The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-11-08
10 The IntOn Restored

During the war there was no difference
Of opinion between Democrats and Repub>
licans on the great question of preserving
the Upion Of these States. They differed
us 20 the best means Of securing that end.
and this difference WI. peculiarly well
marked during the last two years Of the
war Republican, insisted that the only
course was to fight it out and conquer the
rebels by force Of arms, even if it took
twenty years to accomplish the work
Democrat. admitted that fighting alone
would secure the territorial integrity Of
the Union, and at the sane time insisted
that If this course were to be pursued, the
south wen conquered would not be in a
1T mood to return to their allegiance with
;,lacrty The Republican idea prevailed
Lincoln was re elected i. 1861, the war
was prosecuted to victorious end, the
armed rebellion ceased and SO far as the
mere territorial unity of the States was
concerned the mon was preserved, but
Just as had been predicted the conquered
rebels we're more or less sullen though
much less 50 than was to have been ex-
pected
Another element Of difficulty not foreseen
has also entered into tie matter and proves
% be much the most serious obstacle in the
way OF final adjustment Of the question
OF restoration. This new element consists
Of spirit of revenge and retaliation against
the sonth by the leaders Of the party in
power. No sooner had the clash Of arms
cea.eI than it be- to be whispered abou;
IN radical circles that the rebels must give
.nGemnities for the past and guarantee
Tor the future that the Constitution mus
be amended so as 10 4bo!ish slavery anC
forever exclude its reinstatement that
now while the north has the power to en-
force It's demands, the south must dsfran
chl,c al who took part in tic rebellion anC
enfranchisc the black all OF whom it i
said were loyal and many Of whom tool
up arms in favor of the government; tha
treason must be made odious" By inact
ing the extreme penalty Of the law upon
goodly number Of the leading rebels. &c.
&c
More than year and half has passe'
away since The war ended, the people Of TIA
rebelii~Hs States have re organized thei
State Jye-nments elected State officer
AMI I'm ,ers Of Congress. yet they are no
allowed % take their place, in the council
Of the nation not regarded "a entitled {
representation In a word, 50 far as par
ticipatlng in the legislation of the gener'
government is concerned, they are inform
ed by those in power that they are out q
the Union, that they have forfeited the
rights "a members Of this great federation
True, so far as obedience to the Feeders
authorities, the right topay taxes and sup
port the dynasty of office holders now S
rampant for continued lease of power
Concerned, they are regarded as being i
the Union. Suppose this had all been VI
derstood and avowed during the war an
insisted on at its close how many v)lun
teers could have been procured in the loy
a! States to carry on the war? Woul
not the rebels have continued their wal
fare longer, and would moi foreign power
have intcrfered to put stop to so unna
ural strife, and would not the souther
coniederacy have been success and b
come an independent government? ID
not Tx Gov. Yates the other day in specC
at Chicago say truly that "the lines are
distinctly droca betg,ea the northern a,
southern portions Of the country as d"rii
the car"
If he spoke the ruth, who but the ra,