The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-29
Movements Of the Dcmocracy-ruc ~"
Third Party and the ADMINISTRATION

| Webster's mariner, they are awaiting the hit
ing fthe fog and the Temperatures of the sun
in order to take their bearings and to shape
their course.
In their Tammany> National Convention Of
last year the party was made to proclaim all
the reconstruction doings of Congress ''uncon-
stitutionai, revolutionary, null and void, and
that greenbacks, the currency of the country,
are good enough for the "hoated bondhold-
ers" in the redemption Of the public debt.
These were the great issues upon which
Seymour and Blair were put in the field
against Grant and Colfax. Seymour wished
aud did his best to make the fight upon the
money question; but Wade Hampton, in the
Convention, with the potential and trenchant
letter Of General Blair against the reconstruc-
ton acts Of Congress, gave the cue to the
republicans. They took it up and compelled
| the democrats to fight over again their dis
| astrous battles of 1864 and 1866, on the issues
of the war and with the same general results.
The Tammany Convention, moreover, was en-
boldened to this step from the apparent popu-
lar reaction against the radicals in 1867, from
| Connecticut to California.
| Upon this broad and revolutionary issue the
democracy under Seymour and Blair were de-
csively defeated, and the reconstruction policy
| of Congress was reaffirred by the people and
practically settled At the same time new
issue was raised in another step forward by
the republicans on the negro questiOn-in
the proposition of the fifteenth amendment,
providing for impartial suffrage to male citi-
zens of all colors throughout the United
States, with the power to Congress to enforce
it, Under the endorsement of General Grant
this amendment has so far been ratified by
some twenty-three States, aud having been
made condition precedent to the restora-
ton Of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, but
little doubt is entertained that, with several
other tavoring States, the necessary twenty
eight for the constitutional ratification will be
secured soon after the return of Congress in
December.
1t is upon this fifteenth amendment, how
ever, that we have not only split ia the re-
publican camp, but q complete separation OF
the Southern from the Northern democracy.
In Maine, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California and
elsewhere the Northern democracy reafirm
their fixed hostility to negro suffrage, and in
cidentally TO the fifteenth amendment
even if adopted, and they have nowhere
committed themselves to anything like recog-
milton of the fourteenth amendment, touch
ing civil rights, the national debt, the rebel
debt, &C., nor of the thirteenth, abolshing
slavery. In fact, from all the evidence on the
subject the Northern democracy hold fast to
the doctrine that all these amendments are
excrescences upon the constitution, Of no bind
ing effect. But the Southern democracy are on
the opposite tack, and they have disappeared,
for the present, at least, as a wing of the
democratic party. Virginia will serve to
show their position. In that State last spring,
in the outset, the democrats adopted the po-
Icy of mastery inactivity. They would have
nothing to do with elections in which their for
mer slaves were admitted to vote while their
masters were exoludod frora tho polls rAbols
and traitors. But still two parties came into
the contest-tho proscriptiuA radicals, un3e-
s-.I,s, aud the liberal republicans, under
Walker As the campaign went on the demo-
Gratis discovered that by fusing with the
Walker party they could carry the State, and
acting upon this idea the State has been car
ried by the Walker republicans, and thus the
Virginia democracy are merged in this new
organization.
| The Southern democracy have become q
new party, with the liberal republicans, on the
| compromise Of conceding negro political
| equality, with negro civil rights and negro
| all rebel political disabilities. We say the
Southern democracy, for in Tennessee, Missis-
sippi and Texas they they are going as they
have gone In Virginia, aud doubtless the same
example will be followed by them in all the
other Southern States. But where is this new
fixed. 1t is believed TO have the sympathies
| of General Grant; we know that Senator
Wilson and other practical republicans are
warmly in favor of its admission into the
orthodox church but we know, too, that this
proposition is stoutly resisted by powerful
body of radical leaders, headed by Secretary
Boutwell,; and 1t is by no means improbable
that, with the reassembiing Of Congress, this
difficulty will split up the republican party in
the Cabinet, in Congress and throughout the
country. Most of the Northern radicals be-
lieve this Virginia Walker party Trojan
horse, and that the conversion of the old Vir-
ginia nullifers, of the school of Hunter, is toe
sudden and too overwhelming to be sincere.
Meantime the Northern democracy give to
this new, bold and startling movement Of thu
Southern democracy the cut direct. They dc
not understand 1t, and they cannot endorse it
The surrender to Sambo required is too much
for in New York, for instance, Tammany, il
adopting the Virginia Walker platform, would
| darporalixa and hraai Tho xaartx Ih.