Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-15
THE RADICAL VIEW OFTIE RECENT
ELECTIONS.

I I4E EAADANAAE NAEN OE EEtE ELCEAA
ELECTIONS.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette gives the following as the
Radical view, from that point of the proba-
bic future issue depending on the results Of
the recent Northern elections, and as it is
profitable to understand all sides of a ques-
tion, we copy:
''The country at large seemed so sanguine
Of success that it was hardly questioning as
10 what the future would be in case Of fail
ure; but here il was very different. Men
whom the nation has learned to honor were
continually saying to each other: "What if
we fail?' And cool 10 judgment as these
we're, and being in possession Of information
which gave great weight TO these opinions,
they predicted a very troublous future as
sure to follow defeat in New York. Looking
from the capital, with even partial knowl-
edge Of the plottings Of JoHNsON's men, it
seemed the pivotal point Of the whole strug-
gle Even the Maryland contest became as
a diversion, though really part of the main
battle.
OF Deleware and Kentucky the Admins
! tration feels sure in 1868. With the electo-
raj vote Of New York and Maryland in ad-
| dition, Mr.. SEWARD has believed that the
! country can be carried for Conservatism, by
a recognition of the electoral vote of the
| South. This calculation entered into the
contest in Pennsylvania, and in case CLYNIER
and HOFFMAN could have been placed in
| power, the two States would have been de-
pended upon to make the coming Presiden-
tial election sure-not for Mr.. JOHNSON, but
for the JOHNSON party. But the failure to
elect CLYMER did not greatly dishearten
these schemers. Backed by the South as a
unit, with the further assistance Of New
York, it seemed almost a certain thing to
those well informed as to the under-currents
Of his political action, that the President
would have dared to undertake anything
which his INSCRIPTIONS advisers should
agree to urge.
With such views, and with these appre-
tensions, it is not to be wondered at that
almost the only question asked by Union
men, when the returns began to come in,
were in regard to New York. Greatly as
the Baltimore contest had excited them. the
news that the Conservatives had carried the
city was barely heard before it was put aside
10 await information from New York, the
field where the Administration had concen-
trated the bulk of its forces, and was waging
the deadliest fight.
When at length the dispatches fixed the
limit of the city majority at forty-seven
thousand, and brought word of the general
gains in the up-river towns, the Unionists
here breathed free. There was some inquiry
at a late hour for news from the West but
the great relief had come from the metropo-
lis of political frauds.
The opposition understood what was at
stake most perfectly, and when they heard
defeat announced, they seemed to feel it to
be final. 1t was bitter ending for the
movementset on foot with such ostentation at
Philadelphia, and to which the executive
branch Of the Government has since rem
dered all the aid at its disposal, and all that
1t was able to create for the purpose.
On the same subject the Chicago RepubIi-
can, in an article headed "What shall we
do with our victory" closes it by saying:
Congress must create out of social dis
order ten new States. An attempt has been
made TO construct them on the basis of caste
oligarehy and despotism, by admitting the
white vote, and excluding one-third of the
Southern people. Let Congress rise to the
height of the great argument, whether this
is statesmanlike, democratic, or has resulted
or can result in peace. Let il do Justice to
the oppressed of the South, establish equal
rights for all, secure free speech, free press,
free Christianity, free soil, and free schools |
for all over whom the flag of freedom floats
let them accomplish all this, and we shall
have wisely reaped the results of our recent |
victory"
How Congress is to do all that, the Re
publican does not say. Its cotemporary, the |
Chicago Tribune, is more explicit. In an
article on The duty of Congress" f" it urges |
similar points with the Republican, and |
shows howthey are to be reached Thus:
All this may be accomplished by calling |
elections for Constitutional conventions in |
the various unconstructed States, and pre- |
scribing the qualifications Of voters in such |
elections, as Congress has the undoubted |
right to do. All men Of lawful age, white |
or black, should be invited to participate in |
these elections, and their right to partici- |
pate should be maintained by force if neces-
sary. The delegates so chosen, meeting in |
convention, would form constitutions to be /
submitted TO the people of their respective |
States for ratification or rejection, and these |
constitutions would, of course, fix the quali-
hcations of the electors. Governments |
would be formed under these constitutions, |
HANAA0fht a. III ObilGI 1tIIltOIlGS, anu IL |
would then be for Congress to pass upon |
these governments, and to recognize them if |
found to be republican in FORM"
The New York Tribune, treating the same
theme, says:
The North UH not recede from is demand |
for sufficient guarantees, the amendment may |
become part of the Constitution without |
the ratification of the rebel States, and, |
therefore, the South may be shrewd enough |
to disarm coercion by making an offer of Its |
own. The third section Of the amendment |
received the bitterest opposition in the |
South, as II disqualified many of its most in |
iiuential leaders, and they will not consent TO |
ratify an article which forbids them to hold |
civil or military Office. We believe that
these leaders sincerely perfer universal
suffrage with universal amnesty to the /
amendment and trust that when they fore
see, as now they must, the necessity of choice, /
they will freely make it.
We cannot expect il at once, but, if the
North is true, and if in the South there is
honesty and courage enough TO look the sit
nation in the face, it must come in the end.
Impartial suffrage will render the conditions
of the third section unnecessary; it will
solve all the questions in dispute; it will
satisfy the free States without imposing
solitary penalty for rebellion. 1t would be
the highest wisdom for the rebel States to
make this ofier it would be more than
shrewdness, it would be craftsmanship They
know now that the North is resolved, and
will remain resolved. Either the amend
ment or the concession, which makes the
amendment superfluous, is demanded, and
the offer Of impartial suffrage by the South,
answered with universal amnesty hy the L
North, would be the first honest compro-
mise in ffty years strife; il would be the
union Of the two sections upon a principle
which would make the future compromise
unnecessary"
THE NORTHERN METHoDIsTs IN THE
SoUrH.-The annual Conference Of the
Methodist Protestant Church Of Virginia
was held at Lynchburg last week, and re-
solved: That our General Conference,
having referred the commissioners of the /