The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-03

stead of saddles, and call himself Jones instead
Of Smith; but what right have we 10 expect
any other differences in the termination Of his
raid!
The Committee OF Fifteen and Che Ad-
ministration.
The complicated, rigid and revolutionary
schemes of Southern reconstruction reported
in both houses of Congress the other day from
their joint Committee Of Fifteen do not appear
to be received by the republicans as
the infallible panacea for the Southern
evils complained of which the commit
tee had supposed it to be. For instance,
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, has given
notice of a material amendment to one of the
two bills embraced in the plan of the commit
tee, and Mr.. Bingham, leading republican Of
Ohio, has given notice Of another amendment
of the same purport-to wit: that whenever
the proposed constitutional amendment in re-
gard to federal representation, negro suffrage,
civil rights, rebel debts and the federal disfran-
chisement till 1870 Of all persons voluntarily
aiding the rebellion shall have been ratified
by any State lately in rebellion, and when any
such State shall have modified its laws in con-
formity Herewith, the Senators and Repre-
sentatives from such State, if found duly
elected and qualified, may, after having taken
the required oath of Office, be admitted into
Congress.
This is material improvement upon the
committees plan which requires the aforesaid
amendment to be engrafted in the federal con-
sttution before any one Of the excluded States
can be readmitted into Congress. Subjected to
this condition the outside States may be kept
outside for ten, fifteen or twenty years to come.
Mr.. Bingham, in holding each Of those States
only to its own ratification, comes nearer the
line Of justice; but still the question recurs is
even this proposed constitutional amendment
necessary?
1t proposes to put these new provisions into
the federal constitution, first, by two-thirds
vote Of each house Of Congress; and, secondly,
by ratification Of three-fourths Of the Legisla-
lures of the several States, viz:-Section l. The
enforcement of the civil rights Of all persons in
all the States, on footing of equality. But is
not this, for all practical purposes, sufficiently
provided for in the Civil Rights bill: Section 2.
That representation in Congress shall be
graduated and limited according to the re-
striction of suffrage at the ballot box in the
scveraa States. This may be good thing; but
why should it be encountered with section 8,
which DISTINGUISHES from all federal cleo
tions till July 4, 1870 all persons voluntarily
aiding the rebellion? Why should the great
mass Of TIE whites of the Southern States be
required to ratify their own Acknowledgement
in order to get back into Congresss Section
prohibits any recognition or payment Of
the debts Of the rebellion by the United States
or any State, and of any claims for losses Of
slaves on account Of their emancipation. There
is surely no necessity for a constitutional
amendment in regard to these things, when, in
President Johnson's directions we are made
secure for the future.
The simple truth is that where there ia any
thing practical, reasonable or essential in this
Congressional plan, it has been provided for in
the Presidents plan. The joint committee
adopt his work, accept his measures, and ap-
pear TO like them 80 well that they desire to
put them into the constitution. But the COM
mittse say that while all this Is very good it
is not enough. We must disfranchise the South
crn whites till they enfranchise their black
population, and make this constitutional re-
quirement to the return of the excluded States
to Congress. The President and his Cabinet,
it appears, including Messrs. Seward, Stanton
Welies and others, hold the ground that no
further conditions precedent are needed, either
in the form of constitutional amendments or
bills to qualify the excluded States for Con-
gress that, ~ they stand, they are entitled to
admission in the persons Of the loyal men
elected to represent them. The joint commit
tee Of Congress cannot agree with the Presi-
dent simply because, while his object Is to
bring the excluded States back into the gov
ernment as soon as possible, the plan and the
purpose of Congress are to keep them out ~
long as possible.
s,ruction schedule Of constitutional amend
ments and Congressional bills reported from
the joint Committee Of Fifteen, there will be
severe struggle in both houses. That the
scheme cannot pass In its present shape IL gen.
orally believed; that 1t ought not TO pass is
conceded even by some leading radicals. The
two houses in their conditions of Southern re-
construction must come something nearer to
Southern restoration, or they will probably
only agree to disagree and be compelled to
leave the field in the possession of the Presl.
dent and bis successful and satisfactory policy.
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LIFE INSURANCE. AND SuICDE.-A decision has