The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-16
RadIeaIism and Conseryatism----Tl
differences well Denned.

| In every political contest in a Consti-
tutional system the names of Conser-
vatism and RadicalisIn will be applied
to the opposing policies, while the his
| tory of such governments shows that
the policy which ttuely conserves the
principle and spirit of free system is
that which is called Radicalism. In the
| conflict of opinion in England before
our Revolution George III, and DIR.
johnson were the stiffest of Tory Con-
servatives, and saw in the doctrines and
policy of Edmund Burke nothing but
Radicalism and the overthrow of the
monarchy. But Burke was the true
Conservative. His policy would have
saved the empire upon its own prlncl-
pies.
In this country at this moment both
Radicalism and Conservatism, a1 the
names of policy of national reorgan-
| ization, are very easily defined and
comprehended. Thus Radicalism holds
that the late rebel States should not be
suffered to take part in the government
of the Union which they have so zeal
ously striVen to destroy except after
searching inquiry into their condition,
and upon terms which shall prevent
any advantage having been gained by
rebellion. By the result of the war the
suffrage of a voter in South Carolina
weighs as much as the vote of two vot-
ers in New York. Is that desirable
state of things? Would any fair-mind-
ed voter in South Carolina claim that
he ought to have preference in the
| Union because, however honestly, he
has rebelled against il? Radicalism,
therefore, fnvors nm equalization OF
representation as condition precedent
to the full recognition of the disturbed
States, and every citizen of those States
who sincerely desires national unity
and peace will favor it also.
Radicalism holds that equal civil
rights before the law should be guar
anteed by the United States to every
citizen. 1t claims that the Govern
ment which commands the obedience
of every citizen Shall afford him pro-
lection, and that the freedom which the
people of the United States have con-
ferred the people of the United
States shall maintain. Is that
neriIous claim? Is any other course
consistent with national safety orhonor?
This is RadicaliSn. Is it unfair? Is
it unconstitutional2 Is it anarchial or
revolutionary? 1t denies no mans
rights. 1t tdeprives no man of power or
privilege. 1t claims for the National
Government nothing (which is not in
separable from the idea OF such Gov
ernment. Does it demand any thing
that every prudent and patriotic man
ought not to be willing to concede? The
views of Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens and
Mr.. Sumner, sincerely entertained and
ingeniously defended as they are, are
not the Radical policy. Mr.. Stevens
holds that the disturbed States are con-
ouered provinces in which the land
should be contiscated, as that of Ireland
has been three times over without
giving Ireland peace. Does any body
suppose that even the House, which
RESPECTS Mr.. Stevens sturdy fidelity to
his own convictions, agrees with MIN,
or that the National Union party holds
his view? Mr.. Sumner holds that
equal suffrage should berequired ofthe
absent States as condition of repre-
sentation, and in n Radical Senate
which passed the Civil Rights Bill over
the veto by vote of SO to l5, Mr.. SUM
ner's proposition obtained votes.
These gentlemen, of course, support the
The opinions ofthe Union party are to
be found, as President Johnson says,
in the party platform. The policy of
the Radicals is to be seen in the meas
ures they adopt; and of the torty-tWo
bills which at the time OF the last veto
they had presented to the President, he
had signed forty.
In our present political situation Con-
servatism is the policy which declares
that the late rebel States are already in
a condition to resume their full tunc-
tions in the Union, and which denounces
Congress for presuming to enquire
whether that opinion is we'll founded.
1t denies to Congress-that is, to the
representatives of the loyal people who
have maintained the Government-the
authority to look behind the credentials
of any man who comes from State
still painting with rebellion, and ascer-
tain the origin and validity of the au-
thority that issued the credentials. 1t
objects to the legislation of Congress
4 krNn nNn TNT1rnHFnEnnfA1 n
without reference to the reason of their
absence, thus virtually maintaining the
monstrous proposition that combi-
nation of States, by refusing to be rep
resented, may prohibit national leg
isIation. 1t denies that the United
States ought to protect the equal civil
rights of citizens before the law, and
would admit the absent States to Con-
gress before requiring their assentto an
amendment equaliZing representation.
Conservatism is the policy which, for
getting that the United States are bound
by every moral obligation tosecure the
freedom which they have conferred,
apparently believes that that freedom
will be best maintained and the nations
al peace most truly established by leav-
ing those of every color who were hero
icaIly faithful to the Government dur
ing the rebellion to the exclusive mercy
of those who sought to destroy it.
1NeSe are Inc pOluto Vi IllS
Conservative policy. Are they agree
able to an honorable and intelligent
people7 And of what's this policy con-
servatiye? If of the Constitution and
Union, ii will OF course be earnestly
supported by their true and tried
friends. Is it so supported? VINO are
the present Conservatives? Who shout
and sing and fire cannon and ring bells
in in lbilant exultation at every measure
in supposed accordance with this poll
CIV? The reply is, unfortunately, un-
avoidable. The Conservative party, or
the supporters ofthe policy we have de-
scribed, is composed of the late rebels
and of those whojustitied and Palliated
rebellion, with a few Republicans. And
who oppose this policy2 Who are the
Radicals7 The great multitude fthose
who believed in the war and supported
1t. whose children and brothers and
friends lie buried in the battlefield in
every rebel State, whose sentiments are
now as they have been for five years
country, and whose voice speaks in the
vote Of Union Legislatures and in the
result of the spring elections.
1t is useless for Conservatism TO claim
that Cancellation is essentialto reorgan-
ization. Nobody denies it. But the
cardinal question is, not what Will
please the late einsurgentS, bntwhat Will
secure the Government. If it be said
that the Government can not be secured
by alternating its late enemies, the reply
is that it certainly can not be secured
by alternating its unwavering friends.
II fconciliation contemplates the filling
of national offices in the South by
known rebels to the disregard and ex-
clusion of Union men, thereby reward
ing rebellion and discrediting loyalty
IL It proposes to leave freemen OF the
United States to the Black Codes of Mis-