Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-15
WHAE on nc FUTURE?

In another column We present extracts
from various Radical papers, indicative Of
the intents of the dominant party towards
the Southern States. Upon one Of these,
that from the New York Tribune, the Gin
cinnati Eaquira, after saying that it has no
doubt that the Tribune programme win be
carried out, remarks as follows
"The Southern States will be regarded as
territories, and be treated as such. Congress
will pass a law, in defiance Of the Presidents
veto, calling elections for Constitutional
conventions, and prescribing the qUalifoa-
tions Of voters at such elections. Blacks
will be declared voters and such whites as
the law does not prescribe. Should the con-
stitutiOns-if any-formed under that law,
confne suffrage 10 the whites, Congress will
refuse to admit the States having such con-
stitutions, and thus keep the Southern States
as territories SC long as they refuse 10 put
negroes on an equality, civiily and politi-
cslly, with the whites.
But there is a difficulty in the way Of car
rying out that Radical programme. The
President holds those States to be States in
the Union, and not Territories, and has so
recognized them. Congress itself has done
the same thing. The Tribune says that the
right of the blacks to participate in the cleo
tons To form new State constitutions for the
Southern States must be maintained by
force If necessary" But who will direct the
force required TO make the negroes voters at
these elections? Will the President order
il 10 be done Congress will, doubtless, in
its law, direct the President to use the whole
power Of the Government to enforce its pro-
visions. If the President complies, the Radi-
cal programme can be carried out. But, IL
he does enforce the law, he will first yield
his own declared views and adopt those Of
Congress, as to the present status Of the
Southern States. He will have to ac-
knowledge that the Southern States are not
States in the Union, but Serritories subject
10 the legislation of Congress. Should he
do that theyCOngress and the Executive will
be in harmony, and the Radical programme
will be enforced on the Southern people.
But, suppose Mr.. JOHNsoN shall take the
ground assumed by General JACKSON, and
held by JEFFERSON and MADISON, that the
President within the sphere Of Executive
action, is as much judge of his constitu-
tional powers and duties as Congress is Of
its, and, believing that the Southern States
are States in the Union, and not Territories,
shall refuse to maintain by force "the right
Of the blacks to participate in these cleo
tons" for delegates to form new c2nstitutons
for the Southern States-what then? 1t
will hardly be pretended that, unless backed
by military power, the blacks. would at
tempt to participate in the elections, If the
whites made opposition to their voting.
And without the presence Of the military 10
enforce the law of Congress, no election
would be held.
zone Of two things would then follow.
The Congress would impeach and endeavor
10 depose the President for refusing 10 en-
force its law or, it would await the result
of another Presidential election, the South
ern States in the meantime, being unrepre-
scented in the Congress Of the United States,
as they now are We doubt if Radicalism
can wait the latter slow process to accom-
plish its purpose. 1t is too tardy for
Radical progress, which must, on, on, or the
leaders will be devoured by their own dogs.
Excitement is the necessary sustaining nu
triment Of the Radical party. The impeach-
ment Of the President would, therefore, be
adopted by the Radical leaders instead Of
waiting to secure a President at the election
of 1868, wherein there is a chance of failure.
That is, unless President JOHNSON backs
squarely down, yielding the position he has
up to this time maintained, and adopts that
Of Congress"