The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-15

The Real Issuc OF the Dny-The Repeal Of
the Revolutionary Reconstruction Laws
Of Congress.
In the present confusion Of tongues
omong the builders of Babel at WASHINGTON
he real issue which is operating to turn the
tide of pubic opinion against the radicals and
their revolutionary schemes is Obscured. Ii is
not the restoration of the Bourbons nor Mr.
Jolnson's policy which was the underlying
cause OF the republican losses in the late
California and Maine elections but il is the
departure Of the republican party in Congress
from is plan Of Southern reconstruction sub
mited and overwhelmingly ratified by the
Northern States in their last years elections.
The plan thus ratified by the Northern States
last year was the plan embodied in the great
constitutional amendment passed by q two
thirds vote Of each house Of the Thrty-ninth
Congress. and upon this platform the present, or
Fortieth Congress, was elected. The distinguish
ing feature of this amendment was the section
relating to suffrage and representation; and
which provides 10 let each and every State de-
eide for itself how far, If at all, the right Of
suffrage shall be given to its black population,
and upon what conditions il shall be extended
or restricted but which also provides that in
proportion to the exclusion Of any class or
race from the suffrage. their enumeration for
representation in Congress shall beacut of.
In word, this popular amendment simply
provides to leave with the several States the
settlement of the suffrage question, with the
condition that suffrage and representation shall
90 together. This proposition, fair and reason
able to all concerned North and South gave
the republicans, more than anything else, their
tremendous majorities in the Northern State
elections last fall. The amendment, embody-
ing this and other just and wholesome PROPOSE
lions, has since been ratified by all the North
ern State Legislatures with an excepto or two
where no action has yet been taken upon the
subject. At all events, If thrce-fourths Of the
States actually represented in the general
government are competent to give legal rati-
ication. this amendment is to-day. we believe,
virtually part of the federal constitution-.he
supreme law of the land.
But the republican radical leaders in the
present OOngreSs, lnste'u OI hunerlng 10 anu
carrying out this sound and satisfactory recon-
struction platform Of tn, last Congress, have
| cast Il aside and proceeded TO series of revo-
lutionary measures which, if pushed TO tho
extent designed. will change our whole system
of government and place il under the triple
headed monster Of a negro oligarchy in the
South, moneyei oligarchy in the North, and
| a general experimenting military despotism.
| These monstrous innovations are oil provided in
the reconstruction acts, the Tenure Of Office law,
and all the concurrent revolutionary measures Of
the prescoi Congress. They propose to give the
poor, ignorant and creiulous negroes, just
released from the darkness Of southern slavery,
the political control OF oil the Southern States,
from Virginia 70 Texas inclusive. Next, under
the financial system OF Mr.. Chase, it il quite as
nanifsstly the purpose Of the radical leaders to
fasten upon the North moneyed oligachy.
compared with which Nick Biddlc, with his old
United States Bank, was mere bagatelle.
These revolutionary measures and schemes
are aggravated in their disorganizing tenden.
cies by that stupid revolutionary Tenure OF
once lay, according 70 which II " didaouls 70