The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-14
Position and Policy Of the son.l.


There are gratifying indications Of q growing
disposition ON the part Of the South to accept
the conditions offered by Congress in the con-
stitutional amendment now before the States
for their ratification. Since the emphatic YER
dict Of the Northern people, which confirms the
policy Of the present Congress for the remain
der OF President Johnson's term Of Office, the
tone Of the Southern press has been greatly
modified, and Charleston paper now tells it's
fire-eating neighbors that it is plain the South
will only cease to occupy its present anoma-
lous position" when the constitutional amend
ment shall have been ratified.
The majority of the people Of the excluded
States would rejoice to see the present uncer-
tainty and turmoil ended. They are weary OF
the strife and have ceased to interest them
selves in political affairs The old radical fire.
eaters alone busy themselves with politics and
misrepresent the tone of the people in their
violent speeches and through portion Of the
press. 1t is their infammatory language that
furnishes fuel to the Northern radicals with
which 70 rekindle aud feed the fire Of sectional
hate. But they do not speak the true senti
ments o the Southern masses any more than
Ben Butler and Thsd Stevens reflect the real
feelings Of the people Of the North.
This improved tone Of the Southern press in
spires the hope that the better class Of citizens
will arouse from their apathy, and, thrusting
aside their mischievous leaders, make them
selves heard in favor Of the settlement Of the
question Of representation by the ratification
Of the constitutional amendment Common
sense must point out to them the advan-
tages they will derive from such course
Since the close OF the war they have been suffer-
ing from the want Of capital and the stagnation
oftrade consequent upon their unsettled condi-
ton. II is time that they should cast away all
passion and prejudice and calmly decide upon
policy by which they can most surely and
speedily restore their prosperity and happi-
ness and resume their position and influence
in the government Of the country. The past is
gone forever. Let them bury IL out Of sight,
and, as far as may be, out Of memory. The
South is still portion OF the Union, and by
prudence and wisdom can speedily reassume
the important position which her commerce
renders II impossible to deny her.
In the present political condition of the North
II is easy to see that the Southern States would
be benefited instead Of injured by accepting
the terms offered by the majority Of the con-
sentative republicans in Congress. In case Of
the ratification Of the constitutional amend
ment the question Of suffrage would be left
wholly 10 the States where IL belongs. Nonegro
would be entitled TO vote unless the State in
which he lives should voluntarily place the
ballot in his hand. But IL not entitled to vote
he would not be enumerated in the apportion-
ment Of representatives to Congress. Taking
II Tor granted that the excluded States would
not at present enfranchise the negroes, they
would lose q few representatives but by the
very act OF accepting the constitutional amend
ment they would unite themselves politically
with the conservative republicans already In q
majority In Congress, and would at once
assume an importance and strength which
could not fail TO exercise material
influence upon the future Legislation Of the
country. They would find in the conservatives
OF the commercial and producing States allies
against special protective legislation "a we'll ~