New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-26
DELAY rs PERIL.


Twentv-two States have already ratified the
XVIII Amendment to the Federal Constitution,
whereby the Right of Suffrage is accorded and
secured to every native and every naturalized
citizen of the United States, without regard to
race. color, or previous condition of servitude.
The ratification of five more States is required;
and there are four Southern States-Virginla,
Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas-ready to give
such assent unless repulsed by those who ought
TO welcome and facilitate their cooperation in
the needful work. Is it not palpable madness
not to hail their accession with hearty enthu-
siasm7
We have recently conversed with leading
Missssippians of diverse antecedents and pref
erences They are preparing for spirited con-
test in their approaching election, but on no
clear issue. The Radical Republicans assure us
that they will vote against the DISTINGUISHING
clauses of their COnstitutiOn-that no such
would now be proposed or advocated-that the
existence of such clauses is due to the pas
sions evoked by civil war, which have now
nearly died out. Though there is a large ma
iority of Colored voters in the State, those
clauses will be voted down by an overwhelm'
| lug majority
| On the other hand, the Conservative Re-
\ "pubhcans" assure us that their party will vote
to ratify the Constitution minus the disfran-
chising clauses, and will vote in the Legisla-
ture to ratfy the XVIII Amendment. They
have proved their strength in the election
already held, when they voted down the Con-
| stitution and gave their candidates O large
majority, despite the heavy preponderance of
Colored voters. Negro Suffrage has no teIrorS
for them; and they are prepared to prove
Co. tIn
Blacks, and should have none.
In Texas there are no DISTINGUISHING and pro-
scriptive clauses to be voted down. and of
course no separate submission. The "Conser-
yativesn will vote to ratify the Constitution
support Gen. A. j. Hamilton for Governor,
and say he will be elected by an immense ma
jOrity, and the XVIII Amendment ratified
without serious opposition.
In this State, there is a very formidable body
of outlaws, who would like to pass for Rebels,
but are really horse-thieves and robbers gene.
rally, though they sometimes try to give their
crimes semi-pOlitical aspect by Outrages upon
conspicuous Unionists, and especially upon iso-
lated and defenseless negroes. The Military
have done their best to Tepress these villains;
but there is hardly soldier in the State to
every hundred square miles; while the vast
unpeOpled forests and prairies afford refuge
and concealment to the outlaws Texas needs
a government which has not only the sympathy
but the active support of her people, in order
that she may deal stringenty with these viii
lains, and either suppress or expel them. The
work is already well begun but there are still
extensive districts in which life and property
will not be secure until she is fully recon-
structed.
In Georgia, the "COnservativesn have on
their hands large elephant of their own rails
ing. BY expelling from the Legislature its
COlored members when they thought Seymour
and Blair were to be elected they put them
selves wholly in the wrong. They forced
majority for Seymour when at least Ten
Thousand more voters preferred Grant. Since
they heard of Grants election, they have been
trying to get out of their false position but
this is not half so easy as keeping out would
have been. Yet the recent decision of their
Supreme Court that Blacks were eligible to
office has given them an excuse; and oppOrtu-
nifty alone is still wanting. They are ready to
restore to the ColOred members the seats
wherefrOm they were most wrongfully elected,
and to ratify the XVIII Amendment Could
they be assured tomorrow that they might
LiuS ACSdiu buO RIOuDN Juty luOSJ uuNlStlJ anu
perversely abandoned, they would promptly do
SO. eve speak of the vast majority; there is
in Georgia, as elsewhere, an incOrrigible few
but their scepter has departed.)
Virginia virtually says to Congress and the
country =" You prescribed to us conditions of
" restoration We have fulfilled them so far
as we have been accorded opportunity: let
Gus convene our Legislature and inauRurate
"Our State officers, and we will complete all
I" that you required. We have adopted a
Radical Constitution by nearly 100000 ma
"jority, rejecting only those sections which
prescribed and DISTINGUISHED many thousands
" of our foremost citizens, as the President
enabled and authorized us to do. We are
ready to ratify the XVIII Amendment and
" to fulfill every duty of loyal citizens of a
Union State. viii you admit us to self
government, and to voice in the National
Councils 2"
She is met bv renuisition from Gen. Candy |