Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-12-13
Amnesty and Suffrage VS.. Con-
stitutional Amendment.

The movement lndu uiaeOu Oy VIC
Chicago Times in favor of reorgani-
.z;,o the Democratic party on the
basis of negro suffrage, is finding IA
vor with o very considerable portion
of the Democratic press of the csun-
trv. Leaders and journals seem to
he impressed with the fact that some
thing must be done to rescue the
sinking fortunes of the party. A
strong effert is therefore being made
to place the party on the platform
of universal amnesty and impartial
suffrage as the basis of reccnstruc-
ton, and upon this platform TO make
an issue against the Congressional
plan of reconstruction embodied in
the Constitutional Amendment 1t
is the true policy of the Union party
to oppose this movement, and for
various and substantial reasons.
And first and principally, the move
ment should be opposed, because it
is an attempt to open up and reverse
the judgment of the people already
rendered upon this subject of recon-
struction, make the question again
an open one, and plunge the country
anew into a deplorable state Of un-
certainty upon this all important
matter. 1t is truly the interest of
the whole country, South as well as
North, that the terms of reconstruc-
ton should as soen as possible be
settled definitely and irrevocably.
The country needs that this agita-.
ting question should be disposed OF,
and finally removed from the politi-
cal arena. We had hoped, that the
decision of the people at the Fall
elections would have been accepted
by the country as final. The issue
was fairy made, fully discussed be-
fore the people, and by oyerwhelm-
Jag majsrities they declared in favor
of the amendment. 1t is therefore
the true policy of the Union party,
to adhere to the Amendment as
final decision of the question. We
can not now afford to throw aside all
that was gained by the late canvas,
and consent to renew the discussion
of question already passed upon at
the ballot box, while imposing no
additional terms and conditions upon
the restoration of the South to full
fellowship in the Union. we may
justly insist upon those embraced in
the Amendment, inasmuch as the
loyal element of the country has
pronounced them to be essential to
the future peace and security of the
nation. We have right to adhere
to the Amendment as final and ir-
revocable decision. And if the
Union party stand fast by the terms
they have thus endorsed, they will
ultimately be accepted by the whole
South. If on the contrary, we treat
this decision Of the people as not
final, the whole question is again
opened up for agitating discussion
and debate, the day of restored har-
mony and union indefinitely defer
red, and the peace and quiet of the
country again put in jeopardy.
Again, the new plan of reconstruc-
ton defeats the important guarantees
secured by the Amendment. By
section third of the Amendment, il
is effectually provided that the lead
ing men of the rebellion shall in the
future be cut off from all eflice and
political power under the General
Government in other words, that
men, who having taken au oath 10
support the Constitution and Gov
ernment, voluntarily committed trea-
son against that Government, shall
be deemed unworthy to be again
trusted with POLITICAL power. Uni
versal Amnesty will make the lead.
ing traitors OF the rebellion eligible
to the highest Offices within the gift
of the people, and restore TO them all
their former political power. These
men, for the present at least, can not
safely be thus trusted. This guaran-
tee must therefore be secured by the
adoption of the Amendment. So
with the other guarantees contained
in the Amendment. By giving up |
the Amendment, we likewise aban
don them. Believing all these guar
antees essential to sure and lasting
peace, we cannot consent TO sacsifice
them for the myth of universal am
nesty and impartial suffrage.
Nor do we believe the new plan of
reconstruction practicable. A few
here and there, both North and |
South. may favor it. On the one
hand, the extremists in the North
may be willing to purchase negro
suffrage even at the price of uniyer- /
sal amnesty TO traitors, while on the
other hand extremists in the South I
may be willing to yield the point OF
negro suffrage, if thereby they can
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