New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-28
REC0NsTRUCTION IN CONGRESS-.


RECONsTRUCTION IN CONGRESS.
We hear with satisfaction that the Union Senator'S
have been holding several private conferences with
regard to Reconstruction and that there Is prospect
of agreement that the plan, as 1t shall be hnaly
shaped by majority will Gas in tho House, be voted
for by all who still adhere to the party. This resolve
is so manifestly wise and expedent, that we can
hardly doubt its ultimate adoption. And, if it is to
be adopted at some time why not forthwith
Had this course been adopted at the outset the orig
inal plan of the Joint Committee, proposing IN sub
stance that each State which saw fit to exclude the
Colored Cor any other) from power in tho Gov
eminent bv DENYING il the Right Of Suffrage, should
not hcnceforth be allowed to count that race as
basis of representation in Congress would have re-
ceiyed more than the required two-thrds vote IN the
Senate as actually did in the House. and would ere
this have been so far on the road to Ratification that
the cx-Rebel States would have been required to
choose between coming into Congress under 1t and
staving out indefinitely But Mr.. Summers unforiu-
nate contempt for every ones opinion but his own was
allowed to defeat that most righteous and benehcent
proposition throwing us back to where we began;
and il will be difficult to devise a substitute that VIII
be 80 certain at once of commanding the assent OF the
loyal States and aiordng ground OF even plausible
complaint to the other sort. Had that proposition
been adopted, We should have carried every loyal
State trumphanily in our ensuing elections, and Sc
cured Impartial Suffrage throughout the Union within
very few years We need il to help US secure Equal
Rights here in New-York, and in most of the loyal
States. Connecticut (ior example, Is very likely to
lose Representative in Congress at the next Appor-
tionmcnt-will almost certainly do SO If her Blacks
should not be counted. Who believes that she would
again refuse the Right Of Suffrage to her Blacks, when
she would thereby lose a Member Of Congress And
how long would South Carolina persist in accepting
TWO or three Members with Negro Prescription rather
than five with Impartial Suffrage Not SIX years We
are morally certain. And so OF others
Onr platform of Reconstruction is known to be-
UNIVERSAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT SUFFRAGE. little
two Houses will enbody this IN Constitutional
Amendment and pass it by two-thirds vote, we are
ready to stand or fall with it before the people We
deem il quite probable that it might put-he next Con
gress against Us, and let in the seeded States on
their own terms: but on So good platform It sale
to die in the full assurance Of glorious resurrection
If this canot be carried, greatly prefer the
Amendment first reported from the Joint Committee
TO any other. 1t is short, simple, and not only ex-
plains but commends itself Thus, in the Connecticut
Senate last Thursday Mr. Ballard submitted the fol-
lowing, and brought the body to a vote on it, VIZ:
R,soiri By ID, Senate and Hous, Of R,e'ars' ia G''0ii
ASSEMBLY, eonread That or Senators ana tepfenaiyes 70
such amendments the Constitution VI the United states as
will secure 10 the white men Of 1onnecicut reveseetaos
Congress equal 70 that accorded to The white men o. souh
Carolina
The Democratic Senators voted Motley thought
they could MT help it-but, if taking an old-iashoned
dose of castor OIL followed by of aloes and this
by gill apiece of cut-tbroat vinegar would have eH-
cused them. they would have taken the drugs and
lodged the vote.
The Amendment now before the Senate is too com
plicated and cumbrous. 1t needs Philadelphia law
yer to expound and eucdate it. That section which
proposes general Acknowledgement of exRebels till
1870 is eve presume) to be stricken out as We trust
il may be- 1t will never amount TO anything in prac
tce if retained. When good many were fierce for
keeping the Irish from the ballot-boxes, we should
have been well content with any substitute that would
prevent their voting than once at the same cleo
ton. SO now, if the ex.Rebes are willing to stand
on an equal footing with the rest Of u.s. we shall be
satisfied And, if they should not be obliged to, it
will be for lack of practical wisdom joined with
of self-conceit in Congress.
Let it be clearly understood that no plan of resora-
ton that Congress should devise will be
cepted at by the Southern oligarchy. They will
wait at all events to see if the Copperheads cannot
carry the rext House. to let them in with flying
coors. They mean that not only shall the iatted
calf be killed to honor their return but that they
shall monopolize all the veal. What Congress now
does-a il cGn dds to make up an issue for the i'm
pending elections And great care should be taken
to make this issue so clear and simple that
misunderstood it,
Such are our general views. But whatever may be
the shape ultimately given TO the plan Of Congress,
we pray every Union Senator to give ii his vote