Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-08-31

terror OF the conservative section OF
the Republicans, as displayed by the
Albany Evening Journal. the State
Sovereignty leaders were perfectly
sure of their success, and with ap-
palling reason. Drunk and defiant
they fred. The shot scattered the
cloud which had obscured the heart
of the nation from itself and from
the world. It saw in the fash of the
gun all the fearful consequences of
yielding. 1t felt such lifting Of
noble emotion as this generation had
not known. The unexpected and in
calculable love of country appeared
like the long hidden regicide to the
villagers in the savage skirmish i'll
the Connecticut Valley, and led
nation to victory.
The State Sovereignty leaders
made a fearful mistake, and they
now see it. They now see that they
foolishly abandoned the method by
which alone they could hope for sue
cess. And what do they now pro-
pose? To return to that method; to
continue the effort; to retrieve the
disaster of battle by the force eff the
ballot. Sore and raging with defeat,
they intend, if they can, to enter
Congress ''stanch and true Southern
men," and to resume the work within
the Union which they suspended in
IS60-'6l IN their attempt to break
out of it.
That they are in the least changed
in political opinion nobody is fool
hardy enough to contend. They are
only soured by the total failure of
the war That they are weakened is
true; but their prestige at home Is
not lost, and large party in the
country is ready to unite with them
IN their policy as they agree with
them in political views. And the
exact point of danger is this. Eman-
cipation will give the Congressional
representation OF the eleven rebel
States in the year 1870 an increase
of nineteen members. Let these be
elected by the rebels in those States,
and they will need only twenty eight
members from the rest of the coun-
try to place the Government Of the
United States in the hands of its Bit
terest enemies. The State of New
York alone could supply those mem
bers.
This is a very plain and simple
purpose. The long training and
cherished tradition of an ignorant
people whose passions are inhamed
by skillful and designing leaders are
not extinguished in one unsuccessful
struggle. The American who sup
poses this civil contest TO be ended
because Lee surrendered to Grant at
Appomattox Court House is as wise
as the Englishman who should have
supposed the civil war in England to
end with the return of Charles II.
We have reached certain period in
the struggle-that is an. 1t asccnds
from the battlefield to the Legisla.
ture; but it is the same combat and
of the same scope. And what we
beg thoughtful men to remember is,
that what was gained in the field may
be lost in the chamber. The men
who could not shoot us down NAV
wheedle and fatigue and outsit us
! into sub mission.
The amiable tWaddle about CON
ciliation is therefore either folly or
knavery. 1t is folly if it springs
from a conviction that the Govern
ment is in no peril from the defeated
rebels. 1t is knavery if it be merely
a renewal of the old tactics. When
the intentions of "the South
speaking politically-were the black
est, we heard the most of their mere
ly asking for their rights and of the
Northern exasperation of our South
ern brethren. We we're exhorted to
forbearance, to Cancellation, to fra
ternity; and while we were taught to
relax our hands they clutch our
throats. Is it wise to be twice snar-
ed in the same trap?
For ourselves we have no wish to
sneer or exult--certainly none to
misrepresent. But as we believe
much of the guilt of the war rests
upon those who prevaricated and
cajoled instead of speaking plainly.
we hope to avoid any similar respon-
sibility in the future This paper
circulates widely in the late rebel re-
gion. 1t is read by many who do
not love the Government or the In.
ion. We say TO them frankly that
the people of the country have, in
our judgment, paid too costly price ,
for 1leir victory to surrender it easi-
ly. We believe it will be found that
Congress, freshly representing them,
is resolved that no State shall be re-
organized except upon conditions
which promise peace by intrusting
the political power, according to the
principles of our Government, TO the
whole adult male population. We
are for the Union and Government
of the United States. We supported
them against the arms of their enc
mics in war. We shall support them
against the wiles of their enemies IN
peace. We have no wish to eoncih-
ate those enemies We hope 70 cor
quer them fairly and forever, vhetL
er at the cannon's month or II he
ballot box.
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