Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-09-27
THE MAINE ELECTION.
The New York Herald Despairs.
Bright Prospect OF q Ra di al c ON gress-

From the New York Herald Of Thur sdsy.
THE RECENT AND THE COMING ELECTIONS
THE PROSPECTS.
II is historical axiom that revolutions
never go backward. Its truth has been at
firmed in the great political events of this
country since the adjournment of Congress,
and especially in the recent State elections.
1t was reasonable to suppose that the JAG
clinical violence reckiessneSS and ferOcity
OF such political reformers as Ben. Butler
in the East, Senator Chandler in the West.
and Parson BrownlOw in the South, wOd
have damaging effect upon their party
when brought to Judgment before the peO-
pie; but 1t is strikingly apparent from the
result of the late elections in Maine that
the popular mind is controlled by larger
questions, against which the savings or do
ings of this or that fanaiical politician 90
for nothing. That great body of the Amer
lean people to which we are indebted for
the suppression OF the most formidable re-
bellion in the history of mankind. are evil
IDENTIFY determined to have substantial Sc
curities for the future before they pro-
nounce the good work Of the restoration of
the Union completc-that, in short, South
ern reconstruction shall rest upon the solid
foundation of the Federal Constitution, re-
gardless of disturbing forces of Radicals,
COpperheads, Rebels, ruffians or fanatics,
North or South.
From the elections which have occurred
since the Constitutional Amendment was
adopted by COngaess for the reconstruction
of the Southern States, we are satisfied that
that amendment is TO become the basis of
Southern reStOratiOn-that ii will carry
and be carried by all the Northern State
elections N-pf N and that xVifl Nox<
Jersey leading off, it will be ratified by
them all and become part and parcel of the
supreme law of the land. Nor have we
any fear Of the consequences. There is
nothing, after all, so very Objectionable in
this Notwithstanding which President
Johnson himself has not. at one time or an
other, recommended 10 some Southern
State or to Congress, and nothing upon
which there should hare been q disagree
ment between the President and Congress
Let US for a moment look at this amend
ment again. 1t provides:
First-That all persons born or natural
lied in the United States are citizens there
of and of the States in which they reside,
and on footing ofequaliiy in regard TO
their civil rights.
Second-That the enumeration of the
people for representation in Congress shall
be abridged in proportion to the abridg-
ment of the right of suffrage-males above
the age of twenty-One years-in any State,
on account of race or color.
Third-That large schedule OfpersOns,
civil and military. engaged in the late re
beilion, shall be ineligible to- any Federal
Office hereafter until absOlved by a two
thirds vote of each House of Congress.
Fourth-That the national war debt shall
be held sacred, and that all rebeldebts and
obligations shall be utterly repudiated and
held illegal and void.
Fifth-That Congress shall have power
to enforce the provisions of this article.
This amendment is the reconstruction
plan and platform of Congress, and there
is no good reason, we say, why it should
not have been adopted by the President,
inasmuch as he stands committed in some
shape to all its provisions. 1t is not the
platform of Thaddeus Stevens, Sumner, or
any of the noisy Radicals of Congress
They can do nothing. 1t was adopted
against their circumstances and in spite of
their threats. 1t embodies, substantially,
in fact, the Presidents original programme
and If carried i'm these coming October and
November elections-as we predict it will,
from Massachusetts, and New York west
ward-we trust that the administration. in
difference to the will Of the people, will
come back to it. Why not? Surely this
amendment engrafted upon the Constitu-
ton viii be amply sufficient for the restora-
ton Of the Union, Internal peace, sectional
harmony and the security of the Govern
ment and the Treasury for many genera
tons 70 come, against all disturbing fac
tons of either section. Parson Brownlow,
in leading off with the State of Tennessee