The New York herald., 1868-03-10


The total number of registered voters in the
ten unreconstructed Southern States, accord
ing to the latest published returns, reached, in
round numbers, one million three hundred and
thirty thousand The total number ~ 10 voted
for conventions was, omittir.g Texas, seven
hundred and six thousand, thus showing
that the majority for calling the conventions
was, in the aggregate, less than one hundred
thousand and that the large number Of nearly
six hundred and twenty-four thousand re-
Trained from voting at all. What proportion
of this vote was composed of white and what
of black 1t is difficult to determine yet it Is
safe to aver that the conservative whites
largely outnumbered the blacks. But this is
not question of essential Importance. The
grand point is that these figures show re-
serve of some six hundred thousand conserva-
tive voters in the South who have not voted at
all on political questions since the date of their
registration, and that when that army 60 to
the polls the radicals will be overwhelmingly
outnumbered
Here Is food for the radicals to digest, and
the sooner they set about it the better. Con-
ceding the success of their candidates fer the
present Congress, their chances for carrying
the South in the Presidential election next fall
are far from certain. On the contrary, there
is no doubt that If the conservative whites of
the South bring out their strength and act in
conciliatory spirit toward the native blacks the
latter will desert their white plunder- seeking
radical allies and unite with that element in
the midst of which they have been raised and
are domiciliated and with which 1t is the
natural tendency of their race to mingle and
harmonize. This is the doctrine advocated by
Wade Hampton and others among the sound
est Southern statesmen, and that it is the true
one for the interests of the South is as clear as
the sun at MONDAY
The radicals, therefore, are not yet out Of
the woods. They seem to be just entering the
wilderness. AS a prerequisite to re-entering
the Union 1t is matter Of Indifference
whether they require the adoption of the new
constitution by a majority of the whole
number of voters registered or Of the whole
number of votes cast for 1t is certain that
from the bungling manner in which recon-
struction has been treated in the case Of
Alabama, from the turmoil and confusion in
Washington about impeachment, from the
clamor of the New England manufacturers and
capitalists for peaceful legislation and from
other causes, there is heap Of trouble brew
ing In the radical ranks. The Northern
moderate republicans are becoming disgusted
with the imbeciIity and blundering perverse-
Congress, and while we hear of hundreds Of
republicans leaving their party and joining the
democratic, as is the case in New Hampshire
we hear of no democrats leaving their own
and joining the republican ranks. With
scarcely majority Of registered votes in either
the aggregate against them, the radicals
cannot afford to lose time in tumbling
those States back into the Union by some
means or other; for by delay they will not
only lose the South, but ALLEVIATE the North,
increase the distraction among their own
people and eventually be left with scarcely
half score of reliable States in the whole
country with which to breast the Presidential
storm next November.
England and tho United Statcs-The Ala.
bnma Claims.
The debate which took place few nights
ago in the House of Commons, and Of which
we have already published the substance in the
HERALD, shows how England Is gradually
coming to her senses in regard to the depreda-
tions of the Alabama and other vessels. The
speech of Mr.. Lefevre was as whitening an ex-
posure of the conduct of the English govern
ment as was ever delivered by any American
legislator or penned by any American journal
ist. Mr.. Forster and Mr.. Mill were equally
just and scarcely less severe The language of
Lord Stanley and Mr.. Gladstone was firm and
decided in regard to one point-viz., the recog
milton Of beligerent rights to the South but
their remarks, taken as a whole, revealed a
disposition to adopt wiser and juster policy.
On the whole II must be admitted, as we have
said before, to have been wise and temperate
discussion. We are always glad to see our
English cousins coming to their senses.
What will Mr.. Seward do in the premises is
question which our English friends will naturally
be asking themselves. What can he do? Mr.
Seward, we fear, must no longer be taken into
account Events are marching rapidly with
us, and there is every reason to believe that
Mr.. Seward will soon be under the necessity of
retiring to his retreat at Auburn, there to
reflect at leisure on the great drama in which
he has played not an insignificant part. Ben
Wade and his troop of strong minded women
will soon be masters of the situation; and