The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-15
The Elections and the Restoration of tn,
.,.. Union.

.,.. Union.
From the Times.
The result of the recent elections is entitled
TO very grave consideration in all the States
and by all the parties TO be Affected by it. 1t
announces the verdict of the people upon the
great political question which awaits solution
the restoration of the Southern States to their
share of political power in the general Govern
ment; and it establishes the political character
OF Congress throughout the whole of President
Johnson's term of office. 1t has decided that
the Democratic party as such shall not decide
when, nor how, that restoration shall take
place; and it has also decided, though with
less directness and emphasis, that it shall not
take place upon the Presidents policy of ad-
mitting members from those States into Con-
gress, as matter of right, and without condi-
tons to be imposed by law. 1t mas also de-
cided that the amendment 10 the Constitution
proposed by Congress ought to be ratified
and become valid as part and parcel of that
instrument, before this restoration takes place
at all.
In our judgment the public welfare demands
that this decision should be accepted, and re-
spected, by the whole country-by the North
and by the South, and by the President himself,
as hnal solution OF a complicated and peTilous
problem. The very necessity of the case seems
TO us a strong reason for such course. It is a
decision IRON which there is no appeal. Two
years rom now, 1t is true, the people NAV be
called upon TO review their verdict: hnt who
can tell in what dangers and disasters the no
ton may be meanwhile involved? Every dic
tate OF safety and every interest of the countrv
demand that the Union should be restored ajI
the earliest possible moment. The South ia
especially interested in this, because until that
is done it can have no voice whatever in ma
tional affairs, aud all its material social and
pecuniary Interests must be seriously impaired.
The President is equally interested in the
same result, because it is the only thing which
can give scope to the exercise of the legitimate
functions OF his high office, and afford him the
political support which he needs. OF the House
of Representatives, as now constituted the
Union party has more than tWo-thirds. The
President is, therefore, powerless to arrest any
measure or legislation upon which they may be
united-powerless even to prevent his own i'm.
peaChment, If that should be resolved on as a
party measure. The admission of loyal mem
bers from tine South would afford a counter
poise to this ascendancy, which, without de.
stroying the Union majority, would put an
effectual check upon the extreme action of its
most reckless members.
1t may be urged that Congress has no right Ia
exact assert to the amendment as a condition
OF representation in Congress. We admit tive
40 not believe the right exists But II the people
Tl Tasert and exercise il, where lies the remedy
5osS ne Sase cannet be carried into any court. The
LIesloehI mas no power to redress the wrong:
az cannon set aside existing laW.,nor force mem
peIs INTO Qongress against the will of CONGRESS
iLself: BESIDES this requirement "a not nut into
the form OF apy law; ii is simnlv acted nnon'
not asserted,-aad it is mot easy to see. there