Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-01
Our Position.

Mr.. BOOTH and others imPute to Gen.
WAsHBURN, AID now frankly place on
Oh record our position.
Generally speaking, we believe with
MILToN BARLOW, in the universal rights
of msu." and with DR.. CAMERON, 10 "the
Immortality Of the SOUL"
But TO particularize:
lst-We believe ANDREW JOHNSON
has made the mistake dog TaAE, did
got into exceedingly bad company. He
was not a re6el; We do not believe he is
consciously copperhesd but if his union
feelings are as strong now as formerly,
he must be surprised to see bis former op
moments and yiliifiars snch men as the
WoODs, VALLANDIGHAN, STOREY, of the
Chicago Times, Paul, of the Milwaukee
News, Brick PoNERY, Sat. CLARK, and
nearly every other unrepentant rebel,
shouting themselves hoarse in approval
of his policy, while the great body of
faithful union men, who elevated him to
power, are obliged to oppose ii. We do
not call President JOHNSON hard names.
We view him with ''wonder," but omit
the "lOve and praise" in singing. When
thinking of him, we Involuntary repeat
that well known couplet,
God moves in mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.
2nd-We believe VIM. H. SEWARD.
has done great deal in former years to
educate the people Of the North in sound
political principles, but since the Chicago
Convention of 1860, we think his useful
ness has been greatly impaired. If he is
doing much good now a-dsys, we can't
see it. la ALEXANDER Smiths Life
Drama, some fellow tells another fellow,
Perform thy work and straigh return to God
If Mr.. SEWARD had followed this advice,
his wife, who died about a year ngo,
huutu ldtC OullAel MN.
3rd-Wo think treason was r.gh "
made capital offense, and when the
Government had many leading intclli-
gent traitors" in its power, we think it
should have hung some of them, or else
repealed The law making treason a crime.
As matters now stand, we could not blame
any adventurous man who should COM
init treason, for the purpose Of getting
special pardon and being elected to Con
gress.
4ti--Ne 90 not believe in Negro
Suffrage a. the Soalb, for the reason
that ever one knows the mass Of the ne
grOes there are not fit to vote. Too many
men vote nov who are notfit to. aud we
would not increase the number Ly sever
nj millions. The ballot is too sacred to
be trodden in the dirt. The right to the
elective franchise is too valuable to be
lightly conferred. We believe that just
those'citizeus, Who are able to read and
write the English language, whether
white or black, should be allowed to vote
and non other. To all others, white or
black, give that protection to person and
ProPe rty, aud all those civil rights which
the young man of twenty now enjoys.
5;h--We believe that treason should
be made O'lious, BY giving all the power
and prestige o. the Federal Government
10 the South to those who were loyal dur
ing the war. If there are not enough loyal
men in South Carolina to hold the FED
eral Offices import them. Let rebels
learn that the Flag and the Power it
symbolizes, honors only those who honor
il. We believe that no man who ever
held n Federal Office and had sworn to
support the Constitution and Govern
ment of the United States, and then join
ed in the rebellion, should ever, under
any circumstances, be allowed to hold any
Office under the Government again. Alex
ander H. STEPHENS is probably as fair
a man, as there IS among the late rebels,
but when the fathers aud brothers and
sons Of noble men slain in the war for
National preservation, visit Washington,
and gointo the Senate galleries, they do
not wish to look down on the Vice Pres
ident of the late Rebel Confederacy ma
king laws for them. Gen. Couch may
walk into Convention arm in arm with
Gov. Orr, while appIauding delegates
shout and SWIVEL by Turns, but the people
will never make such fools of themselves
as to pretend that they love traitors, or
wish them to help rule tie country which
they vainly strove to ruin.
6th-We believe representation in
Congress should be based upon voters,
and not on the entire population, and re-
greet that the proposed amendment to the
Constitution does not so provide,