The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-20
THE OPPORTUNITY


never berecovcd. There are two op-
portunitics presented to the Govern
ment at present, which if not seized
and wisely improved, win end in years
of serious trouble. The first is, the
opportunity to enforce the Monroe doc
trine; the second, the opportunity to
exclude leading rebels from all politi-
cal control OF the South.
The power of Max;milian is not yet
established in Mexico and majority
OF the Mexican people are opposed
to tho Empire. The present is the
time for. cur Government to insist
upon the Monroe doctrine To delay
is to allow the Empire to become es-
lablished, and to fix upon the Amer
icaL continent the political system
of Europe. President JOHNSON,
through the platform upon WHICH
be was elected, is pledged to the en-
forcement of the Monroe doctrine, and
IS he is man, like Jackson, who APP
preciates the importance of taking time
by the forclock, wo shall expect be-
fore long u distinct declaration of the
policy Of the Government upon tho
Mexican question. r.
Whether the Presidents plan of re-
storing the rebel States, is the best
practicable, has not yet been develop.
ed. We incline to tho opinion that
tho proclamation excluding rebels is
not sweeping enough. Every man who
held u commission in the rebel army
or a civil Office under the rebel Govern
ment, should be utterly excluded from
any voice in restoring the States, and
forever excluded from holding Office
In nearly every instance where cleo
lions have been lately held il the
South, the rankcst rebels havo been
elected, men who held commissions in
the army or civil Offices under the Con-
tedcracy. Should conventions be held
constitutions adopted, and State Go
vernments established in the Southern
States, within tho next few mouths
we have no doubt that the Offices will
be filed by rebels. The rGnkcst %
these may be elected to Congress, and
before another term, The very men who
rebelled and attempted to overthrow
the Government, may bo occupying
seats in tho capitol, controlling The
legislation ofthe nation. This contro
may of course, be prevented by Con
gress, each house being tho Judge O
tho qualifications of its own members
by refusing to admit to seats all who
took an active part in tho rebellion.
The plan insisted upon by large
portion of the press Of the country tc
give tho Union men of the South con
troll Of affairs, ia to admit the emanci
patcd blacks to the elective franchise
Tho blacks arc to be counted in thu
representation, and this will incrcas,
the vote of tho South in Congress two
fillhs, almost doubling it. To coun
tho blacks in the reprcsonton withou
giving them voice, would be to ado
twofiths to the political power Of tn
South, without securing any means O
making that power responsible to mil
lions for whom il would legislate, Th
effect would be to continue the aristo
cracy of tho South, almost doubling
their political power and enabling then
to keep the blacks in n condition o
scrldom. ...... ......a.
Tho opportunity must be seized no
only to destroy slavery, but also th,
political aristocracy which grew on
of it, Onco tho State Government
become established, with men who
few months since wero active rcbcl
lllng tho State offices and being cho
sen to Congress, it Is too lato to Civ
the control Of affairs to the loyal mel
Of the South. Even the abolition q
slavery is not secured, unless poilica
power is kept from tho hands ofrebels
1t will require no ordinary states
mNnship to carry us safely througI
tho difficulties of reconstruction, o
rather of restoration, and secure to tn
country and to tho blacks the fruits q
our triumph over rebellion, We hop
tho plan adopted By the President ma,
bo tho best llo has no power to al
nit II class of porsons who never vot
cd to tho franchise, but he has powe
to exclude persons for rebellion, am
tho people expect him to so manog
the restoration OF the States as to Civ
tho honest Union men OF the Sout
complete control Of affairs.
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WIlICMi