Year: 1866

TIONAL AMENDMENT.


MIR. Bennett, editor of the New York


Herald thus interprets the "signs of the
times" in the political horizon and declares
Tor Congress, in his paper of the 18th inst:-


ut is historical axiom that revolutions
never go backwards. Its truth has been af.
hfmed In the great political events of this
country since the adjournment of Congress,
and especially in the recent State elections.
IL was reasonable to suppose that the Jaco-
blnical violence, recklessness and ferocity of
such political reformers as Ben Butler in the
East, Senator Chandler in the West and
Farson Brownlow in the South, would have
damaging effect upon their party when
brought to judgment before the people; but
1t is strikingly apparent from the result of
the late elections in Maine that the popular
mind is controlled by larger questions,
against which the sayings or doings of this
or that fanatical politician go for nothing.
That great body of the American people to
which we are indebted for the suppression
OF the most formidable rebellion in the his.
tory of mankind, are evidently determined
to have substantial securities for the future
before they pronounce the good work of the
restoration of the Union complete-that. in
short, Southern reconstruction shall rest nm.
on the solid foundation of the Federal con.
stitution, regardless Of the disturbing forces
of radicals, copperhoads, rebels, rutlans or
fanatics, North or South.


"From the elections which have occurred
since the Constitutional Amendment was
adopted by Congress for the reconstruc-
tion OF the Southern States, we are satisfied
that that amendment is to become the basis
OF Southern restoration-that 1t will carry
and be carried by all the Northern State
elections yet to come, and that with New
Jersey leading off it will be ratified by them
all and become part and parcel of the su-
preme law of the land. Nor have we any
fear of the consequences. There is nothing.
attera so very Objectionable in this amend.
ment-nothing which President johnson
himself has not, at any one time or another,
recommended to some Southern State or to
Congress, and nothing upon which there
should have been disagreement between
the President and Congress. Let us for a
moment look at this amendment again. It
provides:-


First That all persons horn or naturalized
in the United States are citizens thereof and
Of the States in which they reside, and on a
footing of equality in regard to their civil
rights.


Second. That the enumeration of the people
for representation in Congress shall be
abridged in proportion to the abridgment of
the right of sutirage-males above the age of
twenty-one years-in any State on account
of race OF color.


Third. That large schedule of persons,
civil and military, engaged in the late Rebel
lion, shall be ineligible to any Federal office,
hereafter until absolved by two-thirds vote
of each House of Congress.


"F5urth. That the National War debt shall
be held sacred, and that all Rebel debts and
obligations shall be utterly repudiated and
held illegal and void.


"ftth. That Congress shall have power to
enforce the proyis;ons of this article.


"This amendment is the reconstruction plan
and platform of Congress, and there is no
good reason, we say, why it should not have
beenadopted also by the President, inasmuch
as he stands committed in some shape to all
its provisions. 1t is not the platform of
Thaddeus Stevens, Sumner, or any of the
noisy radicals of Congress. They can do
nothing It was adopted against their re-
monstrances and in spite of their threats.
II embodies substantially, in fact, the Presi-
dents original programme, and if carried in
these coming October and November cleo
tions-as we predict it will be, from Massa-
chusetts and New York westward-we trust
that the administration, in Difference to the
will of the people, will come back to it. Why
notP Surely this amendment engrafted upon
the Constitution will be amply sufficient for
the restoration of the Union, internal peace,
sectional harmony and the security of the
Government and the Treasury for many
generations to come, against all disturbing
faction of either section. Parson BrownlOw,
in ileading off with the State of Tennessee
for the ratification, has shown that good
thing may be done by bad man and for a
bad motive; but that Tennessee should thus
lead off for this amendment is very re-
markable and significant fact - that New
Jersey should next follow is almost as
strange; but from good or bad designs, thus
started, the amendment will surely go
through.


"The Presidents quarrel and rupture with
Congress was an unfortunate mistake. From
recent events, South and North, it is clear
that it will prove fatal blunder to his ad-
ministration, unless he abandons it as the
issue before the people. The old contests in
England between King and Parliament are
full of instruction on this subject. Had Mr..
johnson taken our friendly advice, and
made distinguishing features of his admins
tration vigorous foreign policy and sound
financial system, he might ere this have be-
come as popular President as Andrew
Jackson. He has yet fair field before him
in which to retrieve his misfortunes Let