is a fact of some Importance, that even
the Democrats do not assail the terms Of the
amendment as oppressive or unjust. They
have generally contented themselves with
maintaining that no terms of admission could
rightfully be demanded of the Southern COM
munities; but since they have endorsed
the Executive plan of Reconstruction,
that position is necessarily abandoned.
The ronly question that remains, then, is
whether the terms proposed by Congress are
Just and eXpedient ? Undeniably they are.
Can any man deny that the equalization Of
representation so that it shall stand upon a
common basis all over the country, is a mea-
sure of Justice ? Ifslavery be really dead, as
all parties are so vociferous in maintaining,
ought the unjust, infamous, rotten-borough
system of representation based upon it to be
continued Ought voter In Pennsylvania
to have not one-half the influence in Congress
that voter in South Carolina has Does
magnanimity towards the late Rebel States de-
mand that we should give them an unjust
sectional advantage in the Union ? If not,
what good reason can be urged why that fea-
ture of the Constitutional amendment should
not be endorsed by all parties
So, too, OF the clause excluding from Office
the prominent and leading actors in the late
Rebellion, is there anything hard or oppressive
about that? Consider tor a moment what
these men have done, their crimes against the
liberties of a free people, their endeavor to
revolutionize the Republic, that they might
rear great slave empire on its ruins the
precious lives they have wasted, and the
mountains of debt and taxation they have
heaped up for us and our children,-a then
say whether their exclusion from positions OF
honor and trust in the very Government they
have endeavored to overthrow, is a hard con-
dition? Does not common ordinary pru-
dence demand that for the future these men
shall be kept in private lite? Is it great
hardship that we will not make them our
rulers?
We think that the good common sense o
the American people will affirm that the con
ditions imposed by them are not only not un.
just, but in the highest degree magnanlmous
Why, then, should not the Rebel State;
e accept these conditions at once, and terminate
the contest? Tennessee did so, and hel
Representatives we're Immediately admitted
Every Southern State might do it, and hav'
its Representatives in Congress before thu
1st day of next January. What bette
ground of compromise and settlement 70
this whole question have we than the Consti
tutional amendment ? Its adoption will
terminate the struggle, and give us peace
Is not that what we all want? Why, ther
refuse so sure, so easy, so speedy, and s
equitable plan of adjustment?