Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-25
The CONSTITUTIONAL Amendment.

mOrt1hed last week III "udG we ouPpoooo
was the advice of DR.. Deems, the accom-
plished editor of the New York Watchnada
q paper which has a large circulation
throughout the Southern States, and whose
editor has great influence in this section, to
the South to ratify the Constitutions
amendment, as matter of policy and best
under existing circumstances in order to re
construct the country.
We were astonished at this advice, for il
was in direct opposition to what we had re-
garded as the former course of that paper,
and were mortified, because we did not be-
lieve the people of the South could follow
the advice without becoming a party to
their own disfranchisement and disgrace
without being participeS criminiS. Ii il
was wrong and criminal in the South tc
accept the degrading proposition before
the event of the late elections, it is equally
so now that the result of these elections
has been against the policy of the Presi-
dent and favorable to that of Congress; and
if theypossessedthe powerunderth the Consti-
tuition to reject the amendment before the
elections, their adverse results will not de-
prive them of this right. If they can re-
fuse to ratify this proposition now, they
will have the power equally to reject the
mysterious and ominous something worse"
that weakened and designing persons
among us threaten us with, if either the
forms or spirit of the Constitution are re-
garded.
If indeed the Constitution is to be con-
tinually set aside and trampled upon, what
is to be hoped for in amending tiff it is
no longer to be regarded and obeyed as the
supreme and fundamental law of the land,
let it q least remain on the statute books,
the honored instrument handed down to
us by patriotic sires, the noble, if useless,
record of the wisdom and virtues of its au-
thors, and not the history of Northern trl-
umph and Southern degradation. Our de-
feat, honorable as it was, may be converted
into lasting humiliation and disgrace, by
voluntarily ENGRAVING upon the Constltu-
ton of the country, the political animosi-
ties and sectional hatred of the party, who
did nothing to insure that defeat except by
pitiless attack upon "rebels" from the
hustings, in the halls of Congress, or
through the columns of newspapers. The
representatives of the brave men who ex-
posed their lives and endured the hard
ships necessary to insure our defeat-nay,
the very leaders and heroes in the struggle,
in Convention at Clcaveland, have de-
nounced the terms of reconstruction as i'll
advised, cowardly and unconstitutional
The South, we submit cannot consider on
this subject. The mere fact of its being
referred to us indicates some option or the
semblance of choice on our part, and
while we can in no respect be regarded as
responsible for the wrongs inflicted upon
us by the military strength Of the govern
ment, we certainly will become responsible
for any humiliation our fears may invite or
any disgrace our ratification may bring
about The gain which it is argued will be
made by the South by accepting the humil-
iating and unconstitutional proposition will
he more than counterbalanced by future
loss, and viewed merely as matter of pol
ICY we are MOI satisfied that the South has
much to gain by disfranchisingher best citi-
zens, reducing her representation to the
most insignificant number, and converting
the substance, thus emaciated, into the
merest shadow, by combining her represen-
tatives to those who were false to their
State and treacherous to their homes their |
friends and brethren.
We have referred to this subject to-day, |
merely to correct an erroneous impression |
we had taken of the position of the Watch |
man, and to give to our readers the very |
sensible article from tho last number of |
that excellentpape upon the subject of the
amendment. DIR. Deems in
private letter to the editors of the Raleigh |
Sentinel, says:
every gentleman connected with the Watch
man, is as much opposed to the Howard amend
nent you are, ard you know that if they were
not would not hold post to advocate other |
mems opinions for pay"
We hesitated to refer to this subject ear
ier, fearing to do injustice to that paper,
rs we were not satisfied, after a careful pc
rusal of the article, that it advised the
Southern people to ratify the amendment,
there was much in it we did not
ike and regretted to see coming from such
4 source. The following article, however,
will give more distinct explanation of the
opinions of the distinguished Editor, and
contains advice which will commend itself
to the Southern public:
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
From all minor topics we turn every day to think
IN this absorbing question. Last week gave
what views occurred to us then. We shall do SO
rom time to time. The only conclusion We reach
I'd then that it seemed the policy for the South
wait and watch the progress of events, and that
this measure were forced upon the people, there
we're some hopeful views even in the event of that
lire calamity. That the people of the South will
accept the measure we do not for mo-
nent believe. /
There never seemed to us to be so perplexing
question. To say what people ought to do, who
ire perfectly Free is comparatively easy; but to
ay what they ought to do when enyironed with
which surround the South, is a
question full of the saddest entanglements. Our
leart's desire is that the Southern States may be
ed to such decision is compatible with their
afety and dignity. They deal with subtle and
reacherous foe, whose malignity seems to increase
nth the troubles of the fallen. FB Fjctis! is
hrieked on the breezes which blow from the /
Torth 1.