The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-23

The Cons itutional amendment is unanimously
rejected by the Southern States. The Legisla-
lures of Texas, Georgia, and Alabama, and the
Lower House of Arkansas, have refused to
ratify it. Governor Orr, of South Carolina, and
Governor Humphreys, of Mississippi, have ad"
vised its rejection. There is no hope OF Its
adoption by Virginia or Louisiana. Governor
Marvin, of Florida, in his recent message,
opposes it, and Governor Worth, in his mes
sage to the North Carolina Legislature, submits
a long argument, intended to show that the
proposition is tyrannical and that the South
would be dishonored in accepting it. There is
not the slightest chance that one of the Rebel
States will Iatlfy the amendment, The Novem-
Der elections have had no influence upon the
Southern leaders.
There is but one man holding prominent
office in the Southern States who has dared
even to suggest decent cOn5lde ration OF Vhe
proposition OF ongress; the Joint COMMITTEE OF
the Georgia Legislature represe 1ted the general
temper when IL questioned whether tue dignity
of the State would not be compromised oy any
action on the amendment. Governor Murphy,
Of Arkansas deserves the credit oil having pro-
pc rly received the offer OF the nation, and ad-
yised his Legi.a ature to treat II WIN, at ieast
States, and to consider it fairly before taking
the responsibilit OF reeCtine it.. In his message
he said Though not all the insurgent States
could desire, it becomes very grave question
for the Legislature to decide whether any
terms more favorable are likely to be obtained
by opposition, or whether it is not the better
policy for the State to accept the proposed
terms ann thus secure the prompt reconstruc-
tiOn of the State into harmonious action with
the governing States, and on an equality with
them in the Union. Judging from the results
of the late elections and from the decided tone
of public sentiment in the States that subdued
the insurrection, 1t is not probable that better
terms will be granted. The effect OF reiec-
tion on the prosperity and happiness OF the
of fhQ Gtota dam do
ton" ''..
Governor Worth receives the amendment in a
very different spirit and one, we regret, with
which his people sympathze. North Carolina
has been deeply wronged by the United States
Government, in his opinion. and the amendment
adds to the injuries. The third section is that
which the Southern leaders especially detest,
for the excellent reason that II makes them in
eligible TO Office. 1t appears perfectly fair to
most loyal men that those men who took a
solemn oath 10 support the Constitution of the
United States, and broke 1t, should be disquali-
fed from holding Office, and that they should be
satisfied with retaining the forfeited privilege
of voting. But they do not think so, and made
a hard tight for their salaries, present OF
list of perjured office holders from Cover.
nors down to constables, who would
suffer the loss of their official bread and
butter by the adoption of the amendment.
Scarcely man remained among us who can
conscientiously say that he gave no aid and
comfort TO the Southern soldiers during that
makes ineligible to office any one who went into
Convention or voted for the ordinance of Sc
Cession, and any one who voluntarily took up
arms and fought on the side OF the South to the
end of the war; or held a seat in the Confederate
Congress, provided such person had never taken
an oath to support the Constitution of the United
States" "Can these things be, and overcome us
like a summers cloud, without our special
wonder?" Yet only to Rebels themselves IS
there any stTaDgenes5 in the fact that penalty
should be affixed to treason and perjury, and
,c fN1T affn
real strangeness is in the lenlty of the Govern
ment and the easy terms proposed to those who
have forfeited all rights under our laws;
Dismissing, as unworthy OF notice Governor 1
Worths quibbling over the fifth section, which
gives Congress the power to enforce the others
by appropriate LEGISLATION, we find him assuring
the Legislature that the people OF his state,
with singular approach to unanlmity" desire
a restoration OF their constitutional relations
with the American Union. We have no doubt
of it, and only wish they had taken a speedler
way to obtain their wishes by electlng General
Dockery. II they are in a hurry, they must
concede something to the Union; some guarantee
must be Given other than the abolition o:
slavery, for that was not given by the Reoel
States, but extoTted by the war. 1T Is amusing
TO find the Governor quoting the Rebellion
itself as an instance of the magnanlmlty
of the Southern people," In the face
of circumstances rendering 1t nearly I'M
possible, they have paid its Government the
taxes OF former years, laid when another de
facto Government, whose powers they could not
have resisted II they would, was making leyies
in money and kind almost greater than they
could bear. They acquiesced in the extinction
of slavery, which annihilated more than hall
their wealth; they have borne with patience the
exclu7ion OF their Senators and Representatives
from the halls of Congress, where they have
had no one to contradict or explain the mos'
exaggerated Misrepresentation, or even &c
make known their grievances" Governor
Worth wonders how long this unnatural concl
tonn will continue. We think we may answer
that it will last as long as the refusal OF tht
Rebel States to meet in a proper splrl
the advances of the Government. W.
cannot think il is very meIitorious that thu
people of North Caroline pay United State
taxes; we do 1t without vaunting our virtue
and if they also consented to pay taxes to sup
port the Rebellion, we are sorry for their folly
but do not see why that should be reason TO
Immediately admitting their representatives Il
Congress- As for their grievances, they ma,
urge them with more Dropriety when they shoy
come disposition to admit ours. We near muc
of what the South has suffered but 1t is too lat
TO represent the United States as the aggressoI
or to affect ignorance OF the unparalleled sacr
fees by which the victory of the Union wa
won. Injury ii is all on our side-eXcept tins
injury which the guilty party must receive Whe
the laws of the nation are enforced.
We do not wish 70 urge these truths-let tn
old discussion Iest-nor should we have done
had not Governor Worths message and u
action of all the Southern Legislatures upon II
Constitutional amendment forced reply in d
cent seli-respect We long for the day whe
the bitter dispute will end, and when once mol
the Rebel States, free from all faint OF rebellion
will have their representatives side by SIDE VII
ours in Congress. The Constitutional amen
ment was not offered as an insult 70 the Sout
and we regret that 1t should have been as sue
received. .....
Governor Worth closes with a suggestion,
which we doubt the sincerity. The sneer
the following paragraph is apparent
- AI.a