The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-05-24
EElc Radicals ia MarysaEsd

meeting OF radicals at Hagerstown. Mary
land, which Was addr ssed by Horace
Maynard, Senator Creswell, Hon. Frank
Thomas, General Garfield, and other we'll
known radical leaders The subjoined
resolutions were passed:
"Resolred, That we are alike opposed to
granting suffrage to the negro in Mary
land and representation of non-voting ne
groes by rebels, and therefore We fully and
completely indorse the constitutional a
mendment to the Constitution, basing rep
resentation on the voting population, and all
laws forever prohibiting the leading rebels
from holding any Office of confidence or
trust.
"Resolred, That we firmly believe that
safety and perpetuity of the republican
government, both State and National, de-
pend on the retention of power in the
hands of loyal mem and therefore that we
adhere to the doctrine that none but loyal
men should govern a State, even if their
number should be less than 5000"
The first resolution declares for the
pending constitutional amendment because
1T repudiates negro suffrage, and alleges
that it bases representation on the voting
population, and forever prohibits the lead
ing rebels from holding any Office of con-
tidence or trust. As there are now many
indications that the radicals in Congress
have determined to pass the amendment
and go before the country with it in the
next general elections, the construction
given to it by the prominent leaders in
that party in the Hagerstown meeting is
of much interest. They first emphatically
condemn the leading idea of the radical
party and commend the amendment for
ignoring it. They next aver that the
amendment bases representation on the
voting population. That is not true. The
South will accept proposition to make
the number of voters the basis of repre>
sentation if thereby her people may be in
sured against distranchisement and all
difficulties in the way Of admission be re-
moved. The amendment proposes to make
the number of voters the basis in the
Southern States, and to make the entire
population the basis in the other States.-
1t is therefore not only in contradiction of
the general principle Endorsed by the meet
ing, but it would prove partial and OPP
pressive in its workings. The resolutions
mistake the character of the amendment.
They were framed to meet popular SEN
timent in Maryland, or what was supposed
to be the popular sentiment Of the radical
party in that State. Such construction
of the amendment would not answer the
purposes of the party in Massachusetts,.
nor would General Garfield take the
stump in Ohio declaring himself to be in
favor OF the amendment because it repudi.
ated manhood suffrage" The resolutions
show the difficulties that will confront the
radicals in their effort to uphold their plan
OF restoration. Each State will require q
different explanation of it, and the incon>
sistencies and subterfuges to which thew
will be driven will more severely than ever
before task their capacity as thimble-rig,
gers. Their first effort has disclosed 9
split in Maryland
Governor Swami was announced as one
of the speakers who would be present and
address the meeting. In letter to the
Baltimore Amertcdn he says he gave nc
authority for the use of his name, and con
cludes his letter thus:
" look upon the war now being waged
upon President johnson as ungenerous, un
wise and uncalled for, and | believe tina,
its longer continuance will greatly en-
baras the national prosperity by keeping
alive state of uncertainty and distrust in
the public mind, both north and south
certain to eventuate in financial trouble
affecting the tide of immigration now flow.
ing IN upon us-the domestic commerce
between the States-and exercising most
destructive and paralizing influence gen.
country"
Ex-Governor Bradford was also adver-
tised as among those whose attendance was
expected. In card to the same newspa
per he says the announcement was without
a at hOrlty. How keenly the radicals felt
the refus,, ',f Messrs. Swami and Bradford
to indorse the congressional Tlan of recon
struction and their adherence to President
johnson, may be inferred from the subs
joined comment by the Baltimore Ameri-
can.
"The time has arrived when the Union
party must have no cOncealments of It's
views and purposes. What has heretofore
been in doubt is now ma lie stubborn fact
by this definition of the views of the Gov
ernor, and as he has thrown his influence
into the scale with those who are endeavor.
Ing to sell out the party in Maryland, the
issue must be accepted and manfully met
at the threshold. We must now 20 into
the coming contest with new leaders, a.
most ofMose achom ire hare hitherto de-
lighted to honor hare prored .fadhless t.
trust reposed IN theme"
1t is not in Maryland only that the rad
icals must go into the coming contest with
new leaders, because most of those whom
they have hitherto delighted to honor have
iorsaken them. TO bring the discordant
elements in the Republican party to &
hearty support of that which all of those
elements detest and have openly con-
demned, is task such as has never before
been undertaken by political party in
! this country, and if successfully accom-
plishcd, will prove skill in the leader.
of that party and a subservience to disci'
pine in the rank and file which no pres
Indications Droo,lap,