The mountain Democrat., 1865-10-21
RamarkahIe Rxposure.

venality aud servility and wantOf PriOci'
pie of the Republican partyl He Is =
representative man Of the party and
speaks by authority and from personal
experience. He knows the material Of
which it is composed; knows that It IS
corrupt aud vscillating; knows It is
held together solely by the cohesive
power of public plunder;" and stated
that at the bidding Of tnan having
power and patronage "utneteen.twen-
tieths of ell the professed Union men in
the North" would embrace or reject prin.
ciplei Ashley made the declaration bold
", after mature elaboration, at Repub.
lican ratification meeting, in the presence
of large rumber of Republicans, and
his declaration stands uncOntradicted. 1t
is not n " copperhead slander" but Re-
publican fact. Ashley is member Of
Congress, speaks by the card, and would
not recklessly SANDER his party and be
says, with considerable vigor:
If President johnson should tomorrow is
sue instructions to his recently appointed Pro-
visiOnal Governors in the rebel States reQuir-
ing them to invite and see that all loyal black
men were not only permitted, but protected,
in voting for delegates, and for or against ac-
cepting any State Constitution which might be
framed by such Conventions, nineteen twen-
teths of all the prOfessed Union men in the
North, now opposing NEGRO SUFFRAGE
all the haugers-ou Of the party would at once
become vocifer0us in its favor.
There is no mistaking the above. 1t is
plain, emphatic, unequivocal. 1t proves
what we have repeatedly stated, that the
Republican party is not actuated by prin-
ciple; that it has no principles; that it
blindly follows, without reflection or
judgment, the dictations of few men,
Nun of principle don't change them with
out a why or wherefore-do not allow
others, however high their position Or
great their patronage, to dictate to them.
Ashley says-"Nineteen-twentieths of all
the professed Union men in the North,
now opposing negro suffrage, would give
in their adhesion to the plan" il President
johnson would sanction it; and "all the
hangers'on of the party would at once
become vociferous in it's favor" What a
precious confession What humiliat-
ing admission Nineteen. twentieths Of
the professed Union men Of the North,
if We may believe the statement of Ash.
ley, who, from his position and associa.
tions, ought to correctly understand the
feelings of his party, are incapable Of
forming an opinion of their own haven't
any opinion, but, like "dumb, driven cat,
tle," slavishly obey the lash of their mas
ters. They may say they are against ne.
gro suffrage; they may argue against it,
they may pledge themselves to support
no man or party in favor Of it, but, says
Ashley, let President johnson say he is
in favor Of it and that settles the question
for them they will eat their own wordr.
confess that they were wrong, and cat
once become vociferous in its favor
They are ignorant, tickle, servile; con.
venient tools in the hands of an unscru-
pulous party, and ready to resign their
right of thought at the command Of their
leader. This is the character given to
the Republicans by Ashley, one of their
leaders. We think Ashley has overdrawn
the picture. We cannot believe that men
of intelligence, position and character
men who were born free and seem to glory
in their freedom-would sacrifice their
manliness, their opinions, and their stand
ing at the bidding of President johnson.
We think Ashley would We think be is
playing for bid, but all Republicans are
not as changeable and unprincipled as
Ashley. He is unwise to judge others by
himself 1t might be an imprudent ex-
pertinent for President johnson to follow
his advice or rely on his estimate Of Re-
publican honesty. Ashley is a hanger
on of the party, and specimen brick"
of the sublimity of luck )" but his party
will be apt to repudiate him if be repea ats
his damaging comments on its sincerity
and honesty.
Ashley says he does "not believe two
men occupying respectable positions in
the Union party, either as editors, or Sen
ators and Representatives in Congress,
could be found to oppose" President
johnson were be to recommend negro
suffrage Senators and Representatives
in Congress, especially Abolitionists, are
more remarkable for soliciting favors
from the President than opposing his pol,
icy; and he might not find it difficult
matter, by the persuasive eloquence Of
position aud lat contracts, to induce them
to become vociferous in its favor" but
there are thousands Of Republicans, we
believe, who could not be induced to fol-
low their example. We do not think so
meanly of the great body Of the Repub-
llcans as Ashley. We believe majority
of them-the conservative portion, the
anti Chase Sumner Phillips men-areo op,
posed to negro suffrage and would op-
pose it we're President johnson to favor
it. We believe further, that in short
time many of them will pronounce Ash
ley slanderer or humbug.