New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-06
FACE THE ISSUE a.!


The Constitutional Amendment now awaiting ratl'
ficstion by the States was matured and passed by
the Republican majority in Congress. NO Democrat
favored Il in Committee; Democrat voted for 1t in
either House. johnson and Johnsonism would have
beaten II if they could. Had they been able to con-
troll onehird 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
Up to this hour, they have unanimously done their
worst to defeat it.
The Constitutional Amendment has thus been made
by them the main issue in the present canvass IL
need not have been had they not chosen TO nave 1t 3d.
II ia party issue because they party oppose and
secek TO defeat IL. Howl
I. They assert that the Republicans har: not pro-
posed it in good faith In their view scores OF such
men as VIM. Pitt Fessenden, Henry Wilson, John
Sherman, Lyman Trumbull Timothy o. Howe, &c,
are trcksters and cheats who spent months in devils
ing an amendment to the Constitution which the
South would not accept, yet which the North would
consider fair SO as Tin their phraSe) to perpetuats
Disunion."
We do not deem this deserving an answer. They
who really suppose that eminent statesmen are simply
shapers of low grade will continue in this faith,
whatever may be said to the contrary. They are to
be, not convinced, but pted. But those who misead
them know better.
H. They assert that there is no certainty that the
States lately in revolt have that their rep
rssentatres ,oH be admitted 10 seats COngrsss1 they
should ratify the Amendment
In a certain sense, that is true. We can imagine
fashion of ratification that would not insure instant
admission to Congress. A Stale might ratify with
papabe intent not to have the Amendment engrafted
on the Constitution but in order to acquire power to
defeat it. But if any State shall in good faith ratfy
it. accepting il as settlement Of the chief matters in
dispute and doing its best TO have it generally rati-
fed and acquiesced in then presume thatStae will
be treated exactly as Tennessee has already been.
She ratified il, and was fully represented in both
Houses OF Congress within the ensuing week. Why
is not that reasonable celerity1
III. They proclaim that, whether with or without
good reason, the Southern States triH not ratyy.
We answer that this assumption is at war with rea-
son and probability. These States eagerly desire re-
admission to Congress. The loyal States, through
Congress, have proposed terms which the impartial
must land do) pronounce fair and liberal The iudg-
ment of the country approves them. If, now the
South should virtually say, We will not ratfy, we
prefer to stay OUT" public opinion would respond,
Stay out, them stand it as long as you can"
The South would find this losing business, and back
out of it ungracefully. She will prefer to keep out,
that Is to ratfy and in. The proofs OF this al.
ready 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 clearly afraid to meet it.
They bolt the Amendment, because it precludes Civ
ing South Carolina Rebel double the power in our
Union that is Accorded to Anew Eng and Republican;
yet they do not dare to fight it on this ground Nor
do they Ike to stand up and argue that the Rebels
have the same right to enter Congress tomorrow as
ii they had never sought to destroy the Union The
! loyal heart Of the Nation non.concurs. They are
compelled therefore, to shuttle out Of an issue ofheir
own raising, aud to try to prove that tie Radicals do
no, mean what they say-that Congress spent months
In framing Constitutional Amendment on purpose TO
have Il deeated-and that the Tuckerton Whistle or
Pellngon GasB Bag is the authoritative organ Of the
Republican party. and not its National Committee
nor its leading journals. 1t is desperate undertak-
ing; but what else can they do'