The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-28
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING
JOURNALS UPON CURRENT TOPICS.
COMPILED EVERY DAY FOR EVENING TELEGRAPH.

The Con nstitutional Amendment - Last
Chance for the south,
From the Herald. ~
While the Republican leaders and takers are
going around the country, like Corn wall miners,
with tallow candles in their caps, endeavorIng
10 shed light upon the crisis through which the
country is passing, we have entirely eclipsed
them by the calcium illuminaior we have intro
duced in the shape of the Constitutional amend.
ment. 1t is now very clear that it has been the
policy of Thad. stevens and his Jaoobin toll
lowers to keep this important amendment out
of sight as much as possible. 1t has been rarely
discussed in any OF their councils, or at any
rate at those which have reached the ear
and eye of the public. They do not wish
to have it openly debated, nor do they
desire that the minds of the people shall be-
come familiar with ITS business and ITS amelio-
rating tendencies. Above all, they do not want
the South to accept 1t; for they know it it does
their power Will be lost and their rod of terror
broken Stevens is not satisfied with the
amendment; neither is Wade, Sumner, Banks,
Butler, nor Boutwell,. Neither is Kelley, otPenn-
sylyania, nor Greeley, of the Tribune, nor any
others of the bitter radical stamp. What these
men want is for the South TO reject or to spurn
the amendment, and thus compel the question
of restora ion TO 90 over to the next Congress,
which, they feel confident, and not without
reason, Will be more inimical to the South than
the present one.
What, then, is the plain policy of the South
Clearly it is to accept, without hesltancy or
delay, the proposed amendment. They GER
tainly cannot expect to do any better with the
present Congress, and they must not hope or
expect for greater clemency from the next.
By all the signs of the times the Fortieth Con-
Sress will be composed in part of a fierce aud
revolutionary body of men. In all the Eastern
States, where the radicals have majoritIes, the
question upon nominations for Congress is not
who is the most moderate or conservative, but
who is the most radical. The latter is inva-
riably the nominee. 1t is for this reason that
such men as Banks, Butler and Boutwell-all
formerly Massachusetts Democrats-are so eX-
treme and violent in their anti-Southern views.
In this they but echo the sentiments OF the
people they represent, aud not to obey that
sentiment they know is to allow themselves to
be politically shelved for the remainder of their
lives They are bent upon success, and the
motto OF one of these men is, Success is a
duty"
Now, then, is the critical moment for the
South. The proposed Constitutional amendment
should be promptly accepted by them. The pre-
sent Congress cannot refuse to acknowledge the
act, and to restore them to fraternal relationship
in the Union 1t is in measure pledged to do
this, and 1t has already partially fulfilled its
pledge by admitting Tennessee. From the next
Congress the South will have much to appre-
hend. There il great danger that the aims of
the radicals to d,iranchise the whites, to con-
tisCate and apportfOn their property, and to give
universal and unrestricted suffrage to the blacks,
will then be accomplished. The Legislature of
every Southern State should therefore be imme
dately called together and the proposed Con-
stitutIonal amendment adopted. Once in Con-
gress, they will hold the balance ofpower in the
House, and have their proportonate weight in
the Senate, They will never have a better
chance for being restored to position in the
Union than is now offered them. We again say,
let them accept it,
President Johnson should issue proclamation
calling upon the Governors of the several
Southern States TO convene their Legislatures
before next December, and recommend them to
adopt the proposed amendment. This done, a
new and enulgent light will be shed over the
whole Union, IRON the brilliancy of which the
radicals will, with their tallow candles, pale
into insignfcance.