Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-05-04
The Connecticut Elections.
Letter of Senator Ferry.

Ys ---..
Senator Orris S. Ferry, of Connecticut.
has written letter, in which he shows
] the essential result of the Connecticut
election. :" If" he says, ''the Democracy
had in the last election maintained the
principles they held in 1861 and '63, they
would have been beaten now as they
were then. The very circumstances un-
der which our opponents have won their
partial victory, evince wonderful pro-
gress in political sentiment during the
last few years. The Democratic eparty
OF Connecticut viii never again, as in
1861, assert, in a deliberately adopted
platform, the right of secession, or deny
the7power of the Federal Government to
coerce rebellious State; for they have
succeeded now only by setting up a can
didate who has always condemned seces-
sion, and who voted men and money to
coeree rebellious States. The Democratic
party of Connecticut will never again
deny the right of the people to abolish
slavery, for it has been the principal re-
commendation of MIR. English that he
voted to abolish slavery ''''
He proceeds to say that the reason Of
the present defeat is this: {: That the Re-
publican party has advanced from its
former position-has, in consequence of
the rejection by the South of the Consti-
tutional Amendment, taken new and
higher ground. His remarks on.this head
are worthy of careful attention.. as they
show how shallow are the appearances of
victory over which the Democracy now
gloat. 5g a5rass a.. 81 yf..-.. ..s.r,,
"The Reconstruction bills essential
demands were three: The ratification of
the Constitutional Amendment above re-
| ferred to-; the substitution of popular suf-
! frage for class suffrage in the reorganiza-
tion of their political systems, and the
return of the States in question to the
exercise ofall their functions in the Union
The military features of the bill are mere
ly temporary and incidental-use and
necessary, indeed, for the protection of
| life and property in the present chaotic
condition of society there, but destined,
by the very provisions of the act, to pass
away as soon as the States should resume
their place in the Federal system. Isl
"Now, it is true that the necessity and
expediency of this bill were directly in
issue with the election of last Monday
A majority of our people-no matter un-
der what influences, no matter what mis-
taken impression, no matter how much
turned aside by local or personal consid-
eration-did, last Monday, cast their
votes against the bill, and Mr.. English's
majority of 900 shows the exact prepon-
derance of sentiment in Connecticut, on
that day, in reference to that particular
mode of reconstruction.
g In my Judgment, the fact is demon
strated by this election that both the
true, intelligent opinion and the majority
of votes in our State will sustain the bill,
in all its details, before another year shall
have passed. The advance of our princi-
Piles in popular favor since the close of
the war has been wonderful On the
first Monday of October, 1S65-eighteen
months ago-less than 10000 of our citi-
zens could be persuaded to go to the polls
and vote for popular suffrage against
class suffrage in Connecticut. Now pop
ular suffrage lacks but 900 votes of the
majority of the people of the State, for
|
Hawley knew what he was voting for.
The Reconstruction bill was passed with:
in month prior to the election. 1t had
not been generally printed and circulated.
It's terms were studiously misrepresented
by its opponents, and its true character
was misunderstood by thousands who
voted against it. Of those who voted
for Mr.. English fully one-hah were of
foreign birth, many hundreds of whom
had been but a few weeks naturalizcd,
and all were assured that the bill estab-
lished military despotism like those of
the Old World, from which they had
sought refuge here. Under such cir
cumstances, the meagerness of the ma
jority against us is a proof that time, dis
cussion and reflection will give us back,
before another election, a vastly greater
majority than that which has been tran
silently voted against us. - .''in "
y" What then remains? Let, us speak
plainly. We must be true to the princi-
Piles on which we have fought this fight.
we must proclaim boldly exactly what
we. mean The Republican party pro
| .-eH $3.50 80 - u =,
1st. Loyalty to the Republic, as in
dissoluble and perpetual. .. .>,I + ,d
:" I'd. Popular suffrage as opposed to
class suffrage. s1 eii ui a.. s f.ae
" &C Sd. The entire restoration of the
Union in the mode prescribed by Con
gress. ~ eI-.taisst -- 81. .1,5y
"Upon this platform we are secure.
Temporary defeat will be the only pre-
cursor of a great victory. The Southern
communities will accept the terms of the
Reconstruction act, and will be repro
sented in the Fortieth Congress. The
next President of the United States will
be nominated and elected by the ,Repub-
lican party and just, durable and be
neficent peace viii take the place of the
strifes which have darkened the past
and whose clouds have not entirely dis
appeared from the horizon of. the pres
ent." .,ar .- s-,fi ..f....f.
SENATOR WILSON'S experiment at pub
lie discussion at the South was SO salts
factory to himself that he proposes to re
new it and Oh an, extended scale. Prob
ably his example will be followed by
: other Northern statesmen. 1t is well fol
the Southern people to'be brought into
personal contact with representative mer
kof the North. particularly of the Radlca