The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-23


Gold closed u 13ok l3ok.
sontkcrn Elections and Convcntiens-Wha
n IL the Duty Of Congresss
The reports so far received Of the reconstruc-
ton elections in North Carolina. South Caro-
lima, Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, indicate
that in each Of those States the majority Of the
votes cast has been for convention, and that q
majority of the delegates thereto will be radi-
calls, whites and blacks, as in Virginia,
Georgia, Alabama and louisiana Texas still
lags behind In North Carolina, it appears as
in Virginia and Georgia, where the registered
whites held the majority, they have permitted
the elections to be carried by the blacks by
default In South Carolina, where the blacks afe
four hundred thousand against three hundred
thousand whites, and where the registration Of
voters, from rebel Acknowledgement, shows .
much heavier preponderance Of the black
power, the vote appears to be all one way,
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 antiradical as to completely de-
molsh 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less be superseded by conservative House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, whilc 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, so 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. lit will not 60 down in the North 1t
cannot be made to stick in the South. In 1865
constitutional amendment declaring the
equal civil rights Of citizens Of all colcrs; de-
claring the sacred obligations attaching to
the national debt; repudlating all rebel
debts and all claims for slaves; de-
claring the Acknowledgement Of certain lead
ing rebels, subject to two-thirds vote of Con-
gress, and providing that suffrage and repre-
sentation shall 60 together as the several States
may elect restricted or universal suffrage, was
. programme which swept the country from
Maine to California In 1867, wherever in thu
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, il 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
1t effect as part Of the supreme law Of the
land is resolution or bill from Congress de-
claring the ratification. The required number
Of the States having ratified the amendment, it
is even now "valid to all intcnts and purposes
as part Of the constitution" requiring only .
change Of the law proclaiming the TACT. As
the law stands II il the duty OF the Secretary
Of State to make the proclamation. Mr.. Seward,
however, stands committed to the Johnsonian
theory, that three-fourths Of all the States,
inside and outside the general government, are
necessary to ratify. &c. under Mr.. Johnson's
coercive Southern reconstruction policy, .
sufficient number OF the rebel States were
forced 70 ratify the amendment abolishing
slavery to make up three-iourths Of all the
States. Then Mr.. Seward proclaimed the rati-
acation. But rs Congress has since rejected
as illegal and void oil Mr.. Jobnson's acts Of
reconstruction, all these Southern ratifca-
tons 60 for nothing, and IL the amendment
abolishing slavery, therefore, 10 not . part Of
the constitution by the voice Of three-fourths
Of the States adhcring TO the national govern
ment, then slavery is not legally abolished, and
Maryla ar New York may revive the institu-
ton tomorrow, and Congress cannot touch it
Why can't we have the views Of "Old Thad
Stevens" upon this question: II will not do 10
shirk 1t; for, II not in this, in the next Congress
il will come up for settlement, and 1t will have
to be settled.
e.a- ~.