The New York herald., 1874-09-11
SHALL WE HEAL ITS WOUNDS 2
0piuions of Judge Amasa J. Parker
and Lyman Tremain.
Home and Foreign Journal
istic Comment
TREMENDOUS CONSEQUENCES.

devlstng some plan tor the relief OF the South,
causes no little discussion among leading minds
here.
Many leading republicans freely express their
disspprovsl OF the recent action OF The national
authorities &C Warrington in sending troops
South claiming tnar, instead Of harmontzing. 1t
will but tend to Still further harass people who
for the past twelve years have really lived In an
atmosphere OF war from an invading open foe or The
insiaous "carpet- -baggers." who, on one preteucs
or another, settle among them, generally as
attaches OF the United states government.
aud instil into the minds OF the
simple coiored people lawless and aggressive
ideas. With these secret foes continually at work,
the debt entailed by the war, the poverty caused
by the act OF emancipation ID setting free millions
Of slaves, the people are really 10 be pised, and,
instead OF still iurther increasing their burdens
aud adding to their iears, some plan should be
perfected TO tranquilize society there and method
suggested and carried out to encourage Its now
paralyzed industries and develop the natural
resources OF that section. These are the senti.
ments, briefly expressed, OF many leading repub.
hcans here, who while they are free to express
them ID conversation TO your correspondent, do
not care 10 have their names published.
JUDGE AXAsA J. PARKER
Calling on tnis gentleman in his pleasantly sttE.
ated offices on State street found rim busily
gagged in an important hearing as to the taking Of
private property in this city Ior the purposes or the
new double tracks OF the New York Central Rail.
road. The following conversation ensued.-
REPoRTER-What do You think, Judge, OF the
suggestion or the HERALD OF the 4th inst. Tor ma.
uonal convention OF reconstruction and reformS
Judge PARKER-The article TO winch you call my
attention Is one OF great ability and presents sug-
sestlons we'll worthy OF consideration. II Is idle
10 suppose tnat prosperity can be res ored to the
South by the action of military force. Troops sent
there on the pretencc, too often unlounded, OF Ku
Klux outbreaks will only irritate and harass and
increase the evlls which ought to be remedied by
milder means. 1t is O wide departure from the
true principles or our government to attempt to
govern, IN time OF peace. by military power 1t
shows to what we are drifting and the breakers
ahead.
RRPoRTER-Then you do not like rhe policy OF
government in sending troops South
Judge PARKER-I think thers should be an entire
change OF policy. Without interfering with the
equal rights now secured to all, the Intelligent
men OF the South should he made to feel that they,
too, have rights TO be protected 1t Is only by the
exertion of their intelligence that self.governmept
Rt the South can be sustained and order pre-
served
REPoRTER-Would not the proposed convention
result in great good IN bringing together repre-.
VINO would place their condition and wants before
their brethren OF the North, and thus give the
country at large correct idea OF their condition
Judge PARKER-I believe o national convention
OF peace and reconstr ucton might accomplish the
most satisfactory result, and know but speak
the wishes Of the people at large In wishing the
HERALD Godspeed IN bringing this or any other
good work about winch Will tend to improve the
condition OF the long suffering people OF the south.
OPINION OF HON. LYMAN TREMAIN, CONGRESSMAN
AT.LARGE Fos THIS STATE.
Calling at the law ofnces OF this gentleman, In
Tweddle Hail. he was lound deeply engaged, por.
Ing over o large mass OF legal documents After
the courtesies OF the day were exchanged, your
correspondent stated his mission was to obtain
the views OF Mr.. Tremain on the question of a
national convention OF peace and reconstruction.
Mt. yremain was very losh to be interviewed, but
finally consented, when the following conversation
Occufred:-
your views on the suggestion advocating na-
Iional convention OF reconstruction and relorms
Mr.. TENANT have not the vanify or Jolly 70
supp Sc that any opinions ! hold on that subject
VIII possess any interest to tae pub'ic generally
hesldes such Impressions as do entertain | am
quite satisfied are not In harmony with the views
expressed in the HERALD In addition TO this
having been engaged IN many professional occu.
pations ecently have not bestowed any special
.enection upon the question to which you reler
For these reasons AIN quite reluctant 10 express
any extemi oraneous views or uns,udsed OPINIONS
may en- iertain upon an important political sub
ect. Although may possess very decided and
Affirmative opinions upon the subject, yet | am
quite unwIilng under such circumstances to ex-
press opinions upon any important question
which are likely to be publisned IN newspaper so
widely circulate ted as the NEW YORK HERALD.
RzYoRrER-fhe editors OF the journal to which
you alude desire TO place before their readers the
yourse, on governmental questions, that the
masses may arrive a. some just solution OF the
question oil Southern reconstruction.
Mr. TREMAS-Wel, cir, | have no special REQ.
son other tnan such as expressed Tor Withholding
any expression oi opinion which may entertain
upon political questions. Such opinions OF course,
on q new subject that mas not been generally con.
sidered or thoroughly discussed before the people
are liable TO changes, notifications and probably
IN entire reversal II upon more mature denbera-
tlon or more thorough discussion suficient reasons
should present themselves 10 my mi nd Tor an alter.
atlon oi my views AS l understand your question
you ask my opinion touching national conven.
lIon. TO be called Tor the purpose OF naming new
constitution Tor the United states, or, perhaps,
amending the present constitution and, as / un-
derstand, the purpose OF such proposed amend.
COMPENSATE THE SOUTH
for the losses which that section OF the Union
secure TO the south some advantages or PRIV.
leges which cannot now oe granted by the
lederai government or any department thereof
must say that / consider the proposition, at
and unwise. Indeed. when drst cad the sugges-
non In tue columns OF the HERALD II seemed 70
me to be one tHat could not be seriously enter.
tanned. Knowing the great enterprise or that
Journal the ABILITY Of It's editorial star ana the
capacity to originate new and interesting propo-
sltions; knowing also tnat a. TINS season OF tne
year there Is general dearth or Interesting news
ior papers. and especially remembering that the
GREAT BRooKLYN SCANDAL
had nearly died away, was inclined to think tnat
the suggestion IN the HERALD was intended as one
oi those startling propositions winch give interest,"
10 newspaper and afford topics OF conversation
without leading to any practical result. In the
nrst place, al amendment OF the national consul
tuition, IN a general convention Is mode OF
changing the organic law unknown ~ the constf-
luton, and wncn during The period OF nearly
ninety years which has elapsed since the fouDda-
tion vi tne FEDERAL constitution, mas never been
adopted. The only mode which the con-
sututon recognizes for amending the con-
sttuton upon the acton OF Congress.
This bodT must urst Initiate the movement Tor
such anne endment; then It must receive the assent
OF two.thifds OF b.tn houses OF Congress. Con-
gress must hen determine In which OF two modes
tuch amendments may oe ratlned 10y the people VI
the States. The ratification must be by tue Legls-
atuIes OF tn ee-ourtns OF the several states COM
LOSING the lnlon. or by conventions In three