Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-11-03
THE SHORTEST ROAD TO A SET
TI,FMFNT

We think there is o very general and
almost universal desire for a speedy set
tlemen, Of the reconstruction problem. It
is useful, therefore, to point out to South
srn as well as Northern men, hat the
quickest way to such a settlement, now,
is the adoption Of the Constitutional
Amendment.
The people Of the Northern States in
sist upon that, as the best terms they will
grant. They declare the amendment just,
and necessary to the safety Of the country
and to the equal rights Of the Northern
people. It is q fact Of which Southern
voters will do well to take notice, that If
this Constitutional Amendment is rejected,
and the desired settlement is thus put off
by the obstinacy Of Southern men, harder
terms will be imposed. They will proba-
bly, never get as good terms as those now
before them.
The people of the Northern States feel
themselves to have been in the right, and
those who rebelled to have been l n the
wrong, in the late war; and they have
been made furious by the claim Of rights
to rebels, which have been imprudently
made by the President, Mr.. Seward,
Northern CoppOrhsads, and leaders III the
late rebellion. They are not in the humor
to be bullied; and the attempt to do this
is now re-ac,ing with great force against
the interests Of the Southern States. II
they are wise. they will make haste to
adop. tho Constitutional Amendment.
"Hurry in out Of the rain," is the sound
es, advice they can now listen to.
The Constitutional Amendment could
DO adopted and made part Of the supreme
law of the land within four months, as
we show below by the times Of meeting
Of different State legislatures. Connecti-
cut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and
Tennessee have already ratified the amend
ment. Oregon and Vermont have done
the same thing. The legislature Of South
Carolina is now in session ; those of Mis-
sissippi and Rhode Island met during the
last month /; that Of Alabama will meet in
November; and those Of Georgia, Flori-
do. Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia
and Kentucky in December. Those Of
Delaware. Illinois. Indiana, Kansas,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,, Michi-
gan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and West Vir-
ginia, meet in January, 1867.
The assen, Of twenty-seven States is
needed to complete the ratification.
Six have already voted favorably.
There is required the consent Of twenty
others, and If the Southern voters and
legislatures are sensible and practical,
with their help the Amendment may
be passed and the Southern States
represented in Congress before the last
week OF January. II, by their re-
refusal, the adoption Of the Amendment
is put of, the blame and the responsibility
will lie upon them 4; and the country will
hold them to it.
We warn them that they cannot afford
to. be obstinate. There are, doubtless,
men in the South who, for their own sell
fish ends, desire to put off reconstruction
and keep the country in turmoil and un-
s~asiness. There are such men in the
Northern States, too. But the vital inter-
est, the peace, comfort, prosperity and
security Of the whole people, everywhere,
| South and North, but particularly in the
Southern States, demands the speedy set
Element Of the reconstruction question /;
and if the obstinacy or folly Of the South
ern leaders stands in the way Of such q
settlement, they must expect to be pun
ished by sharper measures. Such, at any
rate, we can assure them, is the determin-
alton of the people who fought out the
war and crushed out tho rebellion.