The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-08-21
nnrUnG.rcAN AR1SrocRAcY.

either Abolition or Democratic procliyi-
ties TO the following article copied from
the ST. Louis Republican journal which
~zcalou@ly supported the war measures of
the Administration from the first
1t used e ole freely charged, aud is now
occasionally charged, On the holders Of
slaves in this country, that they were an
aristocracy. The proper definition Of
aristoeraey isa class privileged hy law
above the other classes of society. 1t is
not 50 easy TO see the applicability of this
charge. The ownership of slaves was
open tn every man who had the money
aud inclination to buy slaves. There was
no law allowing one class Of mep to buy
this kind of property, and prohibiting all
other classes from buying it. Every man
with funds enough was privileged, or
rather had Il right, TO buy or let it alone
as he pleased; and in this respect was on
the sang footing with every dealer in real
estate or merchandise. As justly, per-
haps, YOU may call the owner of a hum
dred houses nh aristocrat as the owner Of
. hundred slaves.
Whether, however, il was IN aristocra-
lev Or not. the slave holding class has ceas-
led "a exist. We have no longer IN arts
itoeracv Of that kind. But We are BY ne
imeans out danger from the establishment
Gof another ayisfecracy. ON Il different
BASIS and much mere clearly q privileged
class than were the former slave holders
Of the country.
This new aristdcraev IS proposed to be
erounde! ON the dislranchisement of II
large portion Of the inhabitants Of nu-
mcrous States Of the Union. The priv
leec er right Of voting and being voted
!nr IS to BE- confined to a comparatively
few. TIE men who are TO say who shall
hold the Offices. make the laws. and al
minister the Government. and the men
VIM enjoy these positions Of trust and
hopor are 70 be a select class. This elias,
Is not distinguished BY the circumstance
of age. or sex or color. The inhabitant,
or citizens. who are excluded from the
enjoyment of equal rights by this class
are neither women, nor minors, nor black
people. They are white men Of full age
They are. therefore. in all these particu
lars, the Peers Of those who would exclude
them. Why, then, are they 10 be exelud-
ed? The reason or eyeuse-let us Al
once add the pretext-for it is that the
excluded have been in or sympathized
with the rebellion. That is. when We
examine the facts. f0ur-iiths or mere u
them have been drawn or driven into the
commission OF a political error aud crime
for which, besides the multitudes of her
/; who have suffered death. a large part d
them have already suffered all but death
Leaving out OF view the more guilty Ar
tiacers of the rehellion-the Influential
leaders who plotted revolt from an insane
ambition-a part Of their followers were
excited to it by representations which
they believed, that their rights and inter.
ests were endangered, that il they rose
they rose At Il cry Of danger as alarming
as that against which Washington drew
his sword and John Adams Piled hi
tongue and pen. \ part Of them, again
we've reluctantly drawn, ana again q pan
were Violently driven into rebellion. Tn,
tupshnt Of it was that, in the revoltin.
States. four-fifths or perhaps nine-tenth
Of It's citizens became rebels.
, We have no desire TO extenuate theii
/, faults. But it's manifest % coinmon sens,
and candor that, as to a majority of them
{ those faults we're venial. These men cal
; hardly be said 10 have been free agents
or 10 have had the ability to help them
t SELVES. and even as to the minority Of thu
+ masses they have not only suffered terri
| bly, fer :heir deIus;on, but have awakene,
; to a ter. ible sense Of il. All. or nearl'
lall. are now in the condition Of those VIII
feel hearty repentant and make tru,
+ submission They now realize with
! c~lcarncss never vouchsafed tothem befor,
that the Government they rebelled agains
/ was TOO just and good tojnstify the attemp
{ to overthrow it.. To-day for the mos
: part. by these men-tle most culpabl
amongal II save the ringleaders-this Gov
ernment is heartily supported. They stan,
ready to SNOW in deed as well as in wor,
5 that they will bear 10 it true faith an,
allegiance.
/ And who are they who wish to cree
an aristocracy fer their own benefit b,
planting their heels on the heads of thi
multitude? The answer to this is that
in the revolted States, they are as to mum
hers a pitiful minority end not alway
$ as to character politically a whit bette
: than those they would Cypress and tram
! pie under feet. For not a few of thi
i would be-privileged class went up to a Ger
; tain point as far as those whom they woult
/ now punish.
o What would be the effect in thos
h States of such a disfranchisement a
/. brakes Constitution seeks to fasten o.
: this State? Why. evidently not one whit
man over t%wenty-one in ten or twent
r could vote or hold office. The effect woul
5 be that the whole political power Of tn
. State would by law be lodged in o~ae-tcat
: perhaps one-twentieth of its adul
= white males! By tar,-be it remarked
For the law would thus decree, if thes
seekers after special privileges could hav
their way. Where can be found a bette
description of a privileged class-of
: genuine aristocracy? a State ruled b
such an oligarchy is in no proper sense
republic; nor has it hat "~republica
: form of Government" which is prescril
. ed in the Federal Constitution. It is
It perversicn of language to give the nam
e Eof republic democratic republic-to
State in which not one in twenty or eve
ten menaof full age have the right to vot
or to be voted for.
From what has occurred in Missouri
!; we may judge something of the feelin
in the States that seeded. We may SUI
y pose the same element at work. there a
e here. In this State, certain politician.
+ assuming tospeak for the " Radical" pal
e ty, c~onspired to fasten on us a Constitr
ton on purpose to establish a privilege