Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-18

We suppose Athonhe WV
mitted AZ State on the negro vote be-
yond question. The matter seems 70 be
fully determined on, The Norihern pa
pers Of the Conservative aud semi-con'
seryatiye stripe are now beginning TO as
sent to IL The Herald thinks the South
ern whites should consent without fur
Their parley, (" play 'possum," and permit
negro aud Radical utilization to the full
and thus have their States restored to
their places in the Union. That u
SAYS, 'once done, all is done; for with
the States standing on level with other
states-wiih their position secured IN
Congress and their rights to be heard IN
the Supreme Court assured-they stand
as absolute sovereiguties and cannot
stand otherwise. On the day on which
they so stand they hold unquestioned
control within all rational limit Of their
domestic institutions, and they can sweep
the niger to the obscurity and degrade
ton from which they had permitted him
to rise. They may tear up their niger
constitutions and make new ones on their
own definitions of rspublicanism."
Well, ifthat is true land there is not
word which can be nationally said to the
contrary, If the law is to be the basis OF
our conclusions), what binders us from
having a State Convention in Tennessee
ard from tearing up our Niger govern
ment, and making new one on our own
definition of republication Are we
not already in the condition Alabama
will then be2
Notwithstanding its previously ex-
pressed view that the whites Of Alabama
would do we'll to cease their opposition
and consent to come in, the Herald
nevertheless adds:
We can but feel indignant at the
shameless want of faith, the betrayal oil
rs compact with the people, that marks
the course in the premises OF the hadieai
party. 1t takes this step in clear VIOLA
ton Of the express terms OF law made
10 cover this very case. This violation
of law is not such violation as that
charged against the President in regard
10 the Tenure Of Office bill, and which is
made the principal ground Of impesch-
ment As to the law the President IS
charged with disobeying, question OF
Interpretation arises, and the best law
yers may nationally differ; but as
TO the meaning of the law defining
the terms of admission OF States
there can be no doubt. Congress
laid down the terms on which States
might return to the Union, requiring as
a guarantee of the action of the people
that the constitution should be voted on
by a majority of the registered voters.
This gave voters a chance to express
their dissent by staying away: These
were the terms; Congress made them,
and they we're accepted by the people.
The people Of Alabama acted on the
terms laid down by Congress, and the de,
cision was against the congressional
plan, and now Congress proposes to re-
nudiate that plan and act without refer
ence to it. Congress required that certain
number of voters should act to give
bona fde character TO the Constitution
The required number did not act, the
Constitution has not the bona tde char
acter Congress desired to give 1t; but
Congress accepts it. 1t required the
people of the State to assent to Niger
ism as a condition of their return They
do not assent, and Congress lets them
in. What, then, has become of all the
Radical virtue? If the Stste may be
now admitted despite the contumacy OF
her people, despite their reputation OF
Republican policy, why has it been kept
out till now2 Il
judging by the action in the case OF
Alabama, reconstruction Genes down to
fine point. Something like a hundred
Northern adventurers and nggers get
together somewhere in State and make
what they cali constitution. Evidence
that this constitution is the act OF the
neople is not necessary, neither is evil
depce that the people assent to it. Lett
only be presented to Congress and Con-
gress will pass law declaring the State
In. That is the whole process; and since
reconstruction is so simple and easy, 1T
NAV seem wonderful to the country that
SO mauy astonishing political geniuses as
the radicals number could not accomplish
it before.
Since the above was in type the morn.
ing kilograms indicate a change in the
programme. Stevens objects, and the
Alabama bill is laid over probably to be
supplanted by another, under which all
the States will be brought in together on
the same niger platform.