The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-08

idea" OF Mexico by protests and warnings and
special pleadings, and endless demands for ex
plantations of offensive things done, or for things
promised and not performed until the country
bad lost all patience with this temporizing
diplomacy. AT length, from the embarrassing
position in which the Administration is placed
by this policy OF indulgence and forbearance,
the President himself finds it necessary to inter
pose with decisive requsitlon, and the result
is the recent cable despatch, as the solu-
tion OF all this correspondence, announcing
the gracious capitulaton of Napoleon. Had this
decisive course been adopted with the collapse
of the Rebellion, six months thereafter we
might have had the Mexican republic reinstated
in the Mexican capital, AS it is, there is some
thing of credit due even to Mr. Seward for the
patience, the diligence, and the tenacity with
which he has held to his text, until we may say
ne has literally scolded Napoleon out of Mexico.
---
Territorial Governments for the South
From the Wo,Id.
The South should feel neither terror nor de-
preston at the growing favor with which this
wild scheme is regarded by the Republican
party. 1t proves that the Republican leaders
despair of getting their heels on the necks of
the Southern people by any other method. They
perceive that there is no other way to get con-
troll Of the suffrage aud introduce the negroes
to the ballot-boX; no other wry TO carry such
amendments as they wish to engraft upon the
Constitution; no other way to subject the do
mestic concerns of the South to Federal control.
Turn and squirm as they may, they cannot
escape the uel ly fact that thirteen States stand
like an immovable barrier against every anne nd
ment to the Constitution which the radicals
wish to have adopted; that the number of States
must rise TO ffty-two TO overcome this opposi-
ton; and tn at that number will not be reached
in this century, if ever. Hence we see efforts
already begun in both Houses of Congress for
DEGRADING these tates into Territories. and the
Republican press everywhere wheeling into line
to march in this movement.
The South should take courage at this practi-
cal confession by the Republicans that they are
reduced to their last trump, and can win only
by q hag1ant violation OF the Constitution. So
long as the Southern communities are recog.
nized as States, the Constitution stands between
them and further oppression. Unless they can
be broken down as States, the radicals are
checkmated and will soon be made TO bear the
odium OF keeping this dangerous question un-
settled. They feel that it is incumbent on them
to put this subject at rest i'll some way, and
finding all other paths effectually closed, they
attempt the desperate eXpedient OF degrading
great populous States into Territories, and gov
ernIng them from WASHINGTON
The South ought to rejoice to see the Republi-
cans reduced to such straits, because it is per-
tectly certain the attempt cannot succeed, and
that its failure will weaken, and perhaps divide
and demorallze the party. The first difficulty
the Republicans will encounter will be in agree
ing upon the details OF the territorial bill. If the
State Governments are abolished other Govern
ments must Immediately be substituted; tor not
even the radicals would wish to abandon the
South to the horrors OF anarchy. The negroes
would not be safe in community OF outnum-
bering whites without the protection of some
kind of government. If the new Territorial Gov.
ernments should rest on universal suffrage the
preponderance OF the white population would
secure the election of hostile white officers
But this is the least of the obstacles to the sue
nd 10
cial officers of Territorial Governments are
always appointed by the President, and
so long as Mr.. Johnson remains in office the
radicals would gain nothing by the substitution
of his appointees for the Governors and Judges
| elected under the State Governments. To be
sure, he would have to send their names to the
] Senate fer combinations: but all the Senate
| could do would be to reject them, and await
new appointments by the President. If the
! Senate kept rejecting his appointments as fast
| as he made them, the Territorial Governments
could never go into operation, and the whole
scheme would be frustrated. To accept such
| Territorial officers as the President would ap-
point would be no gam Tor the radicals over the
present system, while to reject his appoint
ments would defeat the operation of the Terri
torial scheme The only effect of the Territorial
project would be to exchange one deadlock for
another; the present deadlock between the
no1Iatifylng states and Congress for dead
| But snpposing that, by some ingenious quirk,
! this difficulty could be flanked and passed and
| the new governments put in operation against
| an adverse local public opinion, new dead
| lock would Immediately be presented, in con-
| slant conflict between prosecuting officers and
| Southern juries. Laws are of no force without
| penalties, and penalties can be inflicted only
| alter trial. For the punishment Of ordinary
| crimes, and the ordinary administration of ius-
tice Southern luries would doubtless give i'm.
| partial verdicts under the new system, as they
do now. But in enforcing the kind of laws
which the Territorial scheme seeks to introduce,
Southern juries could not be brought to agree
| except on verdicts of acquittal. All laws oil
| that class would be dead letter, which vain
attempts TO execute would turn into derision.
These difficulties and obstacles will be appa-
rent to Congress as soon as the Territorial pro
iect begins to be discussed in practical vie ",
| 1t is contrary to all probability that the con
flicting views which will naturally exist can be
so completely reconciled as to secure the assent
OF two-thirds OF both Houses 10 the details o.
any plan of government. But without two
thirds of both Houses it would be promptl,
| knocked on the head by the Veto the dead
lock appearing in a new place.
But we will suppose that this barrier Is broker
through; that the Territorial bill is passed O yel
the veto of the President; that the new Officers
are all appointed and sworn IN; and warrant
issued for the arrest OF some opposing citizen
His counsel Immediately prosecute the Officer
for illegal arrest, and if the case is decided
against him in the local court, it Is appealed anC
the law point carried up, by rapid stages to thu
Supreme Court OF the United States, There cal
would be decared null aud set aside as uncon
stitutional, and thus the Territorial scheme
after months of eXasperating agitation woul,
he an iODOminiOUE abortion