New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-22
a NEW RADICAL PLATFORM.

1 IA NEW hADtGAL EIA1FVhMs
The first breath of success has swept away
the fimsy veil of conservatism with which the
radicals tried to hide their real purposes. The
constitutional amendment, which was put for
ward as the congressional plan of "recon-
struction," was in fact, adopted in spite Of
the opposition of some of the extreme leaders
of the party-such as Mr.. Stevens and Mr..
Summer, who did not want to stop short of o
thorough reYoluton--the compulsory en-
reimbursement of the blacks, and the universal
, Acknowledgement of the Southern whites, ex-
cepting the small number who were to act as
/; the agents of radical rule. But the majority
were timorous on these points They did not
think that Northern public opinion had been
yet wrought up to that pitch of phrenetie
hate which would tolerate so wide departure
from the theory of the Constitution, and SO
violent an attack on the principles of public
liberty.
The constitutional amendment was, in
itself, long stride towards consolidation. 1t
was the assumption of the power to keep
eleven States out of the Union, while holding
should accept conditions distasteful to their
people, and at war with their political views.
The expedient by which it was attempted to
force negro suffrage on the South was still
further extension Of federal power to ques-
tons which had always hitherto remained in
the keeping of the States. And, moreover,
the precedent of migrating a mere political
| FL,
purposes, on the fundamental law, would be
fatal in the end to the stability and perma-
nency of popular government. This plan of
suppressing opposition, and binding States
and minorities to particular views which hap
pen to be for the moment in the ascendant,
by forging them into constitutional enact
ments, is kind of tyranny which is far more
odious than the despotism of an autoerat, or
of military chieftain It is calculated to
bring Constitutions into contempt by making
them entirely unsuited for the purposes for
| which they are intended.
| However, the radicals are not by any means
satisfied with the constitutional amendment.
1T troubles their liberal and patriotic souls
that they should be compelled to admit the
Southern States on any terms except those
which would give the radical party complete
control in all Of them. The Chicago Repub-
lican declares that " the congressional policy
/ is essentially conservative and not radical It
expresses better the timidity of the last Con-
gress THANH it will the holder radicalism of the
next, and then the Republican continues:
1t does not reorganize the seeded States, ex.
| tend the ballot to all loyal men, disfranchize
rebels, or in any way do what is necessary to be
| done to put or keep the control of the seeded
| States in the hands of men who were loyal to the
Union during the war, and are loyal to freedom
and progress to-day.
| The so-called congressional policy, under which
| Tennessee was admitted, proposes to lessen the
power Of the South as a section in the Union,
until she shall extend the suffrage; it proposes to
exclude certain rebel classes, not exceeding few
hundreds, from federal Office only, but it does not
take.any other precautions than those taken by
the Presidents policy, to secure the putting and
keeping of the control of the State governments
in the seeded States in the hands of men who
were loyal during the war, and who are to-day in
favor of freedom for all men. 1t was probably
safe under this policy to admit Tennessee, which
had already disfranohsed her rebels, which is
ready for the enfranchisement of her celored men
so soon as that policy can be adopted in all the
States at once, if not before. and the power of
whose State government is held, though precari- |
eusly, by loyal men. ef54
The congressional policy is all right as far as it
goes, butit does not go to the root of the matter
The next Congress must go further. lit must re-
organize The seeded State governments or the /
worst of them, certainly South Carolina, Louisi. |
ana, and Mississippi, the basis of impartial suf
irage and equal rights. This is henceforth the |
radical Republican policy, and up to this standard
the legislation of the next Congress must come.
The Republican advises the Democratic
party, if it would save itself and the South
ern States if they would obtain the right-of
to accept the constitutional
amendment. and make it the basis of their
policy. Not that this would satisfy the radi-
3als. Quite the contrary; for the radicals are
determined that their extreme views SHALL if
possible, be forced on the country; but it is
declared, that, only in this way, is there a
,hance to defeat the Republican party, be
,ause it is admitted that the people are not
yet quite up to the radical standard. In
What way it is proposed to reorganize the
southern States so as to exclude the white
population from the local governments, the
Republican does not inform us. Probably
he plan is to keep US out of Congress until
We consent to buy our way in by surendering
2ur State governments into the hands of the
blacks, and of the so-ealled :loyal" Whites
such men as Jack Hamilton and Heistand
But to give SO great price for SO small a favor
IS more than can reasonably be expected, even
IF defeated 'rebels." If there is any other
way of accomplishing the object we beg the
Republican to explain it to us. Is it by an
other constitutional amendment? But how is
he amendment to beadopted if the Southern
States refuse to ratify it 2 Or is it simply by
! bold usurpation of power on the part of
Congress? VIII the Republican be good
,nough to explain
young man, Hungarian, who pretended
Q have inherited $50 900, succeeded in swim
ling the good people of Chicago out of ten
thousand dollars and eyaporated in the direc-
ion of New York The Chicago Times gives