The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-22
The Union Party of the War and the
Northern Democracy.

The Union Party Of the War and the
Northern Democracy.
From the Herald
The political firm of Seward, Weed, and Ray
mond, like the sails of a fishing schooner on
new tack, appears to be shivering in the wind.
1t seems that these conservative Republicans, in
cutting loose from their late party associations
and in striking hands with the Democracy at the
Philadelphia August Convention, expected some
thing more from them than fusion upon the
same platform. reorganization OF the Demo
cratic element with the amalgamHting Repub-
llcans was counted upon with at least fair
share to the latter of the Congressional and
gubeTnatorial nominations of the new party. 1t
was indeed supposed that the old Democratic
organization, with its unfortunate and untor-
given record of the Rebellion, was to be buried
out OF signt, and that its materials, with the
floating debris from the Republican party, were
TO be recast IN the form OF new national Union
party, with new name for its new departure.
1t appears, however, that the Democracy
think they have done enough in accepting the
Philadelphia resolutions, and that they expect
the johnson Republicans to take back seats in
the old Democratic synagogue as organized and
governed at its Chicago Peace-at-anY-price Con-
ventlon. How much a Congressional nomina-
ton or two would effect in the reparaton of this
mistake we cannot tell, nor is it of any conse-
quence to know, since II is apparent, North and
South, East and West, that things have gone too
far for any possible combination to defeat the
great Constitutional amendment now before the
country.
From the results of the Maine election, the
facts stand out in bold relief that the Union
party Of the war, since August last, has not been
losing, but has been and is gaining strength
that ii remains not only intact, but as earnestly
active as at any time since the opening bonn
bardment of Fort Sumter. 1t has so happened.
too, that In the organized opposition the old
antagonistic forces of the war still hold the
field, and that from such significant events as
the New Orleans massacre and the unfortunate
incidents of the Presidents late excursion, the
public mind of the North has become fixed in
Its purpose of such restoration of the Union
as will embrace substantial and rrevocable
securities for the future.
President Johnson did we'll in his conditions
of restoration imposed upon the Southern States
disorganized and broken up by the Rebellion,
especially in requiring of said States ratihca
tion OF the Constitutional amendment abOlishing
slavery and the reputation OF all Rebel debts
and obligations But why did he require the
ratification of that amendment? Because with
out it by threefourths of the States, the aboli-
ton of slavery remained subject to the will of
the several States. So now. when the question
has been raised by Northern Democratic jour
nails of the unconstitutionality of the present
Congress, some further safeguards than its eX-
listing laws are deemed necessary by the Union
party of the war interested in the validity of
the national currency and the cash value of our
national securities. Hence the increasing
strength among the Northern people of this re-
storatlon plan of Congress, which seeks to make
diation of Rebel debts, and of all claims for
emanclpateu slaves, part of the supreme law
OF the land, beyond the reach of any Congress
and any political party which future events may
bring into power.
The Northern Democracy have professed their
adhesion to the obligations of the national war
debt and the Reputation of the debts of the Re-
Delllon; but while the men among them who
proclaimed the war for the Union unconstitu-
tionaI unholy, and unjust remain as the mana
gers, oracles, and leading candidates of the
all thn=n
cepted by the masses of the people who carried
the country through the war as false pretenses
and electloneering tricks. Against the war
record Of such men, for instance, as Pillsbury,
defeated the other day in Maine, and of Hester
Clymer, whose manifest destiny is similar de-
feat in Pennsylvania. their present professions
go for nothing. So it is apparent from past and
passing events that the restoration plan of Con-
gress, as the platform OF the Union party of the
war, will sweep the North against the old oppo-
sltion of the peace party OF the war; The new
wine of restoration cannot be put into the old
bottles of the Chicago Peace-at-any-price Con-
vention, any more than it can be put into the
broken radical crockery of '0ld Thad. Stevens.
The sooner, therefore, the responsible white
people of the Southern States adapt themselves
to the predominant public sentiment of the
North, in the acceptance of this restoration ult
matum of Congress, the better it will be fol
them. Their political and business interests,
their political and social security, all invite
them to the ratification Of this restoration
amendment without further loss of time. They
have the choice left open to them OF giving o.
denying the blacks vote in their elections
Each State is left free to make its election o
negro suffrage and negro representation, or th
sacrifice of the one with the denial Of the other
The rule will apply to all the States-to NeV
York as well as South Carohna-and TO ever
restriction in all upon the test OF universal sui
frage, whether applied to white or black men
In this and in its other provisions this amend
ment will be sustained by the North, and if tn
Southern States in good faith accepted it sui
stantially from President Johnson, why shoul
they hesitate to fix it in the Federal Constltr
tiOn?