The New York herald., 1866-09-25

The President and His Cabinet ON the Constl-
tutienal Amendmens.
Tho very remarkable and important dis
closures which we published yesterday in .
Washington letter to the editor Of this journal,
touching the views Of the President and his
Cabinet and other official advisers In regard
to the great constitutional amendment now
before the country, are facts which we hold
sufficient to justify the most sanguine hopes as
to tho future course of the administration upon
this subject The letter in question is from an
intelligent, careful and trustworthy CORE
spondent and his specifications therein we
accept accordingly as literally true. And what
are these speciacationsi They embrace the
important facts that many sagacious politicians
at Washington, from the arguments we have
advanced In support Of the constitutional
amendment now before the States have become
"satisied that its prompt adoption ia the only
course left to head on the radicals and speedily
restore the rebellious States to their proper
position in the Union;" that among those who
have embraced this opinion are "the Secretary
Of the Treasury, the Secretary Of War, the
Secretary Of the Navy, the Attorney Gen.
eral and General Grant !" that Postmaster
General Randall has been profoundly i'm
pressed with the teachings Of the Maine cleo
ton. rs suggested in recent HERALD editorials,
and that if in the coming Northern State elec-
tons, including New York, the popular verdict
shall support the Judgment Of Maine, the Pre-
sident himself is prepared "without more ado
to accept and to advise the SonAh to accept
the proposed constitutional amendment"
This, then, is the position of President John
son at this crisis. 1t is The position Of States
man, who wisely stands ready to shape his
policy to the pressure of events, the drift of
public opinion and the advantages which may
thus be offered him in taking a new departure.
We perceive, however, that in late editorial
of Washington journal, in justification of the
Presidents opposition to the aforesaid amead-
ments, it is contended that he has never COM
mitted himself to its condition of universal
negro suffrage, nor to its alternative of "taking
from the South all representation of the
negroes" We think. however. that in regard to
| this section Of the amendmsa5 as to all the
others, the President stands sufficiently commit
| covering one of his own recommendations
| la ths New York HERALD of January %,
we find in a telcgraphic despatch from WASH
lngton an evidently authorized report of a
conversation which took place the " before
! 'between the President anl dis.in yuishsi
/, Senator In the course Of this conv .rs ,tion
! on tho general question of constitutional
1 ,ta tlxo ID 4
fears that such Amendments might be carried
too far, suggested the 70 lowing as probably
suffi ieat to meet the necessities o. the day.
Representatives shall be apportoned amonc the sew
rral ftites which may be uiod within Tho Union
accor TO the number "r qualified voters In "a state
Direct ta'cs shall be aprnrtipncd amoni th" vsral
Siases which may be incued within III Jnjnn ace ord
Ing TO tue ratio OF al! taxable property In each State
The second branch Of this proposition may
here be dismissed, tor the first covers our c .sc
Tie reporter Of this Interesting conversation
goes on to say that ".uch IN m,ndment, the
President also suggested, would remoy. rom
Congress ail issues in r,icrenc, to the poiii cal!
equality of the races;" that "it would leave the
States to determine absolutely o., qu ilh mt on
OF their own voters with rig ri to col, aud
thus the number of rcpr 8 lives to which
pend upon the NUMBER upon which they con-
ferred the right of suffeagc." These are tn,
Presidents words on the occ sion referred to;
and we simply submit that t.n IN ndment sus,-
sequsntly adopted by Con =. c,v,rs his ow
proposition and his argu,n "a in reference to
suffrage aud rcprcsen aiioA. In fact he has
good claim, as the orig nj 'pos,r, In som,
n ion nf tho
amendment now awaiting It's r, .hcation by thc
! States.
On the 3lst day OF Jsnu ry this reported
conversation of ia distinguished Senator with
the President" entered into the II jlse drba 9
on reconstruction. Mr. Stevens, OF Penn .yl-
yania, IN the progress of ihis daba.e rharac-
terizcd The report OF said co.iy ,isi il;on a. "e
proclamation, the command Of TO-, President Of
the United States, m.dc ANA put forth by his
authority and Sin direct violation of the pri
vilcgss of this body;" that if ',nade in that
way few centuries ago 10 Parliament b.
, British king il would have cosl him his fead;,
but that "wc (meaning Coagress) are tolerant
| CT Gsurpation and abuse of power" Thus sc
;ind that The rupture between the radicals and
| tie P,osiien! was made by Stevens upoa Il Il
\ proposition Of the President toncnirg Suffrage
! aud representation, which finally in sp,c Of
Stevens and oil hiI effort. to ae;ca. il, became
| r.rt ami parcel Of The reconstruction plan oi
Congress.
Wit the facts aad the evidence thus before
rs 'hst The constitutional amendment passed
b. Congress is not the plan Of the radicals,
bu' Is substantially, from first to last, the Presi.
dents plan, il is clearly not only his, policy
lut his rgh, so to claim il and urge II upon
The Southern Staes for their ratification,
upon the broad ground that it Is their shortest
and their only safe and easy road TO q speedy