The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-25

three hundred thousand whites, and where the
registration of voters, from Rebel disfranohise-
ment, shows a much heavier prepOnderaDoe Of
the black power, the vote appears to be all
one way, and, excepting radical white strag
gleF here and there, all Of one color.
The Southern white policy Of mastery In
activity" on this business Of reconstruction,
which was first developed in the Louisiana
election, seems to have gained strength since
the recent Northern elections. The idea seems
to be that the next Congress from the North
will be so far anti-radieal as to completely
demolish the existing radical programme, and
restore the outside states on the platform Of
President Johnson. But while the present
radical House of Representatives will doubt
less be superseded by conservative House on
the 4th Of March, 1869, the present radical
Senate can hardly be upset inside Of four years
to come. The Southern whites Of the outside
States, therefore, while looking to the future
for better conditions than those now before
them, should be prepared to avail themselves
of any reasonable concessions which may be
offered from the present Congress-, 80 as to
get reinstated in the Government as soon as
possible.
The recent Northern elections have quashed
this extreme radical theory Of universal negro
suffrage. lift will not 60 down in the North
it cannot be made to stick in the South. In
1866 a constitutional amendment declaring the
equal civil rights of citizens Of all colors; de-
olaring the sacred obligations attaching to the
national debit repudiating all Rebel debts and
all claims for slaves; declaring the disfran-
chisement of certain leading Rebels, subject to
a two-thirds vote of Congress, and providing
that suffrage and representation shall go to-
gether as the several States may elect re-
stricted or universal suffrage, was aprogramme
which swept the country from Maine to Cali
fornia. In 1867, wherever in the North this
new test of universal negro suffrage has been
tried, it has been signally rejected, and most
signally in the most radical States, such as
Ohio and Kansas.
Now, If we are not mistaken, this constitu-
tiOnal amendment of 1866 has been ratified by
three-fourths of the States represented in and
constituting the Government of the United
States. All, therefore, that is needed to give
it effect as part of the supreme law of the
land is resolution or bill from Congress
declaring the ratification. The required num-
Der OF the States having ratified the amend
ment, 1t is even now "valid to all intents
and purposes as part of the Constitution, -
requiring only change OF the law pro.
claiming the fact. AS the law stands
it is the duty of the Secretary of State to
make the proclamation. Mr.. Seward. how
ever, stands committed to the Johusonian
theory, that three-fourths of all the States.
inside and outside the general Government,
are necessary 70 ratlfy. 30, under Mr.. Johnson's
coercive Southern reconstruction policy, suf-
fcient number of the RebefStates were forced
to ratify the amendment abolishing slvery to
make up three-fOurths Of all the States. Then
Mr.. Seward proclaimed the ratification. Bat
as Congress has since rejected as illegal aud
void all Of Mr.. Johnson's acts of reconstruc-
tion, all these Southern ratiications go for
nothing, and if the amendment abolishing
slavery, therefore, is not part of the Consti-
tuition by the voice OF three-fourths of the
States adhering to the national Government,
then slavery is not legally abolished and
Maryland or New York may revive the
institution tomorrow, and Congress cannot
touch it.
Stevens" upon this question: 1t will not do
to shirk it; for, il not in this in the next Con-
gress it will come up for settlement, and it will
have to be settled.