Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-04-26
81. gainesville, Ohio, April 26.
Radicalisrn and Conservatism
tFtOm uarpers' w,eklyl

Ohn ~ uuNuGS Ol CONSERVATISM
aud Radicalism will be applied to the op.
posing policies, while the history of such
governments shows that the policy which
truly conserves the principle and spirit of a
free system Is that which is called Radical
ism. In the conflict of opinion in England
before our Revolution George III and DR..
johnson wore tho stifcst Of tory Conserva-
tives, and saw in the doctrines and policy Of
Edmund Burke nothing but radicalism and
the overthrow of the monarchy. But Burke
was the true Conservative. His policy
would have saved the empire upon its own
principles.
In this country at this moment both Radi-
ealism and Conservatism, as the names of a
policy of national reorganization, are very
easily defined and co~mprehended. Thus
Radicalism holds that the late rebel States
should not be suffered to take part in the
Government of the Union which they have
30 zealously strlven to destroy except after
searching inquiry into their condition, and
upon terms which shall prevent any advan-
tage having been gained by rebellion. By
the result OF the war the suffrage of a voter
In South Carolina weighs as much as the
vote OF two voters in New York. Is that a
desirable state of things? Would any fair
minded voter in South Carolina claim that
he ought to have a preference in the Union
because, however honestly, he has rebelled
against III Radicalism, therefore, favors
an equalization of representation as a con-
dition precedent to the full recognition of
the disturbed States, and every citizen of
those States who sincerely desires national
unity and peace will favor it also.
Radicalism holds that equal civil rights
before the law should be guaranteed by the
United States to every citizen. It'claims
that.the Government which commands tho
obedience of every citizen, shall afford him
protection, and that the freedom which the
people of the United States have conferred,
the people of the United States shall main
tain. Is that a perilous claim? Is any
other course consistent with the national
safety or honor2
Once more Radicalism asserts that, as
the national welfare and permanent union
can be established only upon justice, there
should be no unreasonable political disfran-
chisement of any part of the people. 1t de.
MES that complexion, or weight,or hight are
reasonable political qualifications, and it re.
ters to the history Of tho country to show
that they have not always been 50 regarded
even in some of tho late slave States, and
remembers that both President johnson
aud his predecessor were friends of i'm.
partial suffrage. Holding this faitn, Radi
calIsm urges that while we may honestly
dltter AS to the wisest means of securing
political equality, yet that all our efforts
should constantly tend, with due respect for
the proper and subordinate functions OF the
States in our constitutional system, to pro.
tect those equal rights of man with whose
assertion our Government began, and in
consequence of whose denial that Govern.
mont has just escaped the most appalling
fate.
This is Radicalism. Is it unfair? Is il
unconstitutional? Is it anarchical or revolu.
tionaryp 1t denies no mans rights. tide.
prives no man Of power or privilege. Ii
claims from the National Government moth.
ing which is not inseperable from the idea
OF such a Government. Does it demand
anything that every prudent AMI patriotic
man ought not to be willing to concede p
Tho views of Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens and Of
Mr.. Sumner, sincerely entertained and in.
geniously defended as they are, are not the
Radical policy. MIR. Stevens holdsthat the
disturbed States are conquered provinces in
which the land should be confscated, as that
OF Ireland has been three times over without
giving. Ireland peace. Does anybody sup.
pose that even the House, which respects
Mr.. Stevens sturdy fidelity to his own con.
vIctions, agrees with him, or that the
National Union party holds his view? Mr..
Sumner hold, that equal suffrage should be
required OF the absent States as a condition
OF representation, and in a Radical Senate
which passed the Civil Rights bill over the
veto by 4 vote of 80 to Is, Mr.. Summers
proposition obtained 3 votes. These gen.
tlemen, of course, support the radical policy,
but they do not shape it. The opinion Of
the Union party are to be found, as President
johnson says, in the party platform. The
policy OF the Radicals.is to be seen in thu
measures they adopt; and of the forty-twC
bills which at the time Of the last veto the,
had presented TO the President, he had sign
cd forty.
In our present political situation, Con
seryatism is the policy which declares tina,
the late rebel States are already in a con
dltion to resume their full functions in The
Union, and which denounces Congress foI
presuming to inquire whether that opinion
10 we'll founded. 1t denies to Congress
that is, to the representatives of the loya
people who have maintained the Govern
ment the authority to look behind the Gre
dentials OF any man who comes from a State
still painting with rebellion. AMI ascertain
the origin and validity Of the authority thai
issued the credentials. 1t objects to the
Legislation OF Congress while eleven States
are unrepressnted, without reference TO the
reason Of their absence, thus virtually main
tanning the monstrous proposition that Q
combination OF States, by refusing to be
represented, may prohibit national legisla
,iop. Ii denies that the United States oughl
10 protect tho equal civil rights oil oiti,
gems before tho law, aud would admit the
absent States to Congress before requiring
their assent 10 an amendment equalizins
representation. Conservatism is tie policy
which, forgetting that the United State,
are bound by every moral obligation TO secure
the freedom which they have conferred,
apparently believes that freedom will be the
best maintained and tho national peace
most truly established by leaving those OF
every color who were heroically faithful 10
the Government during the rebellion 20 the
exclusive mercy Of those who sought to
destroy il.
These are the distinctive points of the
Conservative policy. Are they agreeable 10
an honorable and intelligent people? And
Of what is this policy conservative? If of
the Constitution aud Onion. it will ofcourse
BIO earnestly supported by their true and
tried friends. Is il so supported? Who
are the present Conservatives? Who sbont'
and sing, and fire cannon, aud ring bells in