The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-26

Blacks In Congress ana w NAT Ineus
A day or two before the adjournment of the
late session of Congress Mr.. Sumner admon-
i,hed the members OF the Senate that 1t would
be we'll to prepare their minds for the recep-
ton, within the next twelve months or 30, of a
sprinkling of Senators of African descent from
the Southern States. From the developments
OF the initial steps to reconstruction, and from
all the signs of the times, tbers was something
more in this notification than idle badinage.
We think the probabilities are oil in favor OF
the African sprinkling 50 boastingly fore
Swallowed by the Massachusetts, Senator; and
we should not be surprised il, with the accom-
plishmen. Of their work of rehabilitation, the
ten outside States were to send up five ten, fif-
teen or twenty colored gentlemen to the lower
House, and half dozen, moro or less, among
the conscript fathers Of the Senate.
In round numbers the aggregate population
Of these ten outside States may be set down at
eight millions, and the proportions at four mil
lions five hundred thousand whites against
| three millions five hundred thousand blacks
which gives the whites majority of million.
Allowing one voter to every seven persons,
these figures will cover five hundred thousand
black voters against six hundred and fifty
thousand white voters. The blacks have de-
cisive majorities In South Carolina; Mississippi
and Louisiana; the whites in Virginia, Nor.h
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and
Texas, while the two races nearly balance each
other in Florida-allowing for the larger de-
structlon of the whites by the war and the in
crease of the black, by accessions during the
war from the border slave States. Hence, II
all the voters Of both races are brought out,
the blacks are sure of three States, and they
may carry four or Eve of the ten. We may
safely assume that, while the blacks en- n'assc
will vote the republican ticket, they will be
supported by some considerable fractions OF
| the whites so that, If We 60 no further, the
| chances are in favor of the blacks.
| But rebel acknowledgements will probably in
! the aggregate cut of say seventy-6ve thousand
men otherwise entitled to vote; 80 that in all
the ten States concerned the whites will have
but sevenly-fve thousand majority to rely
upon. But, in the next place, the actual reg
istra.ions made Of voters from Virginia x
Texas exhibit an almost unbroken catalogue o
black msjorities so heavy in most places as II
show that large numbers of whites, from indii
ference, disgust or despair, have given up tn
| 6rht on the threshold, and that, from the Pc
| tomac to the Rio Grande, the republicans, wit
their solid black vote and their white support
ers, hold the game Of reconstruction 10 thei
hands.
So, from the facts and figures before us, th
actual situation Of things warrants the con
clusion that the republican party will carr.
nearly all. II not all these ten outside revolu
tonized Southern States, in their work OF re
construction. Nor 10 II likely tina. the blacks
constituting in all these States the bulk AM
strength Of the party, will consent to do al
the work without any Of ito rewards. The,
have only to demand share Of the honors an
onhces to get them. Hence, We may conf
IDENTIFY expect, and during the present Con
. sress, that sprinklng Of members OF African
descent In both houses suggested by Senate
! Sumner.
We are called, then, to inquire what will b
the moral effect in the political world Of thi
startling innovation upon the old order q
thingss We may be sure that negro equality
proclaiming itself through negro voices from
both houses Of Congress, will make profoun
impression upon the public mind tbroughou
tho North. We apprchend that the result vii
be a general reaction against the republics
party in the Northern States; for We kno,
that there IL stronger wall Of white prejudic
against the negro 10 the North than exists 1
the South. This prejudice elected Buchans
in 1856, and would have elected Douglas {
Breckenridge in 1860, had the Charleston Col
vention consented to unite UPON either W
= may expect, then, when the blacks assume til
political balance Of power Of ten reconstruct
Southern States, and send up their black repr
!. sentatives to Congress, that there will be
| REVOLUTIONARY uaankion aQainst than snnng u