Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-20

The Policy OF the Radicals FRO.
- claIRaed by, MIR. Stevenss
AOn MohdSg M. SfhEENst made a speech
in the National HOUSE Of RepIesentatiyes
son thesubject Of reconstruction, arguing
that he Iaely rstsllic6s Statesaust cone btek,
[ int05the Ngnion aSssMetO States,>6r rensain US
conquered provinces" He claimed that "the
whole subject was in the power of Con-
gress." In this speech we find the Radical
pf09famnne.- Mr. STEVENS had uthat'-pp0-
gramme marked out before he in caucus
moved his committee of fifteen to investi-
ugahe into othe1eOhditien OF the lately insuEz
gent States with view to ascertain wheth-
or they were emitted to representation The
raising Of this committee was q mere farce.
He and his Revolutionary eOlaborers had
determined that the South should be treated
as out of the, Union and be held as conquer
ed provinces untn such Time as it should
suit their pleasure to admit them as new
States. They, therefore, might just as well
have resolved onthe first day of the session
that the Southern States were out of the
Union and to besubjected TO the harsh rule
that conquered provinces are usually sub
ntjected to- The mask Is now completely
Ioofr; 1.-THE, issue between the, President and
'SfEvENs is distinct and 500 antagonistic,
\ That Republicahg members I'M Congress
anu Kephblican newspapers can no longer
dodge behind the pretense that a COM
mittee to inquire into. the condition of
the South Is well enough, and does not in
yolye anyiteonillct between the President
and Congress. Tue President aiiirms7that
othe lately instrsent States are in the Union,
and, therefore, can, not be forced to 60
through the form of admission as new
States, nordcan they be ruled as conquered
PROVINCES, The time for the showing Of
hands has now come. The President, as
the Executive Of the Federal Govern
ment, stands pledged to the Southern peo-
pie, that If they shall comply with certain
suggestions of his the whole of his Ex-
! eSutive influence will bethrOwn SOFAS toas-
sure to them the resumption of their rela-
tions to and in the Federal Onion. He has
made his argument to the country,
through his first annual message, in sub
, sanitation of the fact that the Southern
States did not forfeit their rights as States
nor disrupt their relations to the Federal
Government through their aboFtiye reyo-
luton, and detailing what he had done in
icthe way of reorganization and pacification'
with unequalled unanimity the people have
said the Presidents argument is right; and
yet in the face Of this. STEVENS seeks to
cause the nonfulfllment of the Presidents
pledge to the Southern people, and the dis
appointment of the expectations of the
Northern people, by marshaling a party in
favor of the atrocity OF dismembering
the Union; for that is what his
position really amounts to. tgT To prevent
such disruption million of Northern lives
were sacrificed and thirty thousand mil
lions OF dollars expended. No; it is no
time now for disunion schemes. Through
the bloodiest of wars our people have de-
cided there shall be no dlsmemberment Of
the Union. Every man who is in favor of
the destruction of the Union is expected to
follow the lead of STEVENS; and every man
who is opposed to it must take the position
that the President takes in his Message,
that none of the States are out of the Union,
nor disentitled to representation in Con-
gress. If the people want the President to
maintain this position they must urge him
to do so. Single-handed he can not sue
cessfully fight the Revolutionists: He
must have the backing of the people, and if |
this Congress will not do right--if they
will not accept his argument that the |
Southern States are in the Unionand there
foreunquestionably entitled to representa-
ton, they must next fall elect men to Con-
gress who will accept that argument and |
act up to its requirement., .N' o5 n u4'lgGna