The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-08
Face the Issue.

From ne Tribune.
The Constitutional amendment now awaiting
ratification by the States was matured and
passed,by the Republican majority in. Congress.
No Democrat favored 1t in committee no Demo-
crat voted for 1t in either House. johnson and
Johnso1ism would have beaten it if they could.
Had they been able TO control one-third of the
votes in either House. they would have beaten
it; in every State Legislature which has acted
on it thus far, they, to man, have fought it.
Up to this hour they have unanimously done
their worst TO defeat it. o. 3 .N
The Constitutional amendment has thus been
made by them the main issue in the present
canvass. 1t need not have been had they not
chosen to have 1t so. II is party issue because
they as party oppose and seek to defeat it.
How? W.
|. They assert that the Republicans have not
PngoR en as PITT Fe Sg Henfg
Wilson, John Sherman, Lyman Trumbull,
Timothy o. Howe etc.. are tricksters and
cheats, who spent months in deyisIng an amend
ment TO the Constitution which the South
would not accept yet which the North would
petuate disunion.n -a- I'D ..-'
We do not deem this deserving an answer.
Theywho really suppose that eminent states
men are simply sharpers. of a low grade will
continue in this faith, whatever may be said to
the contrary. They are to be, not convinced,
better
II. They assert that there is no certainty that
the States lately in revolt have no assurance
that their representatives will be admitted to
seats in Congress ii they should ratity the
amendment.
In certain sense, that is true. We can
imagine fashion OF ratification that would not
insure instant admission to Congress. A State
might Tatify with palpable intent to have the
amendment engraited on the Constitution, but
ln order to acquire power to defeat it. But ii
ii as a settlement of the chief matters in dis
putey and doing its best to have it generally
ratified and. .acquiesc ed in, then we presume
that State will be treated exactly as Tennessee
has already been. She ratified it, and was fully
represented IN both Houses of Congress within
the ensuing week. Why IS not that reasonable
Celerity? -l. #r.. r..t 10 L.. .
I'LL They proclaim that, whether with or
without good reason, the Southern States will
not ratitY.a ..... '... .. ,....,,, Oh.
We answer that this assumption is at war with
reason and probability These States eagerly
desire readmission to Congress- The loyal
States, through Congress, have proposed terms
which the impartial must (and dol pronounce
fair and liberal Tne Judgment of the country
approves them. If, now the South should vir-
tuaiIy say, "We will not ratify we prefer to
stay out;n public opinion would respond, "Stay
out, then; we can stand it as long as you can"
The South will find this losing business, and
keep out, that is, to -ratify and come in. The
proofs of this already afforded are decisive.
The Northern Copperheads saw fit to fight the
amendment desperately in Congress. They
made it the main issue in the present canvass.
Yet, after having so made it, they are clearly
afraid to meet it. They bolt the amendment,
because it precludes giving a South Carolina
Rebel double the power in our Union that is
accorded to a New England republican; vet they
do not dare to fight 1t on sthisg ground. Nor
do they like to stand up, and argue that the
Rebels have the same right to enter Congress
tomorrow as if they had never sought to de-
stroy the Union. The loyal heart of the nation
non.concurs. They are compelled, therefore,
and to try to prove that the radicals do not
mean what they say-that Congress spent
months in framing a Constitutional amendment
on purpose to have it defeated-and that the
Tuckerton Whistle or Pendleton Gas-Bag is the
authoritative organ of the Republican party,
and not its National Committee nor its leading
journals. 1t is desperate undertaking; but
what else. can they do? JG.' 90 GOODS