Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-10
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
AND THE SOUTHERN STATES.

| THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
AND THE SOUTHERN STATES.
The last strategic move Of the more cum
ming Radicals is to insist upon the adoption
OF the constitutional amendment BY the
Southern States. Trimming Conservatives,
at the North, who openly opposed it when
first presented, and ultra Radicals who voted
Cor il while denouneing it as inadequate TO
obtain their full desires, are advising the
Southern States TO its ratification, and
threatening them in the event they refuse.
Certain prominent newspapers in the South
also have protested conversion to what is
called the policy Of adopting it, and are
trying 70 argue themselves and their read
ers into the beIief that it is to the interest of
the South to forego principle, and succumb,
without parley, to this "fell swoop" Of Radi-
cal dictation. The Southern States should
turn deaf ear to all advice on this subject
| from tricksters and trimmers in both sections.
They counsel base abandonment princi-
pie, which, if followed, would sink the ma
ton fathoms deeper into trouble than it
now Is Instead Of relieving from the OBJ
stacles which hinder a restoration of the
onion, it will but tend to encourage the
party who have assumed to control this
question, to interpose further and greater
ones, and finally to deprive the Southern
States Of every feature which gives them
dignity and equality as members Of the Fed
eral Government. The man who does not
see that this amendment is the initial step
to the Radical plan of centralizing
power in the general government, and hold
/ ing theGovernmenti in the handsOf the States
having Radical majorities, is incapable of
seeing anything, and incompetent to advise
men who have intelligence to understand
their rights and interests. To the heotoring
Of Radicals in regard to ii, the Southern
States should oppose a firn, unyield-
ing 'front.' and refuse compliance with
any demand which compromises a
1.-THE Of their just rights under the Consti-
tuition. We regret that such able and in
Auential journals as the New Orleans Pea
y,tne should lend countenance to the propo-
sition, and while we do not impeach its
fealty 10 the cause of the South, feel con-
strained TO condemn its course as unwise
and ruinous
The chief argument, (if such it can be
called,) that is used in its favor, is that it is
inevitable; that the North will force it, and
that the Southern States are reduced to the
alternative of accepting this or more strin-
gent conditions. But, is this so? There
are thirty SIX States, and twenty-seven are
required for ratification. Kentucky and
Maryland win refuse to adopt it, and if the
ten Southern States stand firm, it can never
become part Of the Constitution. The
Radical Rump Congress cannot make States
enough in a score Of years to give them the
necessary three-fourths against these twelve
non-radfying States. But say the adj
voeates Of submission, in the meantime,
the South is excluded from the
Union, and anything is better than
condition Of territorial vassalage. To this
it may be answered that the indefinite pro-
longation Of such state of affairs is impos-
sible. 1t will be altered in some way.
Either a returning sober sense will teach the
North the impolicy of it, and cause the
people Of that section to eject from power
the men who are guilty Of this great wrong,
or the issue will be settled in another appeal
to arms-not by the Southern people how
ever. They fought to withdraw from the
Union. They can bide their time TO return
to it. The contest will beamong the North
ern people, who will, sooner or later, find
that the exclusion of the Southern States
from coequal power in the Union is destruc-
tive policy for as surely as the night follows
the day, it will wreck their liberties as well
as ours, and work the overthrow of consti- |
tional government. The INSCRIPTIONS lead |
ers who are striving to enthrall the South, |
and the faction at their heels who will fatten |
and thrive upon such state of affairs, will |
seek to perpetuate it, but unless the light Of
reason and the love of liberty is extinguished |
in the minds Of the mass of the Northern |
people, sharp experience will drive them
to severe measures against these usurpers,
and in emancipating themselves, they will |
unloose the shackles of the South. |
We cannot conceal profound interest |
in this question, and are not indif-
ferent to the disposition to be made
of it. for We are earnestly DESTROYS Of the |
re-establishment of the Union of the States,
but only upon just and constitutional |
basis. We oppose the constitutional amend !
ment, however, as we have before said, and |
cannot say too often, becauseit, in itsefand in |
its consequences, is frIught with stupendous
evil, and we earnestly deprecate a DISPOSE |
ton on the part Of any portion ofthe South |
em people TO aequiesce in it through policy, |
or for any other assignable reason.