The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-11-07

Junatoly, Tor them anu lot INC IuJlOu,
the Ohio election has shown, before it
was too late, that it will consist with
tho will Of tho people to act in accor-
dance with such feelings and convic-
tions. l therefore most earnestly hope
that the conservative Republicans OF
Congress will dcthrono their dcspotic
leaders, keep out OF those pens Of po-
htical bondage called Congressional
caucuses, and take control of the two
Houses; for they can do it readily, if
each and all will but keep themselves
free to vote and act according to their
convictions, and thus represent each
his district, instead of ali representing
a caucus. And they should at once re-
cind all measures which operate as
mer c insult and annoyance TO intelli-
gent men of the South; give over the
effort TO establish negro government
by the Acknowledgement of the whites;
repeal their ordinances placing the
Southern States under military govern
mcnt, and make tho military thore
ngalu subordinate to the civil power,
and replace it where the Constitution
places 1t under the control of the exc.
cutivo-admit at once the loyal and
legally qualified Senators and Repre-
sentatIves, from the ten excluded
States, not making party adhesion II
tost Of either qualification " loyalty.
They will then have tho and and coun-
sci of the wisest and best men Of those
States, aud reconstruction will he pos
sIblc, and, in time, eilcctual. There
will still be, for n while, disturbance,
riots. crimes Of violence, and, perhaps,
local Instructions; Cor the public mind
which tended to settle down IN peace
nftcr the close of the war, and under
: the Presidents plan Of restoration, has
been again greatly agltated, and, un-
happily, the men most interested in
ro-establishing order, the men Of in
telligcnce, mun Of property, men who,
by their position in society, had IN
fuonce over the ignorant and unreas
oning masses, are placed under the ban
of the Union and thus rendered pow
crlNss-and all is left in tho hands of a
disorderly multitude, except IN 50 far
as they are restrained by military force
There never can be permanent recon-
struction until the intelligence of those
States is released from political bon
dage. When the ban is removed they
may soon regain their influence and
render efficient aid in the restoration
of order and domestic quiet and peace
and there is no danger Of TN Dir again
exciting or countenacing secession
the terrible calamiues which 1t has
brought upon them will be an endur
lng monitiun against it, and nothing
but actual and persistent oppression
will again drive them to revolt.
There arc, doubtless, very many
good patriots among us who diifol
from him, and think it better t. pun
ish the rebels than to restore tn,
Union; but such IS not the genera
: feeling Of our people. Generally they
would destroy the sin and spare thu
! sinner. Such seems to have been tn,
views and feelings which dictated the
action Of tho President, ana recent de
vrlopmcnts give US right to Conclud,
= that majority OF tho nation will ap
prove them. Certainly they will no
: consider 1t high crime and mlsde
a ueanor SO to think and so to act.
4 But he refused his sanction and sup
port to the constitutional amendmen
tho peace Offering Of the two House
, to the rebel States. True, but 1T is I
l. b0 remembered that none OF tho Seua
tors or members from the States who's
@ Constitutions were TO bo changed b.
= this measure of conciiation we're a
: lowed TO take theii seats in the Hous
L es Of Congi ess while 1T was under ds
t cusson or on its passage, and tn
Is States woro required to acoopt 1t IN
@ der penalty. Now, whether til
e President thought the measure wis
d ono or not, and its wisdom does ne
II instantly strike every candid minC
! he may we'll have disapproved il 0
o the ground that il originated and We
IT attempted so be carried through in
y manner not usual IN tho formation
70 Constitutions for free Republics. On
10 precedent only occurs in our politics
y history, namely. the attempt to fore
10 upon Kansas a pro.slavery Consttu
10 tion manufactured for her in Missouri
u That failed and ruined the party wi
10 attemptGdit. F. rrV
10 The President also disapproves
N the Reconstruction Acts, now in pr
't cess of being forced upon the SoutFcl
n States, and 1 concur with him. TT
A. measure strikes me as neither wIso
4 dst, Admit thatthe rebels are treatt
% in it with mercy; that they all doserv
ID death rs punishment for their treasC
ir without regard to the means by whiC
Q, they came or were forced into it; th
ls instead, they are merely placed
q, political bondage, undor their form
u slaves. Still tho punishment IS arb
70 rary and unlawful; ut has no constit
l. tional warrant, and no one is bound
OF submit to any longer constrained