Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-07-19
The Political Aspect.

IL IS DecOmlHS LAoiS anu AnOA S'i
dent every day, that great effort is
to be made this Fall in those States
where elections are to be held for
members of Congress, to defeat the
nominees of the Union party, and, if
possible. to secure in the next Con-
gress majority ostensibly In favor
of the so-called reconstruction policy
of President johnson, but in fact
pledged to the ''immediate and un-
conditional restoration of the rebel
States and rebels themselves in their
former positions of power and trust
in the government. 1t is already
apparent, that the rebel sympathizers
and eopperheads Of the North, with a
few weak -kneed apostates from the
Union party, are determined to make
a desperate attempt to break down
and destroy that great Union party,
which alone stood by the govern
ment during the war, and which, by
the noble part it took in that strug-
gle, has richly earned the right to
settle upon a solid basis the peace it
has so dearly purchased. So long as
the Union party stands firm and re-
tains its control of the government,
just so long the leading rebels of the
South Will be barred from any par
ticipation in the administration of
the government which they have been
trying to destroy. They well know
this fact, and have therefore deter
mined that that party shall be de-
stroyed, and they will spare neither
time nor labor to accomplish that
end.
1t is with this object in view, that
a convention has been called to meet
in Philadelphia next August, for the
purpose of organizing new national
party. 1t is with this object in view,
that both the rebel politicians of the
South and the leaders of the Demo
cratic party in the North, endorse
the calling OF this convention. 1t is
evidently their design to consolidate
into one party all who are in any de
gree opposed to the policy of Con-
gress and the Union party. To ac
complish this end. the Democracy
seem willing to sacrifice even their
old name and organization. This
new party, if formed, will embrace
the remnants of the Democratic party
in the North, the so called conserva-
tive Republicans, and the whole
South with the exception of those
few unconditional Union men, who
refused to acknowledge any allegi-
ance to the Southern Confederacy
and stood manfully by the govern
ment during the whole war. Whether
these various and in part adverse ell
ements can be firmly knit together
into one party yet remains to be seen.
But one thing at least is certain, the
attempt will be made.
In view of these facts, it becomes
the obvious duty of all good and loyal
men everywhere throughout the
country to stand firmly by their rep
resentatIves in Congress and to hold
fast to the great principles of the
Union party. The South and her
friends in the North are determined
to oust all loyal men from power and
to regain possession and control of
the general government, in a word to
effect by political chicanery that
which they failed to conquer by the
sword. Men may close their eyes to
the fact, but it is none the less true,
that great effort will be made at the
next Presidential election to elect a
President who will administer the
government wholly in the interest of
the South. And so far as they are
able, they will endeavor in the elee-
tons this Fall to elect to Congress
men favorable to their designs. They
are playing for a large stake, and
will leave no measure untried to gain
it. 1t is well therefore for Union
men to be vigilent and active. If
they are, the plans of these men can
not succeed. In fact their only hope
of success is to divide the Union
party and thus destroy its strength
Let the Union men of Ohio see to it,
that all minor questions of difference
are buried beneath the one great is
sue which has been forced upon them
BY the Democratic party-the 'im-
mediate and unconditional restora-
ton Of rebels. Upon the issue let
the Union party of Ohio stand as one
man, demanding of the South what
they Justly may demand-eonstita-
tional guarantees for peace and se-
curity in the future Let them also
see toit, that their best and strongest
men are this Fall elected to Con-
grsss, forwe are approaching crisis
in which the country viii have need
Of strong minds and clear heads.
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