The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-24
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL oP1N1oEs OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToP1cs-COMPIDED EvBRY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The UnrecOnstructed States and the Elec-
...r... .H. finn

The UnrecOnstructed States and the Elec-
ton.
From ne ~ Y. Times.
The Joint resolution which, in July became
law, notwithstanding this Presidents veto, pro-
vides that none of the States whose inhabl- :
tants were lately in rebellion shall be allowed
To vote in the Presidential election, unless
they shall have become entitled to representa-
tion in Congress under the Reconstruction
acts. 1t further provides thai no election of
electors shall be recognized unless held under
the authority of the new Constitution and
Government.
The law merely expresses the logical result
of the Congressional policy in regard to States
not formally restored to the Union. States
which are out of the Union in all other mat
ters of government have no claim to be counted
in the Union for the purpose of voting in the
Presidential election. Having no share in
national legislation and administration they
cannot participate in the choice cf the national
Executive. To admit them to the Electoral
College while excluded from representation in
Congress, would be to surrender the vital
principle of the reconstruction policy; the
conclusion is so obvious, that the enactment
of a law affirming it was desirable only as
means Of determining in advance the standing
of Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas in the
election. Had the decision been left until the
time arrived for counting votes, its promul-
partisanship. Declared as it was beforeha nd,
it is not subject to that imputation, while
its reasonableness and consistency are too
plain to be disputed.
The Democratic party in Mississippi, how
ever, are seriously debating the question,
whether an election shall be held in defiance
of Congressional action. The Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the State some weeks
ago insisted that the law shall be disregarded
ia AND vic hac haor
adopted by the Committee, whose address on
the subject has been endorsed by the local
Democratic press, as well as by the extremists
of Virginia. A request for the issue of a
proclamation was addressed to General Gillem,
commanding the department, who declined to
comply. From his decision an appeal has
been made to the President and General Grant.
and as no help is expected, or could legally be
rendered by either, the Democratic oraces are
turning their attention to the suggestion that
an election shall be held under the authority
of the Government which Congress swept
aside in the beginning of reconstruction. The
view OF Those who favor this course is dis
tlnotly echoed by the Louisville Journal the
ablest and most vigorous Democratic print in
the Southwest Says the JournaL:-
Now our opinion, an opinion as to the recti-
Jude OF which we have not even a momenCs
doubt. is, that the three States named, Virginia
Mississippi, and Texas, without the siiehtesf
difference or regard to the UNANIMOUSLY partisan
and unconstitutional legislation of Congress-
ana without taking The least account OF the
absence OF enabling orders or paying any atten-
tion whatever 10 threats issuing from under
the snadow Of cocSed hats and epaulettes
shoulu, on the day of the election of Presiden.
tlal electors throughout the United States pro-
ceed to the election of electors Just as If there
were no such thing as a ongressional Il isablinp
law, fierce hat, or a shoulder. strap I,etthem
eject their elect ors, for we do not suppose that
preroeative by the fear of satraps ana thar
Dayonets. Let them by all means elect their
people Of no9 d. We We
can assure them that, IL they shall elect Sey-
m0ur and Blair electors and If the counting of
tie votes OF their electors would give Seymour
and Blair majority in the elec oral colleges of
the country, the votes of their electors will be
counted and Seymour aud Blair placed in the
Presidency and Vice Presidency, be the cost
what it may. If we will not fight for our rights,
we have no right to have rights-or at any rate
10 talk about them"
The plan which the Journal thus boldly
commends was not concealed by the more out
spoken of the Southern delegates to the New
York Convention. Congress had not at that
time finally acted in the matter, but the in
tention to exclude the votes of unreconstructed
States was understood. In anticipation OF
this proceeding, the course now advocated bv
the leading Democrats of Mississippi was un-
reservedly advocated, in personal intercourse
by the very men who forced General Blair
upon the Convention. Wade Hampton's de-
claration as to the exclusive Acknowledgement
OF white votes pointed in the same direction.
And it is recommended, with more or less
reserve, by others of the same stamp.
Encouragement is found in the message of
the President communicating the veto of the
resolution to which We have referred. In that
document, Mr.. Johnson repudiated as ''illegiti-
mate, and Of no validity whatever" the Gov
ernments organized under the acts of Congress,
and ass serted that the only votes in the South
ern States "that can be legally cast and counted
will be those cast in pursuance of the laws in
force in the several States prior to the legisla-
tion by Congress upon the subject of recon
struction." MIR. JOhnson's opinion, however,
can have no practical effect as against the law,
and the Democrats, whO in Mississippi or else
where, make it the basis of proceedings in re-
gard to the election, will expend their energies
in vain.
1t will probably be found that the duty of
the military commanders is not to be limited
to the refusal OF requests like that addressed
to General Gillem. II only to prevent disturb
ance, they would seem to be required to forbid
and prevent proceedings instituted in the
name and under the pretended authority of
Governments which Congress pronounced bas-
tard and unlawful. In no other way does il
seem possible to avert collisions and prevent
complications, and we doubt not that the Gene
rails in command will be instructed accordingly.
The Georgia Rebels.
From the N. Y. Tribune