The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-06

The Fires steps ~ Congress Towards s0ush-
ern Restoration.
In the House Of Representatives on Tuesday
last there were two important propositions
adopted looking to the reconstruction and
restoration OF the excluded Southern States.
We may say they were of the highest import
ance, as indicating . two-thirds vote in favor
Of a comprehensive reconstruction, embracing
the reorganization Of the States concerned
from the disorganized condition in which they
stood when first disarmed as members Of q hos
tile confederacy.
The first of these propositions was In the
shape Of o resolution from Mr.. Wentworth, of
Illinois, to this effect-that in response to the
Presidents Message on the status Of the lately
insurgent States, still excluded from Congress,
"the House finds in their many acts of disloyalty
since Its last adjournment, az well % in the
recent elections in the loyal States, additional
reasons for insisting on the adoption Of the
pending constitutional amendment before 1t
win consider the propriety of giving such
States Congressional representation" Mr..
Ancona (democraD, Of Pennsylvania, moved
to lay this resolution on the table, and the yeas
and nays being ordered, the call resultod-yeas
thirty-two, nays one hundred and nineteen,
whereupon the resolution was adopted without
four-ffths of the House are in favor Of adhering
to the amendment as basis Of Southern resto-
ration. We may conclude, therefore, that as
the next Congress, lately elected, is substan-
TALLY the present Congress over again, thisre-
solution is fixed to the 4th Of March, 1869,
and covers the question whether the excluded
States shall or shall not be admitted into the
Presidential election of 1868.
This is matter worth considering by the
unrecognized States; for 1t is morally certain
that unless their balance of power is brought
into the scales, the approaching presdent;ai
election will result in Another lease Of power
to the dominant party, executive as well as
legislative. But the second proposition to
which we have referred aims at the cutting
out of these Southern embarrassments by the
root 1t was put in the form Of resolutica
from Mr.. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, inst uct-
ing the Committee on Territories go inquire
into N. nvnoa:..~.- ~r -vJ--Ating Dill pro-
districts of country within the jurisdiction of
the United States formerly occupied by the
once existing States Of Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Texas, and giving to all adult male inhabi-
tants therein, born within the limits of the
United States, or duly naturalized, and not
participants in the late rebellion, full equal
political rights in such Territorial govern
ments"
This sweeping proposition was adopted
yeas one hundred and seven, nays thirty
seven-a vote of nearly three-fourths or the
House. To be sure, this is a mere inquiry
ordered, but the vote indicates the opinion,
and, probably, the fixed purpose of both
houses. The bill, we expect, will in due sea-
son be reported, and from this preliminary vote
we infer that, If put to the test, 1t can be
passed over the Presidents veto, when it will
be law Of the land We believe, however,
that If in the meantime the excluded States,
even as now organized, adopt the pending
constitutional amendment and shape their
local governments and Congressional elections
so as to meet its conditions, they will be
admitted into Congress after the example of
Tennessee. II Is because Of the intractable
and defiant spirit manifested by the ruling
politicians of the States concerned that Mr..
Broomall proposes the extreme remedy Of
reducing them not only to the condition Of
Territories, but to. the control Of their black
population. Think of that--a South Carolina
Territorial Legislature Of blacks making laws
for Wade Hampton.
1t is between this extreme and awful remedy
and the constitutional amendment that the
unreconciled States have to chooses choice
Of salivating treatment OF calomel and jalap,
or a little Of the sweet spirits Of nitre with
some tlncture Of rhubarb. Nor can we pro-
mise that any very long margin Of time will be
allowed for a decision upon the subject. We
seriously entertain the opinion, nevertheless,
that if South Carolina, for example, within
month or two shall adopt the amendment and
frame her local institutions and her elections
accordingly, she will be restored as State
without being subjected 10 this threatened
Territorial ordeal. The warnings which we
have so repeatedly given the States and people
concerned are now reduced to "a fixed factv
Nothing better will be offered them than the
constitutional amendment, and IL 1t is not very
soon accepted something much worse will
assuredly follow.
The EVACUATION OF Roag-By this time the
Eternal City is freed from the presence of the
foreign garrison which has so long vexed the
sight Of its inhabitants. To them the very
name Of Frencbman has become odious and
synonymous with despotism. Their aspira-
tons for share in the work Of rcgenerating
Italy were defeated through the instrumcntality