The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-03
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
We devote much of our space to-day
to the debate in the House OH the pass
|age of the Constitutional Amendment
proposed by Mr.. Stevens, fixing the
basis of representation, and excluding
therefrom all who may be DISTINGUISHED
because of race or color. 1t was carried
through the House by more than the
constitutional majority; and the adop-
ton of this measure is looked upon as
settling for the present, the question of
the admission of southern members.
We can now pause and look around us
to see whittier we are drifting. With
the concurrence of the Senate this pro-
position will be at once submitted to the
State Legislatures for their approval.
Mr.. Stevens holds that it will require
but nineteen states to vote for its adop-
ton, in order to make it part of the
organic law, and this is also the view
Mr.. Sumner takes of the present con-
dition of the Republic. They ignore en-.
tirely the existence of the southern
states as members of the Union, and
the recent decisive votes in both
branches of the legislative department
of the government, leave no room to
doubt that these gentlemen express the
opinion of a very large majority of the
senators and representatives. On the
other hand, Mr.. Seward, with the Presi-
dent, takes different view of the mat
ter. He looks upon the states lately in
the rebellion as still in the Union, and
considers it necessary in order to make
constitutional amendment binding
that it should receive the Endorsement
of three-fourths of all the state legisla-
lures. Now, even admitting that the
amendment will receive the vote Of
nineteen states, which is very doubtful,
how can Mr.. Seward fulfill his duties
and proclaim it adopted, while he holds
to a different opinion? and what method
will Congress resort to, in order to Sc
cure the execution of this law, when
the executive branch of the government
shall refuse to execute it on the ground
of its unconstitutionality? 1t seems to
us that matters are getting very much
mixed up, and that passion more than
reason sways the minds of our legisla-
tors. 1t is not very probable that this
amendment will be adopted by the leg
islatures of the southern states, las it
would at once diminish their strength
in the national assembly, and they will
needit all in coming years to protect
their financial commercial and agricul.
tural interests; and we imagine the
South would forego representation fol
some time rather than submit to such a
curtailment of its representative power;
and the other horn of the dilemma-negr
suffrage--it is not yet prepared to adopt.
But even with the adoption of the pro-
posed amendment, there is no guarantee
that the southern states will be &C.
knowledged, and their representatives
admitted. There would remain still
new superintendent to be made,
another election to be held, and the OBJ
noxious test oath would still snarl like a
many-headed Cerberus at the portals of
the capitol. Indeed we do not think
that even Mr.. Stevens wishes the adop-
ton of this amendment. Its introduce
ton is nothing more than a ruse to quiet
the country and gain time. 1t is a gag
put upon all further discussion of the
question, and as such we accept it as a
blessing in disguise. No one expects it
to be adopted in time for this session OF
Congress, and the result will be that the
whole subject matter of the admission
of the southern members will have to be
postponed till the next session, or per-
haps till a new Congress is elected, and
meets, which is doubtless the object of
the majority. Next fall there will be an
election for Congressman, and the issue
will be the reconstruction of the southern
states. We shall then have direct ex-
preston of opinion from the masses, and
shall know whether they indorse the
President or the present Congress. We
can look upon this in mother light than
as a fixed determination to postpone and
stave off all action with regard to re-
construction. 1t is perhaps the best
thing that can be done. Let it go before
the people during the fall elections, and
let them render their verdict. At all
events the south can lose nothing by the
delay. A new Congress may grant
what this one seems determined to with
hold. The New York Tribune is rejoiced
at the adoption of this proposition