The New York herald., 1868-02-20
The New Alabama Question In Congress-
What Is To Be DOneg

Tho New Alabama Question In Congress-
What Is To BE Dones
There are two Alabama questions The first
relates to the piratical depredations upon our
merchant ships on the high seas by that re-
morseless anglo-rsbel priva.eer, tho Alabama,
Winslow, in the English channel. This ques-
ton has given world Of trouble to the State
Department, and Mr.. Seward, we apprehend, is
no nearer settlement now than when he first
began the wearisome discussion. The second
Alabama question relates to the readmission
into Congress Of the State so named, as recon-
structed by The late radical Constitutional Con-
vention, in pursuance Of the laws Of Congress.
The constitution thus produced is free and
equal and radical enough The State officers
and members Of Congress elect are thoroughly
radical and all white men, but it is still feared
that the total vote cast in the late election will
be less than majority Of all the voters regis
tered, the majority required by the law to
make the election good.
While the military authorities OF Alabama
are counting up their election returns the
Reconstruction Committee Of Congress, acting
upon the presumption that tho election has
gone by default, have been debating the ques-
tion, what are we to do with itf They think
that, as the JEFF Davis confederacy was organ
lied and act in motion in Alabama, Ala
bama oughtto be and must be, in the way OF
retributive justice, the first Of these so-called
Confederate States readmitted with the bottom
rail on top. Mr.. Bingham the other evening,
in consultation Of the committee,
proposed to push through his new bill, or, in
other words, to fall back upon . preceding
law, and to admit the State under q provision
thereof which declares that . majority Of the
votes actually cast in these reconstruction
elections shall be decisive. Mr.. Stevens was
opposed to any special legislation for the ad-
mission Of this or any other State, and advised
The committee to await the receipt Of the OIL
cal returns so that they may exactly under;
stand the real condition of affairs. He gave
notice that he would oppose Mr.. Bingham's
bill, if introduced, because he deemed it mex
pedient to introduce any such bill at this time.
Mr.. Stevens views we're adopted by the COM
official returns of the Alabama election before
proceeding to further measures on the subject.
We dare say that the official footings up will
show the vote required, because we suppose
that the officers concerned understand their
business and 30 that Alabama reconstructed,
blacks up and whites down, will probably be
readmitted in time for the New Hampshire
election (March 10y or day or two thereafter.
Meantime the Reconstruction Committee, a.
1t appears, have authorized Mr. Stevens to re-
port bis bill for the division of Texas into
three States in the processes of reconstruc-
ton. Such division being provided for in
the original bill admitting the State Of Texas,
there can be no objection to this proceeding
now, especially as the area Of the State s over
two hundred and thirty seven thousand square
miles (equal in extent to FIVE such
States as New York, with New Jersey
thrown in), and as she has . popu-
lation OF over six hundred thousand, with .
rapid increase from year to year. The special
object Of the Reconstruction Committee may
be the addition, with the two new States, Of
four more radicals to the United States Senate;
but all these petty expedents Ola day will soon
be swsmped and buried out Of sight in the
constantly changing currents Of public events
and political parties.
So we say to this radical Congress, hurry up
your work. Restore Alabama and all the other
outside States to their normal relations as
States with the general government, and divide
Texas into three States, and bring them all In
with the negroes uppermost, and then ie. us
see what the masses Of the white element Of the
North will have to say to this Southern negro
balance Of power in the elections for the next
Congress. Why stand upon useless ceremonies
or stick at paltry technicalitiesi There has
been no general usage in the admission Of new
States /; the same terms have not been applied
in any two cases, but the discretion Of Con-
gress has governed their admission in each
case. The organization OF the new State OF
West Virginia was queer thing, but II was
satisfactory to Congress, and so being admitted,
who can touch her now? Tennessee was
rather loosely reconstructed but even Presi-
dent johnson now recognizes the State rights Of
Parson Brownlow as Governor Of Tennessee.
The great thing is to get these still excluded
rebel States relieved Of their military dictator
ships and back again into the general goveru-
ment and back to the control by their own
people OF their own local affairs. Thoss areat
ends secured the whrligis Of politics will
soon regulates this thing Of negro supremacy.
Besides, we want clear case against this revo-
lutionary Congress upon this matter Of Southern
reconstfdction, so that the people Of all the
States may be enabled to express . clear
decision upon II In the elections for the NEXT
Congress We expect that from some Of thess