The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-02-14
THE PRESENT AsrECT.

4 y
come forth out of the conflicting ele-
meuts at work in this country, aud
which manifest themselves more partic-
ularly at the seat Of Government The
Executive, having done all he could to
check the mischievous course of Con-
gross, has settled down to mastery
inactivity in that respect, quietly wait
ing to see what viii turn up. The Su-
premc Court having dared to decide
against the constitutionality Of Militia
ry Courts, aud Test 0aths, has drawn
down on itself the malcdictions Of Rad
icaiism, aud set Congress to work to
cireumvent il in some way. The pro.
jcct for the impeachment Of the Presi-
dent is being attended to by the Com,
leittec on the Judiciary; yet the belief
is gaining ground that it will all end in
smoke, and that the more prudent OF
the party will get rid of the clamor for
impeachment BY directing their atten-
ton to the election Of his successor, the
time for which is rapidly approaching.
Last session, after long delay aud
much contention, the constitutional
Amendment, now before the State Leg
isiatures for adoption, was proposed us
the Congressional plan of Reconstruc-
ton. This seems likely to fail in con-
sequence ofits rejection by the Southern
States. Neither is it popular with all
the Radicals, as it leaves Negro Suffrage
voluntary with the States, or only de-
prives them Of representative power if
they reject it, Various schemes have
been devised at the present session
the chief of which is the plan to reduce
the Rebel States TO the condition Of
Territories This has called forth so
much division among the faithful, that
the Committee on Reconstruction, Of
which Thad. Stevens is Chairman, has
reported another plan to Congress,
which proposes to establish military
dcspotism over each Of the seeded
States, We are happy to learn that
this plan is likely to be rejected; aud
we,trust that something more reasoua.
bic may yet be expected of this Radical
Congress. . Co.,
There are indications in the South Of
. disposition to offer some sort of COM
promise, Many are willing that the
South should accept the Constitutional
Am endment if the more obnoxious pro
positions contained therein are modified
particularly that part which dsfran-
ehises the leading men of the South,
who were not worse than the majority
of their people, and whom they cannot
voluntarily agree to Condemn. They
prefer, We suppose, to lose the right of
representing their colOred population,
rather than be kept eternally in sus-
pense; and have reason to believe that
it is the mildest mode of enforcing negro
suffrage the North will ever agree to.
We believe all efforts of the South to
compromise to be perfectly useless at
present. Their true course is, to reject
any hnmiliating terms which they may
be asked to agree TO, and leave them to
be- Imposed by the arbitrary power
..whifh suggests them. They should
continue to profess an ardent desire to
resume their old places in the Union,
las soon as they can do so honorably,
and consider that it win not be long un-
til the public mind of the North will
discover who il is that is keeping this
onion divided, so long after it had been
preserved by the fortune Of var.