The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-26
The New Bill Of ,RecensirxctiSn-Tke Pros
pect in the South. 8E


Historians have been sorely puzzled to de-
termine the fate of the ten lost tribes of Israel
and our political philosophers are as much per-
picked in their efforts to forecast the destiny
of our ten outside rebel States. The general
drift of passing events therein, the prevailing
tone and temper of their leading organs, poll
tical managers and ruling classes, the evidence
OF Generals Grant, Thomas, Sheridan, Howard,
Schofeld and other intelligent Union soldiers,
all declare that the spirit Of the rebellion still
lives and that the dream and the purpose of
Southern independence are still predominant
from Bull Run to the Rio Grande. The de-
feated associate conspirators Of JEFF Davis still
recoil with horror from the idea of subordi-
nation to :" the Yankees" and with unmingled
disgust from the other idea of negro suffrage.
Every one Of the ten Legislatures set up by
President johnson in those rebel States has
rejected the easy terms of the pending consti-
tutional amendment with scorn, contempt and
something of defiance. What, then, is the pros
pect Of their submission to and cooperation
with the government upon this new bill, this
| ultimatum of Congress?
Very much, in the answer to this question,
will depend upon the course of President
johnson. 1t is clear that the ruling white
class of the South expected, until our Northern
elections Of last fall, restoration to Congress
under Mr.. Johnson's policy, placing the rebel
States substantially as they were before the
war, and with the door open through the
Supreme Court for the re-establishment Of
negro slavery. We know, too, that after those
Johnson in the final success of his policy still
encouraged the deluded leading politicians Of
the South to hold their ground, and that they
still looked to the Supreme Court for de-
liverance. With this new bill, however, hang
ing over the excluded States, and with the
sword of impeachment hanging over President
Johnson as by a single hair, Southern indiffer-
ence, contempt and defiance in reference to
Congress are giving way to convictions of
helplessness against the will of Congress.
Southern leaders on the old track of Calhoun
are beginning to see that the incoming will be
quite as radical as the outgoing Congress
that they must accept the terms proposed by
the next Presidential election, and that if ex-
cluded from that election they may be held
indefinitely in their present helpless and
ruinous position.
In this dilemma they are, doubtless still look
ing to Mr.. Johnson for instructions. He, too, by
falling back upon Congress, may recall them to
reason and common sense. The simple admission
that he can no longer help himself will suffice.
II IL rumorcd, and with ON air Of confidence in
some quarters, that he will probably send in
tomorrow q veto of this reconstruction bill,
and for the purpose of giving the two houses
an opportunity to pass the bill over his head,
SO that he may save his consistency without
appearing still to stand in an attitude of
unyielding hostility to Congress. This alter
native may save him, provided the tone Of his
message be not offensive, but conciliatpry. The.
Judiciary Committee Of the House are proba-
bly, waiting the upshot of this thing, In order
to make up their decision of impeachment or
free pardon.
Assuming that there will be a veto, but that
it will be conciliatory in its tone and argu-
ment, and submitted in season to secure the
bill by two-thirds vote in each house, and
that ii will 80 become q law before the close
Of this session, we may expect in due time 10
witness q wonderful reaction in the South.
With the old leaders Of the rebellion thrown
into the background, and with the universal
negro vote brought into the elections, new
class of white leaders from the young
men of the South will appear in the fore
ground. The suffrage will give the blacks
respect and consideration among the whites in
proportion to their political strength, and thus
the two races, as the land owners and the Ia
borers, will be brought into relations Of mutual
comprehensive from the old Southern order Of
things under the bred Scott decision is not the
work of a day. A transition 80 radical and
unexpected, even from Mr.. Johnson's policy,
must create temporary effervescencc and
cooling down before the wine will be ready to
bottle.
This new bill of reconstruction continues the
State establishments set up by Mr.. johnson as
provisional governments subject to the will of
Congress, and leaves it to the people ofeach
State concerned whether they shall proceed at
once to reorganize on the terms laid down or
wait a little longer under the supervision OF
martial law. We presume that the present
Southern Governors and their Legislatures,
under this discretionary power, will prefer to
hold on yet awhile until they can take their
soundings and make their arrangements con-
corning the negro vote, so that we may hear
Of no Southern movement under this bill for
the election Of a recognizing State convention
until after the crops Of the coming summer
shall have been secured. Meantime, from the
re-establishment Of martial law and the sub.
mission of the Southern people to their
manifest destiny" we may expect Northern
enterprise and capital to be invited to the de-
vclopmcnt Of Southern resources in the way