The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-11


4 longest bowling for the constitution ars two OF
the members from this city in the present Con-
I gress-James Brooks and Fernando Wood.
! On Tuesday last, just before the passage of the
| new Reconstruction bill, the bowling of Brooks
for the constitution was painful to hear, and the
bowling of Wood was equally dismal The
howl OF the one was that Of hungry Bohe-
milan whose occupation is gone, and the howl
| OF the other was that of the political huckster
who could find no ten thousand dollar job in
the bill before the House. At the conclusion
Of all this melancholy, senseless and useless
bowling, "Old Tbad Stevens" in closing up
the debate. in plain statement of the actual
political situation of the South and Of the alb
solute and exclusive powers of Congress over
the subjugated rebel States, made short and
decisive work of the constitutional twaddle Of
our two bowling dervishes, and the bill was
passed-yeas ll9, nays 81.
According to the historian Brooks this bill
upse!s the Bill of Rights, the old English
barons and their Magma Charta the Massaclu-
sets Declaration Of Rights and every natural
aud national law, in addition to the consitu-
ton. 1t is worse, he protested, than the law
OF conquest applied by tho Tartars to China
i. has no parallel 'except in tho inhuman con-
duct of the Duke Of Alba :" it outHerods the
Gar of Russia and the Emperor of Austria,
ard lacks the wisdom Of the negro govern
meats OF Hayti and Liberia. Master Brooks
knew not what the President Of the United
States would DO; but said Master b., '.were l
in oe;iion 7 I,uou- what T would do baforo
sending this bill back TO Congress. would
send Sheridan 10 Massachusetts, and Maine, and
Sickcs to Wslruss;a, 70 teach the Esquimaax.
Why should Mr.. Johnson be afraid of inpeach-
meni! Let them impeaoh." We fear, how
ever, that this appealing from Felix to Cesar
will not be heard by the "man ct the other end
of the avenue"
This indignant bowling for the constitution
by the representative OF The New York cypress
was appropriately followed by the pathetic
constitutional! howl OF the representative of
the old exploded copperhead Daily Nesos; but
il lnust be confessed that Fernando Wood, in
this effort as humanitarian, is only surpassed
by Greeley in his Astounding charity for JEFF
Davis. But what does all this constitutional
fury, signiGying nothing" Messrs. Brooks and
Wood, like old Rip Van Winklc waking up
from his long sleep, are seven years behind
time. Their pleadings and howlines for the
constitution might have been to some pur-
pose seven years ago, if administered In the
rigl. direction. Bat within this interval OF
seven years we have had tremendous con-
t1.-.th .f
States, which, repudiatng the constitution, and
selling themselves up az an Independent
power, undertook, by force Of arms, to estab-
lsh a separate government They were sub
dued, and thus became subject to the laws Of
war and the will OF tho conqueror. Hence,
their system Of African slavery, the corner
stone of their hostile conederacy, has been
abolished, and thus, in all other respects, they
have fallen absolutely under the discretion OF
Congress and the victorious loyal States.
These essential historical facts are over
looked by all these howlers for the constitu-
ton in discussing this subject of reconsiruc-
lion, from Brooks and Wood down to the
Charleston Mercury. With them the rebellion
was nothing more than a constitutional cleo
ton riot, or series OF riots, running through
period Of four years, and oil that has been
done since in the way o. pains and penalties
has been unconstitutional and in violation. TOO,
of King Johns compact with those old English
barons.
IN the progress of events, nevertheless VIC
dare say that some even of these old fossil
politicians and constitutional howlers will be
brought to their senses. They have yet TO
learn, however, chat the constitution itself is
no! what il was seven years ago, bu. that in
the single amendment abclishing slavery we
have accomplished in The constitution greater
revolution than was Effected from ii.ly years OF
civil wars in Rome. from Syila 20 Augustus. or
in fifty years of the civil wars of England,
beginning with Charles the First and ending
with William of Orange. Yes; in this single
amendment we have greater revolution in
Che cause O. human progress and human rights
than has been accomplished in France from
that terrible convusion OF 1859, down TO this
day, and there are sill other amendments
soon 40 become part of our supreme law OF the
land. How absurd, then, is this copperhcad
bowling over the consultation OF 1860. when the
constitution of 1867 has taken is place, tearing
out The State rights notions or Calhoun and the
bred Scott decision OF the Supreme Court of
1856 by .he roots
TIE war has settled The question. Congress
he's full authority to reconstruct The conquered
rebel States according 10 the constitution. not
as IL was, but rs Il is. This will be done, and
through these Southern military provisional
the States concerned must pass through it. All
things considered too, we are getting on very
well. President Johnson has buudercd sadly,
and persists in his blunders. Northern copper
head and Southern ire-catins howlcrs for the
constitution have created some trouble radical
fanatics have stood in the way as stumbling