The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-31

Reconstruction Southern Vote and tho
Future
Under the Attorney Generals strict defini-
ton of the DISTINGUISHING power OF the Re
construction act the number Of persons
excluded from the polls in the Southern States
will be comparatively small. Not more than
hundred thousand will be shut out, perhaps
not near go many. Ne persons are declared
to be positively and distinctly within the mean
ing of the act but members Of Congress, mem
bers Of State Legislatures, judges Of State
department in State government 1t is even
doubtful whether the law operates against all
who have even held these specified Offices
County, township and municipal o6acers-the
vast body Of stockholders whose disfranohise-
ment might change the result of an election
are not touched at ALL aNone should be
excluded who are not clearly within the letter
and intent Of the law and thus every doubt
is practicable escape. Moreover, every
man is at the last resort he judge in his own
csse for II he can ARRANGE i with his com
science that he is not included in one. Of the
classes named by the law, or did not " partici-
pate il the rebellion" a. the cot means, and
viii take tAs oath, his name must e o. the
register. He may take Ne oAance Of pos
sible subsequent prosecution for perjury. and
the Registers may know that he is clearly in
that danger, yet, ii he will swear, they have no
option but TO record him a. voter. We there-
fore set down one hundred thousand ~ On out
side limit Of the number thst tho law will
exclude from the polls. -
The South viii then be left with one hundred
thousand votes as its political capital for
new career. As the three-ffths rule has gone
out with slavery, the representation must be
based upon an enumeration Of the whole popu-
lation, and thus the Southern States will proba-
bly, return with eighty or ninety members Of
Congress. What will be the political COM
plexion Of this representation 1t is mot very
difficult 10 foresee. Republican blunderers, by
their mistaken dealings with the Niger. have
made consolidated opposition Of the whole
white vote and the white vote will elect three
fourths Of ell the new members. These mem
bers will act with the democrats or with the
conservative republicans. ~ occasion may re-
quire, and will thus completely nullify that
two-thirds majority BY which the radicals have.
crushed down every attempt to modify their
extravaganza There will no longer be .
defiant, unressoning, mere party rule in Gen.
gress, whose vote Of two to one could at the
last be whipped in for an answer to any argu-
ment. Thus The Southern members will restore
q balance and put Congress again in the nor
NAL conditioned deliberative body. From
the return Of these members aud the restora-
ton Of . balance in Congress we will have to
date new distribution Of parties. New points
Of departure win be taken in our political
history, and new divisions, perhaps, upon the
great financial and commercial features OF our
policy will develop and intensity discussion
that will change the direction Of party activity
and give the South chance for that rest which
is the greatest necessity tor its complete resto.
ration.
Perhaps the radical policy may b. 40 far
successful in the South that in the new South
ern representation there will be half dozen
niggers. Should this be the case II will excite
the wonder snd disgust Of the world. II will
be justly regarded as the most remarkable and
revolving spectacle Of the age. II will furnish
an argument to those who hold that tendency
to degradation exists in institutions based upon
universal suffrage, since il win seem to show
that in choosing our lawmakers from q race
just brought from . servile condition we do
not seek to be governed by the wisdom edu-
cation and intellect Of the nation, but are ready
10 pander 70 the most debssiag dsbaucheries
Of democratic theory.