Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-04
The Congressional Elections.


tumn Congressional elections of 1866 is
hardly less important than that of the
Presidential election of 1864. At that
time the question was whether tie Dem
Ocratie party, whose policy had produced
the war, whose Southern leaders conduc-
Ted It, and which. as a party, although
with conspicuous exceptions of certain
individual Democrats. justified the rebel
lion and opposed the war measures of
the government, should be intrusted with
the control of the Government. The
respOnce was prOdigiOus. Every loval
State but Kentucky, Delaware, and New
Jersey sustained the Union party. AT
this time the question is whether the
Democratic party, with its tendency and
policy Clearly understood. shall determine
the conditions upon which the late rebel
States shall resume their full relations in
the Union. Is the Democratic view of
the situation truer, is the Democratic in
depreciation Of she Constitution more
just, is the spirit of the Democratic par
~ more favorable to justice. equal liber-
", and reverence for law, than those of
the Union party. These are the ques-
tiOns which must determine our votes In
the coming elections.
1t may be tTue-indecd for ourselves
We have not hesitated TO say that il is
tTIe-that many foolish words have neen
spoken and some uuwise measures adop
ted by Congress. Nor do we care TO re-
criminats aud urge that this Congress
has been more fiercely viIHperated than
ally Of It's predecessors. We have not
% deal at the elections with the polite
ness or tact either of Congress or the
Executive, nor indeed with the uniform
wisdom Of the Congressional measures
The point Is fundamental principle
Granting that the action Of Congress
might have been improved in certain
WayE, is it probable that the action of
the Democratic minority would have
been, either in detail or in general policy,
better for the peace and union of the
country : Had the party of that mi
nOrily been in lhe ascendant the test oath
would have been repealed Senators
aud Representatives like Alexander Fl.
Stephens and Herscbel V. johnson wo'd
lave been admitted the Civil Rights
Bill would have failed; and in a word,
the mtn who, supported by Il eir States.
tive years ago resigned AMI Withdrew
from Congress, and engaged in the re
belliUn, would have returned by the
continuous right" Of those States, and
those who haG tried to destroy the Gov
eminent and still declared their right 20
do so, would have voted upon every
measure proposed 70. the future security
Of the Union and country against the
logical consequences of their doctrines.
Would this have been Il wise policy or
safe for the country (? Yet this is the
policy upon which the autumn elections
are to pronounce. The Democratic par
" holds that, having laid down their
arms, the States lately in rebellion are
exactly where they were before. TIE
consequences of such doctrine are plain.
IL assumes that combination of States
may attempt to destroy the Union by
war, aud that the people of the loyal
States who defeat tie conspiracy in tue
field can rightfuly taxa no further step
whatever to secure the victory they have
won. The Union party claims that 10y
al citizens, after So long and vital war,
have exactly the same right TO secure
their victory that thew have to win il :;
aud consequently that when the attempt
Of combination of States to wrest
themselves from the authority of the
Union fails, none of those States can re-
sumo their full functions in the Union
except npOn such eond tions as a truly
sac sciOus policy shall determine.
II must be remembered that ii is not
a question of more or less conditions.
but Of any condition whatever. The
Democratic orators and papers ask in
deed whether the late insurgents have
not complied with certain conditions
But neither they nor those who hav been
defeated acknowledge the right to imposs
them Indeed, the Democratic theory
and policy condemn the President equal
" with Congress, FOR he had 10 more
verbal constitutional authority to req lire
assent 20 the emancipation amendment
than Congress has to require assent TO
the new amendment regu,sting represen
tation. States with what Mr.. Stevens
calls "a continuous right of equality
with all other States can no more be re
quired to adopt one amendment than an
other. The present co operation of the
Democratic party with the President.
therefore, does not spring from love OF
him but from hate of Congress, and a
very natural wish of our opposition par
y to divide the Executive aud LegisIa
tive powers.
Can a party which holds and pro
claims the policy which we have DIES
cribed be safely Entrusted with the govern
Inent of the country and the settlement
Of the war : Ought any thoughtful
and honest citizen, however impatient he
may be Of ihe follies Of certain men, to
suffer his impatience to blind him to the
fact that the elections are to decide
whether the friends of the spirit of Abra-
ham Lincoln shall recognize the Union,
or the friends and spirit of Horatio Sew
pour and VAllaDdigham. - Harper's
Weekly.