Year: 1866

Ab1i NhN ~ AASA1AAf VI NAAAANhf1


The fogs and clouds in which the
great question of Southern restora-
ton have been covered up since the
adjournment of Congress are at
length breaking away. We know
now what TO do. We have been
taught by the famous mariner, Daniel
Webster, after drifting about for
many days in thick weather and in
an unknown sea, to avail ourselves
of the first glimpse of the sun for an
observation and a reckoning, in or
der to ascertain how far the winds
and the waves have driven us from
our true course. We thus find from
the bearings of the Maine election
that the true course for the Southern
States and the Administration is laid
down in the constitutional amend
ment of Congress. In other words,
we are convinced from the significant
results of the Name election that
this amendment will carry all the
Northern States yet to come, and
that against the solid North any fur
ther resistance from the Admins
tration or the excluded Southern
States will be a waste Of time, fool
ish and suicidal to all concerned.


We would therefore urge upon
President Johnson the statesmanlike
policy OF truce with Congress, and
an active cooperation with the fixed
predominant public opinion of the
North, in behalf of the immediate
restoration of the South on the basis
of this constitutional amendment.
We have shown that there is nothing
in it which the President has not
himself at one time or other recon-
mended as essential to the security
of the Union. 1t is not the Radical
plan; it is not so near the fact, to the
rebel disabling and con6scation plan
of Thaddeus Stevens as the PROPOSE
tions put forth from time to time by
Andrew johnson. 1t is a colnprom-
ise which the President out to have
adopted in cooperation with Con-
gress, and which he ought now TO
adopt at all events, because his con-
flict with Congress, if persisted in.
will be most emphatieally decided
against him. 1t cannot be otherwise.
The inevitable result is as clear TO
the searcher for the true situation of
things as the light of the sun through
the breaking clouds. Not one of the
States which voted for Lincoln and
johnson will fail to adopt this con-
stitutional amendment, since New
Jersey, the only Northern States
whose vote was against them, has led
off for the North in the ratification.


The policy and the duty of Presi'
dent johnson, therefore, are clear as
a mathematical demonstration, and
equally clear is the policy OF the still
excluded Southern States. We have
earnestly advocated the Presidents
policy; but after the verdict Of the
jury the argument is at an end. The
example of Tennessee in the ratifi-
cation Of the amendment is now the
only alternative for the other South
ern States. Tennessee, in ratifying
the amendment, opened the door to
the admission OF her members to
both Houses of Congress. She, by
that simple act, is reconstructed and
restored. Certain individuals of her
people who violated their oaths to
support the Federal Constitution, in
going over to the rebellion, are dis
abled from holding any Federal Of
fee hereafter, until absolved by 3
two thirds vote of each House of
Congress-; but by that vote they can
be reinstated even in Congress itself,
If duly elected by their people


Next. in regard to the rights OF
suffrsge to the blacks this amend
ment simply provides thac.when IN
any State the right Of suffrage sis
denied to any of the male inhabitants
of such State, being twenty one years
of age and citizens of the United
States" or when this right is in ''any
way abridged except fer psrticips-
ten in rebellion or other crime, the
basis of representation therein shall
be reduced in the proportion which
the number of such male citizens
shall bear TO the whole number OF
male citizens above the age of twenty
one years in such State" In other
words, If you give all your males,