The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-17
Counting the NOtes-Wade HamptOu's
Threat.
From the N. Y. Times.

From the ". Y. Times
The South Carolnian soldier who threatens
revolution unless the white TeOple be allo wed
control of the Southern vote in November
next, has an apolOgist in the Democratic
journal of this city. Not an apologist of the
outspoken sort, however, but one who per-
verts and misstates Wade Hampton's meaning
and then hurries to his rescue.
What Wade Hampton demands is 'that the
white people of the South shall vote, whether
the States in which they live have been re-
constructed or nOt-that Mississippi, which
has rejected the new constitution; Virginia,
which may render a similar verdict; and
Georgia, whose Democratic Legislators pro-
pose TO defeat the Constitutional amendment,
shall participate with North Carolina and
other restored States in the voting for Presi-
dent. He demanded that the Southern whites,
under other organizations than those formed
or to be formed under acts of Congress, shall
have admission to the Electoral College. And
he declares that if by these devices majority
of white votes be secured for Seymour and
Blair-leaviDg the cOlored vote out of the
account-these candidates shall be installed in
power sin spite of all the bayonets that shall
be brought against them" These purposes,
as we have said, are revolutionary. And we
have reason to believe that they are shared
by that class of extremists for whom Wade
Hampton spoke in this city.
The World, however, conjures up totally
different hypothesis. 1t ignores the claim set
up in behalf of the Southern whites regard
less of reconstruction and other laws, aud
seeks to justify Wade Hampton's threat by
assuming that it was directed against the
possible exclusion, by Congress, of States
restored to representation. Thus it theo-
rizes:-
"Suppose, To illustrate the principle that the
result OF the election should depend upon the
electol al votes OF the newly admitted State OF
F.oIida; that the three votes OF Florida should
he Democratic. ana that Congress should barow
them out and declare General Grant elected
Flor6a ought the Democratic party submit
The question answers Itself; only negative
answer is possible"
The suppositon is absurd. There is no
more probability of excluding Florida, or any
other OF the Southern States which have been
restored to the Union, than of excluding New
/ York or Mary land The counting of their
votes, whether Republican or Democratic, is
not optional with Congress, whose action on
Mr.. Edmunds' resolution, as amended, is a
guar antee of straig htforwardness and adhe-
renee TO duty. Tha Constitution protects the
rights OF States within the Union, as the re-
constructed States will be. And the Joint
resolution adopted the other day declares in
advance that the votes of communities which
may not have complied with the terms of the
Reconstruction acts will not be admitted. The
question will turn, not upon the party COM
plexion of the votes, but upon the relation Of
the States to the Union. Florida, being in,
will vote as of course. Mississippi being not,
will not be allowed to vote, equally of course
Will the World drop fanciful cOnjectures,
and meet fairly the question raised by Wade
Hsmpton's menace We don't care what
might be done in the presence of a oontin-
gency which cannot arise. We want to know
what, in the Vorld's opinion, may, should, and
will be done If Seymour and Blair obtain a
mai rily by including in their calculation the
votes Of Mississippi, and perhaps Virginia and
GeOTgis--if the reconstruction of these States
be not at the time perfected
Does our contemporary demand the admis-
sion to the Electoral College of the entire
South, irrespective of the Reconstruction acts2
and is it prepared to recommend resort to
violence if admission be denied to portions of
the South, ON the ground that, for purposes of
representation, they have not been restored to
the Unionl These are the queries suggested
10y Wade HamptOn's declaration, and we in
vite the World to face and answer them,
| squsrely and frankly. Wade Hampton is too
brave man to dodge the consequences of his
own argument; and if the World would be-
come his champion it should at least initiate
| his candor.