Des Arc citizen., 1867-01-12
The Constitutional Amendment.

The friends of the constitutional amendment are making a strong, and manifestly a concerted effort to create the impression that there is some probability that notwithstanding the bitter opposition of the South, the amendment will yet be ratified. Their anxiety on the subject shows that they are doubtful, to say the least, of their ability to carry through any more Rad ical programmes. If they could get the amendment adopted they would have one less elephant to handle, which would no doubt be quite a relief Ne gro suffrage would be secured, they think, and the field would then be open for new suggestions. The effort now seems to be to intimidate the South with threats of more extreme measures ,in the event that the amendment is re- jccted, and at the same time to create a belief that the States will be allowed representation in Congress, and all other rights and privileges, whenever they vote for its ratification. To get up this belief they tell us of 'conversa- tions with the President squinting strongly ill faYor4of ratification. They state it as fact about which there can be no doubt, that the Virginia Legis- lature is ready to ratify whenever it can be assured that ratification will re-
 suit in representation. And then to bring about such action in Virginia and elsewhere, they announce that anna jority of the members of Congres have made up their minds to admit the States whenever they do ratify. ~v
 Upon what they can base their hopes that any considerable portion of the Southern people will ever be reconcil- ed to the policy of the amendment, or that one single State will accept it, we are at a loss to see. Certainly nothing in the tone of the Southern press which is supposed to reflect public sentiment, or in the action of the Leg islatures, have furnished any ground for such a conclusion. If we are to judge from these opponents of public sentiment, we should say that there was no probability, either. proximate or remote, that the Southern people can ever be brought to accept the harsh and ungenerous terms of the amend- ment, and that they are disposed to take any risks of future persecution rather than relinquish the rights which would be wrested from them by the incorporation of the amendment into the constitution.
 The policy of the Radicals is SO i'm consistent that while it necessarily ere ates feeling of uneasiness, it also in- spires sentiment of contempt. The people of the South are told that if they will not, by accepting the amend ment, deprive the negroes not only of suffrage, but. of representation, they will be compelled to submit to their own disfranchisement and the eleya- ton ofthe negro to the right of suf- frage. Is not this a most remarkable coptradicion 2 Hthe Sonth. wilrnot consent to the loss of representation or its negro population, the negro shall be made a voter If the whites will not reduce the negro to the political level of the brutes depriving him ofsll weight in the Government he. shall be made the ruling power in States so re- using. Either the negro shall be mo- thing or he shall be everything. How can such contradictory policy be recon ciied? Either the negro is worthy of