Year: 1863

to trade with them. And as to Frenchnen, We
take itfor granted that they are too enthusi-
astic admirers of the foreign policy Of their
Emperor to attempt to land single pipe OF
claret anywhere against his imperial will


And yet. with all these advantages on the
side of the French blockade OF the Mexican
ports, we will be much surprised If it does not
prove to be on the whole less efficient than
that which we have established on the Southern
coast. At all events, a comparison Of the two
will prove not uninteresting


----


The Speaker OF she New Cong gress--Tho
+ g Duty OF tho Conservatives.


From the members already elected to the
House of Representatives of the new Congress,
the Tribune, after q close calculation, has
figured out radical republican majority Of
jority to eight or ten from West Virginia and
from the members still to be elected in Mary
land. We, however, are confident that the CON
servatives of the House, Of all parties, as con-
tradistinguished from the abolition radicals
win have decided majority, and especially
upon the commanding preliminary question Of
the Speaker. Thus it will become the duty Of
the conservatives to cast about for an accept
able candidate upon whom they can unite, in
order to secure the control Of the House against
the radicals and their disorganizing projects.


In this connection we have already suggested
the name of General Francis P. Blair, Jr, Of
Missouri, as one 80 broadly identified with the
Union platform of the conservatives as to
command their general appreciation. The
settlement Of the Missouri Kansas imbrog-
lilo by President Lincoln also identities
the Blair conservatives of Missouri with
the administration upon the questions in
volved in this controversy. In refusing
to yield to the demands of the Kansas and
Missouri radicals for the removal of General
Schofeld from that military department, and
for the appointment in bis place Of a radical
general of the General Jim Lane school. Presi-
dent Lincoln has plumply proclaimed to the
radicals that their extreme abolition programme
is not his programme, but that he holds and
intends to retain his vantage ground as the
master of the situation. lie declines to sur
reader to the unconditional emancipation sys-
TEN of restoring the Union, as,represented by
Mr.. Chase, as he refuses to sanction the sweep
ing revolutionary policy Of destruction and
reconstruction advocated by Senator Sumner.


We cannot doubt that The Secretary of State
spoke the mind of the President in that des-
patch to the French government ia which it
was suggested that, with the return Of the re-
presentatives due from the rebellious States to
both houses of Congress, there will be an ac-
ceptable conference established for the settle
ment Of all the existing difficulties between tho
North and the South Upon this plan tho
revolted States are invited back to Congress to
assist in the work OF the restoration Of the
Union. At this stage of the war, considering
The impoverished aud desperate condition
Of the rebellion, We seriously believe
that the organization OF the popular
branch Of the new Congress upon this
liberal conservative programme would do
much to bring the war to speedy termination,
by giving new and general impulse among
the people Of the cotton States to that popular
reaction in favor OF the Union which, even az
matters stand, has brought North Carolina TO
the verge Of a revolt against JEFF Davis.


Herein lies the great argument in favor OF q
conservative Speaker. The argument against a
representative OF the radical abolition pro.
gramme is correspondingly strong. The plan
of the President. as foreshadowed ofhcially BY
his Secretary of State, IL To readmit South Co.
rolina, for instance. into the Union the moment
she is ready TO return, without reference to the
emancipation proclamation-s mere military
measure, subject entirely to military considers
tions. The plan Of the radicals Is practically
to carry out the decree Of the proclamation de-
claring slavery absolutely abolished in the re-


bellious States before they or any OF them are
restored to the Union. Thus, while the election
of a conservative Speaker on the ADMINISTERS
ton platform will surely be received by q
large proportion of the Southern people as an
acceptable peace Offering under the old Union


1t is quite as certain that they will construe the
election OF an abolition radical Speaker as
| leaving them no alternative bat the continu
ance Of the war TO the last extremity oil resist
ance. s.ao


The alternative to be adopted is in the hands
of the conservative majority Of the new House
| of Representatives. They can, If they will, il
the election Of the Speaker, establish, in tha
one act, the conservative policy OF the Presi


dent - the policy Of Congress, and oonvincs


the rebellious States that the war is and viii


be prosecuted for the Union, and not for th'


abolition Of slavery a. the condition preceden


to the readmission Of the seeded States. WI


have brought forward Francis P. Blair. Jr., o


proper candidate for the conservatives in thi


view of the subject But there are doubtles


other members OF this new House ~ accepta


BILE. The man is nothing; tho principles In


volved are everything To assist President


Lincoln In his patriotic Unich policy, I


strengthen our armies In the neld and I


weaken JED. Davis among the people under hi


fearful despotism, and to demoralize hl


armies, and thus bring The war 10 speedy con


olusion, We SIMPLY contend that II Is the dut


Of all the conservative m,.~6ers m,-r6ers Of this nev
Congress to Combine aoainaf Tho ahoIis,o,, -odt