The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-08-30
POLITICAL ARTICLES.
From the Missouri Democrat.
The Plot Unfolding,

The plot by which rebels hope to re-
4 gain power and to upset everything that
the war has done, is rapidly being devel
oped and disclosed Either an overween-
ing confidence Of success, caused by
President Johnson's recent course, or .
natural recklessness of disposition has
i prevailed over the caution that ordinary
prudence would suggest, and has led TO
a somewhat premature revelation of the
schemes. Or, perhaps, with that Gun
ming which so often overreachcs itself,
the conspirators have calculated upon
1 bunting the natural horrors of the North
ern people for violent and revolutionary
measures, by unveiling them gradually
in advance, and familiarizing the public
mind with the most repuisive features.
/ Whatever the cause, the purpose and
even the details of the plot are now a
matter of public notoriety.
First, all organizations or movements
of Southern Union men are to be pre-
vented, crusheda out, OR SO far suppress
ed as to gain as little influence as posi-
BILE. This, that doubling men of the
North may not be taught too soon the
| vital antagonism between the pretended
loyalty which musters now under the
| banner Of my policy but which, two
years ago, fought under the stars and
bars, and the genuine loyalty of the
South which has been faithful even
unto death to the. Union. Hence the
necessity of the New Orleans riot,
and of the threats which are made in
Southern States against loyal men who
may attend the Philadelphia Conven-
ton.
Next, a combination of Copperheads,
deluded but honest Conservatives. and
renegade Union men bought up by Fed
eral patronage, will elect as many mem
hers as possible to the next Congress.
Even the widest johnson man does not
hope that this combination can elect a
majority of the legally entitled members
of that body. But the plan is to elect
enough if possible from the States now
entitled to representation to make, with
the elements from States entitled to re
presentation, majority of the whole
number.
The next step is to force upon the
country a bogus Congress, composed of
the Copperheads of the North, and the
rebels from the States not yet entitled to
representation.
These together, outnumbering the
members from States entitled to repre-
sentation, will present themselves at the
opening of Congress and demand that
claimants from rebel States he permit
ted to vote in the organization. The
Clerk will refuse to call them if he does
his duty.
4 Then the rebels will choose Speaker
by ths force Of numbers, persons not en-
titled to vote making up the r-etended
majority, and the bogus organization
thus effected will call upon the Presi-
dent for recognition as the Congress,
and for the use of force to sustain it in
it's infamous usurpatiOn. If the loyal
members resist, they may be arrested by
the President, or delivered over to an
other mob like that in New Orleans
Should the people of the loyal States
resist, the conspirators expect that
the President will be able to ''sup-
press the insurrection" of loyal men
against rebels-of the people against
usurpers.
So much accomplished, the work of
restoring the pro-slavery Government Of
Pierce and Buchanan is easy. First, the
loyal Governments of Missouri and
Tennessee will be set aside as unrepub-
lican by the bogus Congress, and loyal
men put under the feet of rebels. With
Federal bayonets to help rebel, Congress
men and State officers can be chosen in
those States and in part of the other
loyal States, and the usurpation thus
made secure. TRAITORS to this us
urped power will also be weeded out
of the Supreme Court, and court or
ganized of reoels and of rebel sympath-
izers.
Then comes the restoration of slavery.
This bogus court will declare that the
anti slavery amendment was never le-
fo1 fho
States were cast under the direction of
the President-under duress. Or else,
the State Gov ernments organized under
the Presidents proclamatiens will be de-
clared null and void as has been decided
by Judge Ruffin of North Carolina--a
decision which would secure him a place
in the rebel Supreme Court. These Gov
eruments being void, their acts of ratif-
cation and their State constitutions abel
ishing slavery will be declared void, and
| the Constitution Of Judge Taney and
the Dred Scott decision will be pro-
claimed, new State Governments being
framed meanwhile at the South under
the old slave Consultations. True, in all
this there are glaring Inconsistencies
President declaring his own efforts for
the abolition of slavery to have been law
| less usurpations. pronouncing null and
void ratification which he had once
pronounced valid, and deuouncing the
State Governments which he had Gre
I ated-but these contradictions are not
more glaring or shameless than some
that We have already witnessed
One more step and the work will be
| complete. The national debt will be re
pudiated. pensions for loyal soldiers will
be repealed, and men who have been
s'disloyaf' to the rebel government in
Missouri or other States must be dis
franchised and otherwise punished
Than the work will be done, Buchanan
may assist a. the Inauguration Of JEFF.
Davis in 1869, and Toombs may call the
roll of his slaves under the shadow of
Bunker Hill Monument. These will be
marvellous changes, but they are bold,
I active, able and utterly unscrupulous
men who nave nothing of honor to lose,
no sentiment of duty or patriotism to
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