The New York herald., 1868-03-12


civilized world would rejoice at consum-
nation so devoutly to be desired.
The Admission Of Alabama.
Alabama win perhaps be restored to her
place in the Union and to representation in
Congress as the result of the report of the
committee who have had in consideration the
admission of that State. We sincerely hope
she may be. Hardly any piece of mere bad
faith from politicians should weigh against so
good result. Let that State come in on any
terms, and let precedent thus be made on
which other States can follow It matters not
that the States have nigger constitutions as
condition Of entrance. 1t would matter equally
little if every State officer and every Congress
man were the longest-heeled and worst-headed
specimens Of so-called humanity that ever
stood erect if their prominence would restore
the States to the Union. II would indeed be
an act of political sagacity if the Southern
white people should practise an absolute self
abnegation-be as little heard of as if they
were all gone to Brazil. Thus "playing pos
sum"-permitting all the reconstruction to be
done by radical and nigger afiliation-they
can have their States readily restored to their
places in the Union. That once done, all is
done; for with the States standing on level
with other States-with their position secured
in Congress and their rights to be heard in the
Supreme Court assured-they stand as abso-
lutte sovereignties 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 degrada-
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
republicanism.
But while rejoicing to see good result
promised in the proceedings with regard to
Alabama, we can but feel indignant at the
shameless want of faith, the betrayal of its
compact with the people, that marks the course
in the premises of the radical party. 1t takes
this step in clear violation of the express terms
of law made to cover this very case. This
violation of law is not such a violation as that
charged against the President in regard to the
Tenure Of Office bill and which is made the
principal ground of impeachment. AS to the
law the President is charged with disobeying,
a question of Interpretation arises and the best
lawyers may nationally differ but as to the
meaning of the law defining the terms of ad-
mission of States there can be no doubt. Con-
gress laid down the terms on which States
might return to the Union, requiring as guar
antee of the action of the people that the consti
tuition should be voted upon by a majority of
the registered voters. This gave voters
chance to express their dissent by staying
away. These were the terms Congress made
them and they were accepted by the people. The
people of Alabama acted on the terms laid
down by Congress and the decision was against
the Congressional plan, and now Congress pro-
reference to it. Congress required that GER
tain number of voters should act to give q
bona 1ide character to the constitution. The re-
quired number did not act, the constitution has
not the bona Jide character Congress desired to
give it; but Congress accepts it. 1t required
as condition of their return. They do not
assent, and Congress let's them in. What, then,
has become of all the radical virtue? If the
State may be now admitted despite the contu-
macy of her people, despite their reputation
of republican policy, why has it been kept out
till now?
Judging by the action in the case of Ala
bama reconstruction comes down to a fine
point Something like hundred Northern
adventurers and niggers get together some
where in State and make what they call
constitution. Evidence that this constitution
is the act of the people is not necessary,
neither is evidence that the people assent to it.
Let it only be presented to Congress and.
Congress will pass law declaring the State in.
That is the whole process and since recon-
struction is so simple and easy 1t may seem
wonderful to the country that SO many astonish-
ing political geniuses as the radicals number
could not accomplish it before
NAPoLEoN's PROJECTED PnGRrMAGE.-We
have had it reported that Napoleon and
Eugene intend during the course of the COM
ing summer to visit the Sultan at CONSTANT
nople, that Napoleon himself is to visit
Francis Joseph at Vienna, and now we learn
by cable despatch that he is to visit the Gar
at St. Petersburg. There is but one inference
which is of any value to the world generally to
be drawn from these varied reports, and that
is, that in the meantime there is no danger of a
EurQppnn A Ua boy
become to surprises, we see no reason to doubt
that the European nations, though troubled
internally, are not this year to be afflicted with
a general war.
The FRENCH Press AND THE ALABAMA
CLAIMs.-In the HERALD of yesterday we