The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-21

lar. Beef steady. Lard was dull and lower. Whis-
key was quiet but steady,
Tho Restoration of the Rebel States
MIR. Conlkling's Conditions.
The Hon. Roscoe COnkling, Of New York
utica district, has laid before the House of
Representatives the conditions precedent which
he deems essential to the resdmission Of the
late rebel States into Congress. He would
have
First--The absolute Remuneration Of all the
pretensiOns and evasions of secession as doc
trine and as practice. If we are not mistaken,
President johnson has made this substantially
o condition Of Southern restoration; and in the
reorganization of most, if not OF all the States
concerned, under his instructions, except Texas,
which is behindhand, Che doctrine Of secession
has been repudiatel snd che paramount sove-
reienty ofshe United States affirmed.
Secondly Mr.. ConkIing demands the arepI-
diation, both By the Etate and by The nntioaSl
government, Of all public debts and obliga-
tions, including State and municipal liabilities,
contracted or assumed in aid OF the late rebel
hon, and including also all claims by or on be-
half Of those Who wore in the military Or naval
service of the insurgents for bounty, pay or.
pensions, and all claims by persons not loyal
to tie United States for damages suffered by
reason Of the rebellion and for advances made
in its aid" Here, too, beyond the conditions
exacted BY the President from the States
directly interested we cannot perceive that
anything further in the way Of pledges in ad-
vance is needed. A law of Congress upon the
subject will settle the whole business, based
upon the declaration that, rs there is no valid
ity in the debts and obligations incurred in the
interest Of the late rebellion-individual cor
poratc, municipal, State or Confedcrate--and
no remedy for losses of property suffered by
disloyal parties, it shall be unlawful for any
State, city or town, or corporation or individ-
.ual, to attach any validity hereafter to such
debts or obligations. or 10 put in any claim
anywhere for any losses incurred in the cause
of the late rebellion. A simple act of Con-
gress of this sort will cover the whole ground
The authority over tho subject is as clear os
the power Of Congress "to declare the punish.
ment Of treason"
In the next place, Mr.. Conkling demands
"the assurance Of human rights" In the lately
insurgenf States, 80 all persons within t1eir
borders, regardless OF race, creed or color, aud
the adoption Of such provisions against barbsr-
ism, disorder and oppression, "a viii relieve
the general government from the necessity OF
standing guard over any portion Of the cour.
try DC. Now, 1t seems 10 us, that without
waiting upon the excluded States to furnish
all these guarantees Of security as the price Of
their readmission into the federal councils,
Congress, under the constitutional amendment
abolishing slavery, and establishing equal civil
and political rights, has "the power TO enforce"
this amendment "by appropriate legislation,
Mr.. Conkling next requires "the impartial
distribution of political power among oil Sec
tons Of the country, so that four millions Of
people (emancipated blacks) shall no longer
be represented in Congress in the interest of
sectional ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and at the same
time be excluded from political privileges and
rights" Very well. Do something. Either try
how far the amended constitution establishes
the civil and political rights Of the black race.
and the power Of Congress TO enforce them in
the States. or proceed to your constitutional
amendment We think, however, that o de-
cision from the Supreme Court, embracing o
full Interpretation Of the constitution az II now
stands In regard to the civil and political
rights Of the blacks in the States % citizens Of
the United States, should without delay be
brought abont in the application Of some Law
of Congress. 4
Lastly, M. Conkiing requires That ssnsaors
and Representatives In Congress be unques-
ticasbly loyal, and mot tainted with ihe esssnce
or sediment Of The rebellion. So. then, let Il |
be but let not this be bar 10 the admission
Of unquestionably loyal men. We fear, how
ever, that Mr.. Conkllng is looking to the puria-
cation or reconstruction Of The whole people Of |
she South, SO that they shall think as he thinks
upon all the conditions be proposes before |
their readmission into Congress. In this view |
hey would have 10 be kept out not only 10 |
The end OF the present. but Of the next genera
lion; for the ideas and prejudices of caste and |
color, social and political, resulting from
hundred years Of African slavery, cannot be |
short OF two generations. But |
we can leave the Southern people TO think Their |
own thoughts 80 long ss in their acts they con- |
crm in good faith 30 the new order cf ,hngs ]