The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-29


that 1t was passed through Congress by con-
servative Republican votes ard In spite of the
open hostility of the ultra radicals, like Mr..
Thad. Stevens, and they know that its adoption
by the South now would be another great
triumph over those extremists who desire to
keep the Union divided In order to further their
partisan plans at the next Presidential election.
For this reason the more the radicals on both
sides say against the amendment, the more the
people find in ii to endorse.
The radical Copperbead papers denounce the
Constitutional amendment rs "a sham, swim
die, and lie.n The radical nlggerhead paOers
treat it in the same temper, and declare that
mo leading Republican in Congress means to
admit the ten waiting states simply on the
adoption of that amendment" This is the OPT
mon of the extremists, and everybody knows
that ii is worth practically nothing, We ask the
Southern States whether the opposition of the
radicals ls not one of the strongest arguments 10
induce them TO ratiiy the amendment at once
They have been shown that the Constitutional
amendment was adopted in Congress against
the wishes of the radicals they have seen that
General Grant approves it; they have been in
formed that the delegation from the Cleveland
Convention of soldiers and sailors endorsed it
In their address to the President, and they have
noticed that the PittsbuIg Convention of sol
diers and sailors embodied it in their platform,
and forced Major-General Butler to report it, in
spite OF his recent ill-disguised hostility to so
pacific a measure.
The prompt admission of Tennessee has
proved to them that State has only to ratltY
Union, Here, then, is plan OF immediate
restoration which is sanct oned by all the true
friends of the south and opposed by all her enc
mics. Why should it not be accepted Why
do the Southern States hesitate and delay? Is
1t harder to be deprived OF a few representa-
uves III Congress by denying the negroes the
franchise than TO be deprived of representation
altogether? Is it more grievOus to give votes to
the negroes, if that alternative be chosen, than
TO keep all the white men from the balOt-boX?
Will the South accept the best attainable terms
as condensed in this amendment, or will the
blood and burning policy OF Parson BrownloW
De preferred by Southern statesmen?
We tell the South that the conservative peo-
pie of the North are unit ppon this amend
meut. 1t has been ratified by the Legislature
OF New Jersey, which is the only State about
whose ratification there had been any doubt.
In excluding leading Rebels from office, and
forever repudlatlng the Rebel debt, 1T gives just
those gual antees for our future peace and secu-
rity that the North ineXOrahly demands. It's
provisions in regard TO the appOrtlOnment OF
representation affects the Northern States as
well as the Southern. If we accept it, why
cannot the South The time has passed wnen
Northern voters will submit to see the negro
counted as man or three diths of a man when
Representatives are apportioned, but treated as
nonentty when the votes are taken. One
theory or the other must be abandoned.
Either the negro must not be counted, or he
must vote. We should like to hear single
reasonable argument against the justice CI this
provision. The South ought to be willing to
dOCVpG IL CNCu IL IL were uOI Il COuulJIOu Oh re-
union.
Under the circumstances it is not only a con-
diton but it is the best attainable condition. If
the Southern people wait for something better
they will be forced TO take something worse.
Let them refuse this amendment, which leaves
the question of negro suffrage with the States,
and the next move OF the radicals will be to
force upon them unconditional negro suffrage,
with the alternative of continued exclusion, or
perhaps the bayonet. The South was not salts
lied with the Missouri compromise. The same
error must not be repeated now. In case a more
radical Congress is elected this fall, the mild
terms of the Constitutional amendment will be
superseded by more harsh conditions, and then
what can the South do but submit?
There can be no second rebellion, and we no
longer care for the bombast and braggadOcia
that used to alright our politicians. But if the
Southern States ratlfy this amendment their
representatives will be at once admitted to their
seats in Congress, and viii hold the balance of
power. On the one side are incalculable evils
on the other palpabe advantage. The enemies
OF the South are those who urge the rejection of
the amendment; the genuine friends of the
South urge the acceptance of the best attain
able terms in order to a speedy restoration.
What will the South decide to do? Her fate is
in her own hands.