Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-06
Another Radical Thunder-BOlt.

OhAkLES SUMNER appears III lHS -i''~f'1'O
Monthly and LAYS down his programme for the
Republican party, of which we presented an alb
stract a few days since. Close upon the heels
of this pronunciamento comes The Nation, in
which HENRY WINTER DAVIS appears with his
programme. These two Radical leaders are
doubtless acting in concert, and are endeavOr-
ing TO reach and impress public opinion and the
action of Congress, through the inviting
columns of literary magazines.
More radical even than SUMMERS, and far
ADLER and more 10 the point, is the production
OF the Maryland ultra. 1t is also much holder
and more aggressive. SUMMERS attack upon
the President was covert and indirect. DAVIS
throws off all disguise and asSailS the President
with vigorous blows. Negro suffrage is his
text, and he expatiates upOnit as if'in love with
the theme. He assumes that the Federal Con
stitution makes no distinction Of color, and that
Erae negroes are as much citizens ofthe United
States as free whites-that the negroes cOnsti-
tute the only power in the South on which the
United States can rely 50 in the event of re-
newal of the rebellion"-as if Sucha thing were
in the bounds Of possibility. In the latterpOr-
ton of his communication, he takes the wind
out of his own sails by the admission that l
do not fear a new rebellion now" In his dec
laration that the constitution as much includes
the free negroes as the whites, he deliberately
does violence to historical truth. lie knows,
and so does everybody else know, what Presi-
dent JOHNSON and Judge DoUGLAs so well ex-
pressed, that this Government Sc is a Govern
ment of the whites and not Of the blacks"
Until negro agitation commenced in latter
wears, no one dared to claim for the negro the
rights of citizenship. The fathers, founders,
and contemporaneous expounders Of the Con-
stitution no where, in speeches or writings, as
sert or countenance such doctriue. But we
dismiss this false assumption as unworthy OF
further notice. He closes review of the Pre-
sidcnt's Southern policy in these words :-'' 1t
is. therefore, clear that the President is wholly
beyond the sphere Of his power, in every step,
in recognizing State Governments, for each
step is either legal and binding on Congress, or
illegal and nullity; and, as it cannot bind
Congress, it is a nuIlity and an illegality.
His intermeddling has greatly complicated the
Question of what is Republican Government
with the claims of persons 70 seats and Of par
ties to votes. . Republican principles
and national interests alike forbid the accept
ance Of the Presidents plan. : But the
negro citizens are ostracised, they and their
posterity forever, even where two-thirds OF the
people. 1t is, therefore, impossible for Repu5-
Eeans to recognize the Presidents GorerRmsRtS.
Nor ought they to feel the least hesitation in
rejecting them, for the Presidents inter
meddling is wholly illegal; it is an assumption
to dictate to essrespecting its members"
He calls the State Governments, organized by
the President, mere nulhties," which should
he brushed away as 50 many cobwebs." lie
further saws, elf the President deserts those
,rbo elected him, for the votes and policy OF
their opponents, ICE must break the coalition at
anu cost. The President can hare our support
onlv BIZ conforming his conduct to our principles
Il is vain to argue, from the dangers Of diu-
sion. the necessity of submission TO his will
that will itself, if unchanged, works the ruin
more surely than any division. 1t is itself the
division, unless We msanly sell a great cause for
Presidential patronage
Mr.. DAVIS thus sums up the various points
3 his communication d" Ii is necessary,
therefore, at once 10 satisfy republican PriHei-
lie rescue the States from Rs5s! domination,
secure Congress against their undivided hostile
,,,,s protec. the rights Of the negro population,
and create a body Of friends for the United
S,ates interested to Fight for its supremacy that
C,norsss should require the States to be rscog-
81 on the basis of universal suffrage, and
,bot II should refuse to recognize any GorerH-
,nsnts that refuse to recognize that. It should,
- secure this permanent foundation Of
A,,ericap RepubhcaniSm against the mutations
g POLITICAL life, and the local hoStiltieS IN the
Sontbern States, by proposing an amendment to
,bs Consultation, conSeerating it forever as the
--;,erion and condition of Republican Govern
ment in every State"
This manifesto is important in several aspects
- the studied emanation Of an influential
paDublican leaders, proposing to throw the
I,.as;dent and his half executed plan over
1oo-d and as finding its utterance at period
contemporaneous with the meeting OF Con
o,oss whose action it forestalls, and ambi-
e;o,,.lv attempts TO shape. With Mr.. STEVENS,
NJ. SINNER, THEoDoRE PARKER, the bndepeI'-
., Mr.. JULIAN and Mr.. WINTER Davis as
Ioaders. the Radical Republicans are now fairly
--,horked in a war upon the President and
~ nolicy. 1t is needless now to speculate
upon the probable results Of this most rank K
oal;atiOu of extreme Radicals. Congress is
1-a.sion-results will soon be developed
ws NAV almost be said to be in the presence
e.hose results. A little patience, and they
~;,l stand Yisibly before us.