White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-17
MR.. sEWARD,S ORGAN ON THE PO.
LTTICAL SITUATION.

LTTICAL SITUATION.
Breakers Ahead-Survey of the PoIit.
ical Future.
[ From the Auburn (New York; Advertiser and
Union, April 25th.J
We had occasion to state in our issue
yesterday, that any further indemnity for
the expenses of the war than We have al
ready received. is ont of the question.
Security for the future is the subject now
uppermost before Congress and the coun
try.
In respect to this the first question
which arises is. whether Congress pos
sesses any power whatever to exact from
the late rebels any security for their future
behavior. To consider this Alright. we
must FIRST settle in our minds the precise
status of the rebels as members of their
respective States, and whether there ex-
lists any way of obtaining security from
them as individuals. So far as the pa
rolled soldiers are concerned. it seems to
be admitted that there Is not All other
rebels might be arrested and put under
recognizsnce to keep the peace if it were
not for the amnesty proclamation, which
extends pardon to some of them. A
few of their leaders are now under arrest
for suspected completely in the assassin
alton of President Lincoln. and for trea.
son, and may yet be tried with the view
to punishment. But in looking over the
whole subj,ct, neither the President nor
Congress have found any feasible consti-
tutional way to exact any security from
them that they will not rebel again when
opportunity offers. So we dismiss that
idea from consideration as being of no
practical account. No security will be.
because it cannot be, exacted of them ss
individuals.
The next question which arises is,
whether any security can be obtained
from them in their collective capacity as
members of their respective Statea. And
here we must consider that these States
are acknowledged and proclaimed to be
inside the Union under the Constitution,
although some Of their functions are sus.
pended by the peculiarity of their sitna'
ton. They are within the Union yet in
certain respects, although ont of theil
proper practical relations to the Govern.
ment. This being their condition. i,
there any way in which the Federal Gov
ernment can exact any formal guaranty
from these States that their inhabitantl
will never again rebel +? We suppose not
except through an amendment to th'
Constitution. and no such amendmen
would be likely to be ratified by three
fourths Of the States. We dismiss tha
idea, also. as one of no practical account
This brings us to the consideration o
the question whether any security can b.
exacted by indirection as logical result
of our practical line Of policy toward
them. 1t has be,n suggested that sine
there appears to be no way to exact secu
rity for future behavior by direct means
they shall be denied representation II
Congress and in national convention
until they so amend their State Constitu
tions as to declare the Union of State.
perpetual. This idea seems to obtair
favor with those who are without faith il
those who have been rebels.
Those who. like Judge Shallabarger
of Ohio, continue to believe that rebel,
have lost all right to participate in th'
Government, and that mo good thinl
can come out of N ,z,reth." maintain an
other position. namely:
l. That the people of the Southern
States shall be excluded from represents
tion in Congress and participation il
political conncils until after the mex
Presidential election.
9. To exclude tha entire Southern
vote for President and Vice President. up
on the precedent established BY Congress
in the last election.
8. II the Southern and Northern
Democratic vote together should elect q
President. to be prepared to resist ths,
election.
Upon this the Democratic party of the
country have already taken issue. with The
apparent hope Of making it successful.
The point we are discussing is indirect
security for the good behavior Of the reb
els in the fnture. The question is whether
this line of policy, il it should be follow.
ed. will be likely. in view of the issue
already made upon it. to secure it. W.
have seen no reason for believing that j,
will. The key note to the probable solu.
tion may be discovered 10 the testimony
Of Alexander H. Stephens. of Georgia.
He said distinctly that the Southern peo.
pie had complied with sll the terms or.
iginslly offered them, and oil which Con.
gress had the right to impose: that they
would not sccspt others IS conditions
precedent to admission into Congress 1t
is reasonably certain that they consider
themselves within the Union and in prsc-
ticsl relations to the Government. which
entities them to representation in Con.
gress and in political conventions.
It is reasonably certain that they will
send delegates to the next national nom;-
mating convention. and that the Demo-
cratic nominating convention will admit
them. It is reasonably certain. moreover.
that they will choose electors of Presi.
dent and Vice President. and ask to have
them canvsssed: and that il the electoral
votes Of Southern and Northern Demo
crsts are enough to elect President and
Vice President. snd they sre not allowed,
there win be political trouble of very
formidable character. With johnson for