The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-09
General Grant ON Observation-Disclosures Two
Houses the Message.


Houses ON the Message.
The message of General Grant to the two
houses Of Congress in reference to the restora-
ton of Virginia and Mississippi is that of a
temper justice with kindness and Cancellation
and to reach the end desired by the shortest
way. He proposes that the State constitution
adopted some time ago by the convention
elected on that subject in Virginia, and that
the constitution in like manner adopted in
Mississippi, but rejected by the people, shall
be submitted to the people, with provision for
separate vote on certain sections relating to
disfranchisement, &c. By this method, even
with the rejection of such sections, the con-
stituton in each case will be morally certain
of a ratification, upon which the two States
concerned may at the next session of Congress
be restored to their proper relations with the
general government and this is the argument
of the President in support of his recommen-
dations.
The plan here proposed in regard to both
Virginia and Mississippi is the shortest and
most practical line of action that could be de-
vsed, and there is no good reason why it
should not at once be adopted by both houses.
The House of Representatives has promptly
responded in the passage of q bill-yeas 100,
nays 24-reported from the Reconstruction
Committee and providing for elections in Vir-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas (the three outside
States), in accordance with the Presidents
message, for the purpose of ratifying the con-
situations framed by the conventions in those
States respectively. The President is author
lied to make his own arrangements for these
elections, and the constitutions are to be sub
mitted in the lump, or in several parts, as he
may deem most expedient. One hundred and
twenty to twenty-four is good endorsement
from the House of the policy of the message,
which may be briefly summed up as the policy
of general amnesty and political rehabilita-
ton to the Southern rebel whites in considera-
ton of recognition by them of the equal civil
and political rights of the blacks. We have
this policy already practically illustrated in the
appointment Of the late distinguished rebel
General Longstreet (white MANI to fat Office
in New Orleans, oSs-d-cis with Monsieur
Joubert (black man) to another fat office.
In the Senate Mr.. Trumbull, in pursuance
of instructions, reported from the Com
mittee on the Judiciary in favor of a
of any further reconstruction
legislation till December next In support
of this proposition it was commended by
several Senators that the President in existing
laws possessed the necessary authority to act
according to the suggestions of his message;
but Mr.. Sumner, in view of further legislation,
moved to rescind the joint resolution for final
of this session on Saturday. He
earnestly contended that further legislation
was urgently needed to rescue the outside
Southern States from anarchy. His motion,
however, was overruled but it is probable
that the Senate in taking up the House bill
to-day will proceed to consider it and pass it
before the final adjournment. For this pur-
pose, if required, two or three days more, no
doubt, will be consented to by the House.
There would be no difficulty If they had in the
Senate the short cut of the House called the
previous question; but they have not, and so
in the Senate bill can be pushed through
only by sitting out and exhausting the oppos-
ing minority
We are glad to see that upon this question Mr..
Brooks, of New York, has taken democratic
step forward. He said, in the short debate
before the House, that in committee he had
reluctantly consented to this bill as a choice
of evils between the one tyrant of the White
House over the South and the ny-headed
tyrant of Congress This is very
good idea, Mr.. Brooks, of doing the
best you can under existing facts
and circumstances, and it is good idea,
too, that of turning over this matter of South
ern reconstruction to the discretion of the
President. We say good because, although
his policy is not exactly the policy of Andy
Johnson, we think il will work well upon the
basis of the restoration of Southern white
mems rights while enforcing Southern black
mems rights. Thus the pressure of events
bears down all opposing party notions and OBJ
structions, and while the democrats are com
PEELED practically to recognize the civil and
political equality of the everlasting niger as
fixed fact the extreme radicals are compelled
to recognize this other fixed fact, that even the
late Southern rebels have certain rights which
white men are bound to respect, and that the
Southern carpet-baggers must prepare for the
consequences.
SUICIDE AND HANGING. George s. Twitch-
ell, who was to have been hanged in Phila-
delphia yesterday for the murder of Mrs. Hill,
was found dead II his cell before the hour of
execution arrived, under circumstances which
leave little doubt that he committed suicide