The New York herald., 1867-02-21

VI Aoyai nieu, mcluQlug the uioch7s
and as the blacks, under this sys-
tenn, will WELD the balance OF power,
II not the majority ct the polls in every State
concerned, the first results OF This experiment
II this bill shall become law, viii be exceed
ingly interesting. II the Southern whites,
however. Of the dominant class, will only ac-
cept the situation and face the music they may
easily control their black votes from the start
and for many years TO come. The bill may tall
to become law this session, but il 50 1t is
morally certain TO be re-enacted by the new
Congress with this condition, among all the
rest, of unqualified negro suffrage. The best
thing that the Southern whites can do, therefore,
is to bow to the fortunes Of war and make
up their minds to the alternative Of negro civil
and political equality, and to meet the issue
by making the blacks allies instead OF enemies.
The bill, in declaring the excluded States to
be still "rebel States" without legal govern
ments; in casting aside all the pet State estab-
lishmens set up BY the President with the
aid Of Mr.. Seward; in re-establishing mar
| tial law over said States and It's restrictions
against rebels and in its requirements
Of universal negro suffrage, together with the
ratification of the pending constitutional
amendment may be extremely obnoxious and
unpaatable to Mr.. Johnson. But as he must
choose between the surrender Of his policy and
the loss Of bis Office, we are half inclined to
the opinion that his policy will be dropped
like an old pocketbook stuffed with counter
felt money. He will have good opportunity
for graceful surrender in his message to the
new Congress on the 5th of March, and if he
is, after ALL the practical man Of common
sense we have taken him to be, he will not
waste his time and labor in rehashing his ex-
ploded constitutional chop logic, but will fall
In with the resistless current of facts and
events and utterly abandon those State rights
fallacies which have been fruitful Of nothing
but humiliations to himself and mislortunes to
the South.
Measured by the slow march of public
opinion In the old peace times, we have adj
vanced . hundred years on the negro question
since the Dred Scott decision Of 1856, which
affirmed that "a negro has no rights which a
white man is bound TO respect" or since the
drivelling confession of President Buchanan
that he could find no authority in
the constitution for interfering against the
State right Of secession. In fact upon the
everlasting nigger" we have passed through
the ordinary experienoe OF two or three gene
rstions since tie veto of the Civii Rights bill,
ineisding even 1lr. Johnson. - much - hs
pIunes kimseH ppon hs Hrmnsm- n
The bill IN qqestioa. - suncaded hy The
House, having bsso accepted " the Senaae,
goss To the Prssiaspe tsr his signature, What
he win do with itwe cannot tell; but looking
st the actual situation Of things. the power Of
Congress. the supporting public opinion Of the |
North, and at the progress Of the great idea
Of political equality since The last August
Philadelphia JohnsoR Convention, the true
course for Mr. johnson is 10 sign the bill, close
up this Southern business, and upon the vari-
ous branches Of the great money question pre-
pare for new departure. nAe
sssthcrs Old Fesyism- lsaporsast Facts
"a 81 from ssssh Carolina. M
We publish to-day letter from Charleston
embodyiug some very interesting facts in con-
nection with the return Of Governor Orr from
Washington. The violent animosity which the
Governorseems to have excited by bis efforts to |
enlightcn the popular mind ct home as to The |
resl state Of the case a. he has himself seen IL
during his recent visit 10 the capital, lament |
ably shows how the masses of the Southern
people, under the direction OF their old blind |
leaders Of the blind, still prefer darkness to |
light They have returned to their ancient |
game Of follow your leaders" notwithstand- |
ing the fact that not few Of the latter during |
the war scandaiixed them by contriving to |
keep out Of the army altogether or to shelter |
themselves and their immediate relatives in |
bombproof positions, escaping the jaws Of
death into which rushed, stimulated by their |
stump speeches, so many thousands Of the |
bravest, most impulsive sons Of the South. |
Now they venture forth from the silence into |
which they shrank at the downfall Of the con-
federaey, and the ignorant and unrefecting
begin to listen to them as Of yore. They play 4
bcllwether again 10 as many of their old iock |
as were not butchercd by the war. t N
Two startling facts set forth by Governor
Orr might well open the eyes OF all in the
South who are not wilulIy blind. We allude,
6rst, TO the fact tina. Richmond offers such
striking contrast to-day 10 Charleston.
e Hardly vacant lot" says Governor Orr,
marks the ravages OF the fire Of 1865 |
in Richmond, while the burnt districts |
in Charleston, laid waste by the con-
fagration of 1861, exhibit at the pres
ent time but very few scattering build |
ings." 1t might be said that Northern capital
has rebuilt Richmond; but the Governor
thinks 1t matters not where the capital comes
from; nothing is needed but "energy, enter
prise and the right spirit among tho people"
70 restore prosperity to Charleston as we'll as
to Richmond. The other startling fact is stated |
BY Governor Orr, on reliable authority, to be
that more than fortv milIions NJ dnllsrs hava