The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-09-15
The Radicals.

.. The Radicals. ....
The New York Independent thus con.
clseiy states :he principles Of the "Radi.
cs's, and it asks the public iudgmen,
whether they are "proscfiptive, destruct.
ive' dlctatorial; or wise, just, humane and
Christian, viz: ,,.,.,.
1. The Radicals hold that "all men
are created equal''-not in wisdom. nor
strength, nor beauty, but in rights-,ba,
constitutions and laws should be con.
formed 10 this fundamental tru,b-and
that governments derive their Just power
from the consent o! the governet"-or of
majority OF them. - ... ... -.
bu1I. They hold that those Americans
who have been loyal to the Union through. !.
out onr late siruggie--wLo have joyfnlly
sustained the National cause with their
strength. their efforts, their blood. their
prayers-should. in The Reconstruction"
nov pending, not be placed under the
'eet OF those who have done their utmost
10 divide and destroy the Republic. In
other words, they insist that no u nionist
shall be regarded or treated by the Ma
ton he has aided TO rescue from ruin, as
rightfully Of less consequence or weight
in that Nation than the traitors whom he
aidedto defeat. s,.--,,','.-- ~ !
lll., The Radicals do not, as is un.
truly. affirmed OF them, propose that the
Union should dictate and prescribe the
limitations Of suffrage in the several
States; but they do hold that the Federal
Executive has just the same right 10 rec
ognizs and establish the right Of loysl
blacks 10 vote in any State, ,as 10 disfran-
chise rebels and forbid their voting. In
other words, the Radicals hold lhat--siuce
those who used The State governments as
powerful ins;rumentali,ies for the over.
throw OF the Federal Union are thereby
justly held TO have deranged and tempo
rarliy destroyed those governments. The
trlimpliant Union, in initiating move
ment Tor the "reconstruction''', of those
States. should summon every loyal citizen
residing ;n, thoses States respectively TO
take part in that movement. .osg A., |
10 Nv. The Radicals hold that The four
.millionsi OF blacks hereafter 10 be fully
represented in Congress. and the E'ec, ,orial
Colleges should be represented by men Of
their choice, not that Of their con,e emuers
and oppressors. rq II South Caiolina,G for
instance, 10 to send three Members 10
Congress be cause OF her black inhab;t-
ants. then those blacks should have q
voice in choosing her Representatives
Otherwise one Write in that, State will
have equal power, and weigh,in Congress
and IN choosing a President. With two
whites in the uniformly loysl States. which
10 unequal and unjust No modest rebei.
(snd there are some such. can ask that
Le have practically two votes Ia tie re-
stored Onion 10 sieadfast Unionist's one.
XXX The Radicals do not, though Il is
constantly asserted that they do. einsist
that ALL negroes shall vo,e,in utter disre-
gard Of itheirignoranoe, mss pacity. vice,
Incidence, vagrancy, crime; but they do
insist that whatever limitations or dis,
qualifications may be deemed proper ard
necessary shall aprlyto whites and black 8
alike. oIfrt be deemed best. TO prescribe
that none shall vote mho cannot read, or
read and sorits, or ,oho did not pay tar
Turing the preceding year-eilher or all
of tLese-the Radicals freely assent, pro-
pided no obstacles arc interposedp 10
whites or blacks alike qualifying them
selves Tor the exercise Of the right afore.
said. : IL your test should preclude voting
oy n'nety-nine out ofevery hundred
blacks this year, the Radicals will sub.
nlt ,I 70 y, SO long as the way is left unal.
'erably open ior every black (as we'll as
every white )to qualify b,mseli, by indus.
Try, lrugality. and m entail culture, to be.
come ia legal voter next year or the year
..., 80, l- ~. iE'oT