Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-08
from the Ohio Statesman.l
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Editor Of the Ohio Statesman:
Thinking that one who for the last four
months has been quietly observing the cur
rent of events far away from the strife and
passions OF political contest. might perhaps
be able to discuss more caohy the crisis
through which our republican torr, of Gov.
ernnent Is now passing, AJAX space in your
columns.
Over two years has elapsed since all re.
sistance to the Federal Government has ceased
and our armies have been disbauded. because
the rebels since Gen. Lees surrender have in
good faith cndeavOred to abide by its terms.
Personal observation, much better test than
newspaper sensation fiction, has proved to me
that the great mass OF them are now busy re-
building their fences, sowing and renpnr
their crops, and endeavoring to improve their
material pecuniary interest without scarcely
ever talking on political topics, except to eX
press the opinion that the destiny of all the
peol le of the country will be common. and
all share alike the same fate. Yet the laws
OF peace have not succeeded those of war. and
the Union Is not restored because UsuRPING
Congressional majority has perverted the
aVowed object OF the war, for which the whole
country poured out its blood and treasure.
INTO bitter contest for the perpetuation of
mere party ascendancy by pructicol sus-
pension OF the Constitution OF the United
States.
y military despotism has been enacted over
one-tEird OF our tcllow~citizcns, not because
they are in rebellion against the Constitution
OF the United States, or the laws passed in
pursuance thereof, but because it is feared
they will not vote the same party ticket as
the present Congressional majority Ten
States are to be deprived of any voice in our
Government until thcy agree to become the
perpetual thralS of Il revolutionary fnctiop.
whose leaders have the unblushinm aulacity
to threaten to enforce or remit the confiscItion
iaw>-raSscd to punish traitors as Il sort of
Inducement to compel acguiescence in their
own IotH'coL dogmas. Indeed, the punish.
ment of treason as fixed by the law in force
at the time of its commission is not a part of
the Radical programme, for no effort has been
made 10y these over righteous luyaliSts to en-
force its provisions against Il Sinyie individual.
rs this would be AN admission that the Cons
stItutlon Of the United States furnished the
rule by which rebels were to be treateL, in
stead of the vagrInt war power set up by
Ihad. Stevens under the plea of beilgcrent
rights to justify Congressional URSURPATICN
III enacting negro suffrage and other enormi-
ties On the contrary. Jefferson Davis, the
representative man of the rebellion. has hcen
released, because iefJuS,ice Chase shirked
the official responsibility of trying him. while
Judge Underwood aud Horace Gr5cIey. his
creatures, cOntrived to let him 90 on bail TO
SdCe their master from further embarrassment
and in pursuance of the same line of policv
Postmaster General Reagan. General Long.
street and every prominent rebel who came
out Tor negro suffrage was at once received
with open arms into the Radical church in full
nj. FF-r# Of II
hypOcritcs would fiin make the dear people
believe that treason is in ifscLf very odious to
them, and loyalty in fighting for the Old fag
special recommendation. the sincerity OF
which has been fully tested by the Radical
Senate rejecting every battle Scared soldier
before them for confirmation. who did not fall
down and worship the black Baal they had
set up, or slip in 10y some Lo, gain his friends
may have been compelled to make as to the
distribution of the spuils Of office The truth
*. the Radical Jacobin leaders never regard
cd treason CRIME to be punished according
to law. for most of them advocated allowing
the Southern States ITO slide" out of the
Union so rs to leave them political maiori-
ty, and now by unconstitutional bills of at
taluder and military commission sccE. merely
to turn to political advantage what thcv hail.
cd with delight at the time. and rcrardcd as
would afford them an opportunity Of cousum-
mating long cherished project of propaga-
ting their own peculiar tcncts by fire and
sword. Hence the clap trap talk Of their
stumpers now OF the contest being trans lerrcd
from the cartridge box to the ballot boy. when
they very well EH0ic it the mass OF the people
"t all parties had not practically sustained the
Government if putting down the rebellion
the war would have been failure. The ren-
pie honesty fought to preserve the Union and
enforce submission to the Constitution of the
United States, to save to all the common ben
ch;S of ONE Government and not to establish
the supremacy of the arbitrary will of the
Congressional majority. unchecked bv cousti
tutionaI oaths or limitations pnd protesting 10
exercise powers in oac State that it does not
possess in GHo'hcr.
1t Is well known that until the death of
President L'ncoin the present monStrnus doc
trines OF the .Iucobn leaders were held in
abcyancc, and the change of front was an after
thought to preserve Office in the hands of a
certain set Of stay at-home shoddy politicians.
who had iatrenCd on Office and contracts while
their country was bleeding at every pore, and
therefore, like the silversmiths of Ephesus,
they raised an out cry at any settlement on
the restoration Of peace, by which this, our
craft Is IN danger to be set at uaught."
The secession leaders at the Charleston
Convention broke up the Democratic party to
obtain Pretext for disuuion. because they
feared "A particular clique could not continue
to hold office any longer, and now the con-
trolling faction in the 80. called Union rartv
is playing the same game to perpetuate in
their own hands the Offices. for fear that the
restoration of the Union will transfer them TO
others. But the same fate ultimately awaits
both classes of consPirators when the people
understand their projects. and learn that
their innate patriotism and love of the TnioD