Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-15


The malignity of their leaders
cvinced in Congressional debate leaves
no room to doubt that in this contest
the fast closing wounds of the Nation
al body are to be ruthlessly torn open,
and revenge and hatred, the love of
gain and OF power, with all tho baser
passions Of mans nature, are TO be
aroused in their behalf.
They will not, because they dare
not, appeal to your reason. They will
not, because they dare not, stake the
result on the justice of their cause,
but blind, unreasoning passion is to be
the lever to their success.
Their deliberate efforts TO renew a
career of hate and vituperation serves
but to point out the depths to which
they have fallen and to prove TO what
vile means they will resort to preserve
and pcrpetuate their power.
How implacable must be that ha-
tired how Unsuitable that thirst for
power, which seeks new pretcxts to
secure fresh victims which revels in
contumely and glories in trampling on
n conquered and submissive foe.
Ought not the untold miseries and
horrors of such war, with the utter
failure of the rebellion, be its own
ample punishment?
fit be not, then let its authors and
leaders be judged by the laws they
have broken.
The surest and safest path for a
great nation to pursue in obtaining
the confidence and feality of a discon-
tented people is that of magnanimity
and clemency Prescription and dis
franchisement serve but to infame
and alienate. Poland, Ireland, Hun
gary, Italy are practical examples Of
this truth. Shall we best display our
power by distrust and prescription, or
by clemency and kindness +?
A Government of law and of Con-
stitutional obligations conceived in the
throes of revolutionary conflict, had
been our pride aud protection. Re
fusal to submit to that law or to rec
ognize those obligations brought upon
us our recent civil struggle
1t is ended. The South bowling to
the inexorable fat of war, aclnowl-
edges her defeat and yields obedience
to law.
The President, the Executive, rec
ognizes the principle that such obedi-
ence is the genuine test Of loyalty and
admits the rights of these people to
representation, and by the the line of
the Constitution would rehabilitate
the South and restore our unity as a
people.
Congress, acting under the control
of a caucus, denying this right, i'm
poses new conditions and aims to
change the form of Government by
Amending the Constitution. They
postpone the restoration of the Union
and elevate the negro TO preserve
their power.
If the President is sustained, the
question of negro suffrage is remitted
TO the States where it properly be-
longs.
lfCongress be sustained, the negro
obtains the unrestricted right of suf-
frage; on the States refusing to grant
it they are deprived of their Just share
of representation in Congress.
Ir is NEGRO SUFFRAGE OR A PENALTY
If the negro be allowed to vote, the
Radicals hold power by virtue OF his
votes.
If he be not allowed to vote, they
maintain their hold on power. because
the States that are against them are
80 reduced in representation atthey
cannot be outvoted.
i Thus the negro becomes the controlling
element in politics.
What has Pennsylvania done that
she must allow the negro to vote or
be deprived of her full share of repre-
sentation in Congress
Must we strike the word white
from our Constitution or lose a Con.
gresham Was it for this that 300,-
900 Pennsylvanians shouldered their
muskets and marched to the battle
! field 2
The issues Of the present hour are
sufficiently important to engage the
attention Of every lover ofhis country,
and to these alone should our efforts
be devoted in the pending canvass.
The absorbing question OF restora.
tion, the determined efforts TO force
negro suffrage upon us, the neglect OF
the brave white soldier for the ad.
vancement and protection ofthe black
the Freedmens Bureau and Civi
: Rights iniquties, and the enormitie.
of the Radicals are themes upon which
the orators and press Of the Democra
icy can increasingly employ thcm
selves.
We sustain the policy of President
Johnson not because it is his policy.
but because it is right because it i.
directly in the line of our duty anc