The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-14

Without going beyond our Immediate vicinity J
for samples, we venture to name Hamilton !
Fish, WilliamC. Bryant, Henry Ward Beecher.
and even Horace Greeley, as men who could
meet the representatives of the South in ami
cable discussion, with sincere desire to reach
mutually satisfactory results. The Democrats
would send their soundest and wisest men.
a conference of this kind, consisting of sixty
or eighty men of eminent standing ripe expe-
rience, and persuasive temper, would succeed
in finding some solution of our national diff
culties which would lift the Union out of the
slough of party politics, and re-establish it on
the only basis whereon it can stand-that of
comprehensive, all-adjusting equity. Any
propositions which a conference so composed
should agree in recommending would prOba-
bly, be so intrinsically fair so marked by con-
siderate and reeonciling justice, that they
would command a popular support wide
enough to put them into the Constitution, if
that should be deemed their fittest embodi-
ment.
Thus much for the initial stages of the
method; we will now proceed, with more hesi-
tation and difidence to hazard some hints re-
lating to the substance. 1t is, of course, not
what we suggest, but what the proposed con-
ference might after full consultation agree in,
that we should expect to stand by.
The negro question being the knot of the
difficulty, it would be futile to offer any sug-
the very nature of the conflict, all parties
must abate something of their claims as a
means of securing permanence for what is
granted; Just as in entering into civil society
men relinquish some of their natural rights to
secure the protection of the whole body for
the remainder. What is yielded on the negro
question may also be in part compensated
by concessions gained on other points. The
extreme negro party on one side demands
that negro suffrage shall be immediate and
universal.
But this party is confronted by an obstacle
it cannot ignore in the demonstration, Just
given in the elections, that the public opinion
of the country does not support its claims.
AS friends of the negro, they had better accept
postponed and gradually extending suffrage,
guaranteed by common consent, than take the
risk of getting nothing by prematurely de-
manding all. The extreme party, on the
other side, demands the permanent and uni
versal exclusion of the negroes from the suf-
frage. But this party cannot ignore the fact
that the Republicans are in possession of the
Government, and that time enough will elapse
before they go out to consolidate the negro
race in such rooted antipathy to the white, as
to preclude, or postpone to another generation,
all hope of harmonizing the interests of the
two races. The prompt restoration of the
Union is an interest of such magnitude as to
be worth a sacrifice, but this healing prompti-
tude is not attainable without considerable
concessions in favor of the negroes.
Our own plan would be, to require five
years. probation from the date of their emanci-
patton, as we do Of the more intelligent white
immigrants who come hither from the despo-
tisms of the Old World and then admit the
first generation on a very small property
qualification (say half of what was required of
the first generation of white freemen in this
State), and Gin the second generation, when
majority of heads of families will probably
have become property holders, make the suf-
frage universal. The necessity for these dila-
tory precautions lies in the fact that the chief
evil to be guarded against in the State govern
ments is eXtravagant expenditures and oppres-
sive taxes-an evil against which there is no
other protection in a republican government
(and even this protection is not very efficiently
than that they who lay the taxes shall also
feel them. Universal suffrage is safe in the
North because a majority of our citizens are
owners of property; but republican govern.
ment would not long survive among us if the
| avenues to competence were closed against
| industry and thrift. We shall not stckle for
this compromise of the negro question; but
without some compromise there can be no
| durable settlement.
Another conciliatory measure which we
venture to suggest, is the adoption of certain
provisions of the Confederate Constitution.
lfthere is not manliness enough in the coun-
try to recognize what is really good in that
| instrument, our people are greater bigots or
noodles than we deem them. We do not say
that man is a political bgot who contests
the excellence of the provisions, but only that
| he is carping idiot if he objects to a thing
acknowledged to be good in itself because il
has that particular origin. One of the provi-
| sions of the Confederate Constitution which
/ we recommend for consideration is this;-"The
| principal officer in each of the executive de-
/ partments, and all persons connected with the
| diplomatic service, may be removed from
Office at the pleasure of the President. AL
other civil officers of the executive depart
ment may be removed at any time by the Pre-
sident OF other appointing power, when theil
| services are unnecessary, or for dishones ",
incapacity, inefhciency, misconduct, or neglect
/ of duty; and when so removed, the removal
shall be reported to the Senate, together with
the reasons thereof"
There is perhaps no change which would
| contribute so much to the stability of our in
| stitutiOns as the incorporation of this provi-
sion into the Constitution. 1t would prevent
the country from being convulsed, in every
| Presidential election, by the reckless and selfish
scrambles for the control of the Federal patron
age, which is doing more than all other causes
to corrupt the people and undermine the Gov
ernment The South can easily accept it,
having already given it their solemn approval
| The Republican party should be willing Il
accept it, as a rational substitute for theil
Tenure Of Office bill. No coniuncture will
ever again occur so propitious for its adoption
and besides its solid merit, it would be linl
of harmony between both of the chief parties
to this unhappy CONTROVERSY II there Were