The New York herald., 1867-03-13


providing {" for the more efficient government
of the rebel States, and to facilitate their re-
storation," has been passed by the House OF
Representatives, lit to 27-a strict party vote.
1t directs the commanding general in each OF
the five military districts into which the ten
excluded States are divided, by the general
act of March 2, to cause to be made before the
lst Of September next registration in such
county or parish Of the male citizens of the
United States (whites and blacks) over twenty
one years Of age, resident in each county or
parish under the restrictions Of the said general
law, and who shall have taken specified oath
Of loyalty, and that after such registration
shall have been completed and copies thereof
returned to the commanding general, he SHALL
within thirty days thereafter, cause an election
to be held for delegates to form State con-
stitution, to re-establish loyal State govern
ment, according to said act Of March Q, &c
The constitution thus framed shall be held a.
adopted only with the approval Of majority
of the registered voters, and with its approval
by Congress, Senators and Representatives are
to be admitted from such State.
From the decisive vote by which this bill
has passed the House we conclude that it has
been agreed upon by the dominant party, and
will therefore become law, veto or no veto
(Eh passant, we infer that the present session
of Congress will be continued for at least two
weeks longer, and perhaps three.) Under the
regulations Of this bill we see nothing to pre-
vent the restoration to Congress Of every one
of the ten States concerned in season to organ.
ize their parties and to participate deliberately
in the Presidential election Of 1868.
While this practical measure was under con
sideration in the House the Senate was en-
gagged in discussing string Of radical abstrac-
tions from Mr.. Sumner, in the shape Of further
guarantees of Southern loyalty, including com.
mon schools and homestead law. By vote
however, of thirty-six to ten, this string of alb
stractions was laid upon the tsble-a very
suggestive and satisfactory vote. In the mega.
tive, with Mr.. Sumner, were the two Senators,
Upton and Thayer, from the new State Of Ne
braska Zone Q Union soldier and I. the other :
Union chaplain during the war)-a vote which
may be accepted as settling all doubts in refer
ence to the political status of these two new
acquisitions to the Senate. They are radicals
of the Kansas-Nebraska school.
Looking next to the man at the other end
of the avenue" the President, it appears that
he is considerably embarrassed in the selection
of at least one of the commanders Of those five
Southern military districts. General Grant
on being requested to suggest his
selections, proposed Generals Thomas, Sheri-
dan, Schofield, Ord and Sickles. II appears
thai Mr.. Johnson has, without much difficulty,
the fitness Of each Of these officers
for the important duties defined, except Gene-
raj Sheridan. In IS case the idea that Ne knows
nothing Of statecraft and politics has been
thrown out, with the hint that General Sher-
man would be better adapted for the special
position proposed. This sort Of special plead
ing, however, will not be held by the people
Of the great North as sufficient to justify the re-
moval Of General Sheridan for he is now. and
has been for some time, in command Of the
military district embracing Louisiana and
Texas, and has discharged his duties therein
has proved himselfa perfect master Of statecraft
in going honestly and straightforward in the
work assigned him, and to the great end in
view. The President will make serious mis-
take in removing General Sheridan; for his re-
moval, if made, will be attributed to other
reasons than those Of his alleged ignorance
of "statecraft" or Southern politics. Through
out the loyal States, after General Grant, and,
perhaps, General Thomas, there is no oficer Of
the army who would be more acceptable for
the ssstatccraft" Of the Presidency itself than
s'little Phil Sheridan" In any event these
military commanders, under the express in
structions oil Congress, will have plain line
Of duty before them, and as the results OF their
work are to be submitted to Congress, it will
not require much "statecraft" beyond fidelity
to the law to meet the responsibilities assigned
them.
As for the ten excluded States, their leading
and managing politicians will do well to re-
member that with their restoration to Con-
gress, and with the ratification of the pending
constitutional amendment and its proclama-
ton as part Of the supreme law Of the land,
all conflicting laws of Congress will be super
seded, and every State will thus be left TO
decide for itself whether it will exclude the
negro vote and lose the negro population in
counting the people for representation in Con-
grcss, or whether IL will continue negro suf-
frage in order to count the negroes for repre-
sentation. For instance. South Carolina has
seven hundred thousand uAople-three hundred
thousand whites and four hundred thousand
blaoka Now, i6t us suppose that under tbs
terms Of Congress sAs : . restored, sD. that this
sforesa'0 ...acndmeat has become part Of the
FEDERAL constitution. Let US then takc %. w..
hundred thousand souls as the ratio for mem.
Der Of Congress, and South Carolina may elec.
for herself whether, in continuing the suffrage
to the blacks, she will choose seven members
Of tho cfD n