St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-15
The ReactiOnary Policy.


power, contents itself with denunciation,
appeals to the lowest prejudice, and
claims to be the peculiarly conservative
party of the country. lis policy, if it
should return to power, must be inferred
from its antecedents and the principles
announced by its orators and organs. It's
view OF the origin of the present pollti-
cal situation is evident from the views of
those who speak for it, and this view
must dictate its measures. Thus. at the
late democratic meeting in the city OF
New York the chief speakers were Mr..
James 5. Thayer, Mr. VOORHEES, of Indi-
ana, Mr.. Cox, Mr. O'Gorman, and Mr..
Montgomery Blair. The latter gentle
mans performances and opinions are of
no 81 gnlicance, because he is 4 mere po-
liiical shyster. But the four others are
representative men Of the democratic
party, They were all known during
the war as the most virulent copper
heads.
Mr.. O'Gorman, indeed, spoke at the
great New York meeting after the fall of
Sumter, and urged :. show of force to
persuade the southern brethren to see
that they had made mistake but the
fighting. ii there were to be any. he beg
ged might be Of the most iraternal char
acter and he had no conception whatever
then, nor does he seem ever to have ac-
qulred any, OF the real nature and necesi-
~ OF the great struggle. When the war
really began Mr.. Ottoman opposed it.
and denounced the government with a
bitterness which was nowhere surpassed.
Mr.. 1hayer was an open and frank ad-
vocatc OF secession; and declared that il
what he called Il revolution were to take
place, 1t should begin at home in the free
states. Mr.. Voorhees, was implicated in
the conspiracy of ''thc Sons OF Liberty
and ''knightS of the Golden CircIe,' and
declared with teryUr that he would never
vote one dollar. one man, or one gun 10
carry Oh the war Mr. Cox. was of OBJ
rnlon that Lincoln and Davis uunht 10
nc brought TO the same block together. -
ihc>e orators spoke for the democratic
party then Is they speak for it now. The
war, III their opinion, WAS unconstitu-
tlonal, unnecessary. and wicked. 1t was
occa>lonel by the a-grc->ions of the free
states upon the rights of the slave states.
Upon the ab:iraci question Of slavery
these gentlemen held the doctrines of
their party. The negro was of an in
icrlor race slavery tended To civiIize
linn and whether SIT, cry were right or
WRONG it was none OF our business. To
condemn slavery r-a> % poison the
wells" ri our southern brothers: il was
to breed discussion it was to toment
dI>union
Such Were IT,: views Of the represent
tailvc democrats before and during the
war. Since the surrender OF Lee they
have declared. upoa all occasions. that
arms r;tyin" been laid down every thin"
returns 10 lis previous condition: and
the only constitutional method of dealing
with tine situation l. To iniict and try 4.
many persons ior treason ~ NAV he
thought wise. vt the same time thew de-
cry such 4 cou:Se a~ imp1iitic. Tie
Iolicy OF reconstruction. therefore. which
Il party holding such views must neces-
>arl!y put INFO practice. should it regain
bower. Is that which springs from the
theory that the rcI,el.ion is now a sup
pressed riot. and that il is impolitic to
prosecute any riottr During the war
the democratic party denied the constilu-
tIomal power OF the commandcr-in-chiet
to emancipate slaves. and propheSiel n
Seryile in-urrcction and universal mas>a-
ere OF tie white population OF the rebel
states Is the inevitable consequences OF
emancipation. But the party now gem
orally acquiesces in the fact Of the free
doEl of the late slaves. Ii insists. how
ever. that congress, has no authority what
ever to entr;nch>e them politically. and
prophcSleS, as a consequence OF negro
voting. tie lapse OF the late rebel states
into Il barbari~m Is universal Is the mas
sacrc which i. iorctold n the consequ-
cnce OF emancipation. The democratic
policy OF reconstruction would therefore
he the stlrrcnier of the emancipated class
OF the population, What kind of care
that would be, what justice or mercy
slaves cmtnci pa;ed as Il means of sub
dun" their masters might expect from
their masters after they were sc:hdued,
experience and c)mmon-Scn>c assures us.
nder the name of fraternity the demo-
cratic policy would replace Davis and
ToombS i'll the senate. and Lee in the
army. Under tie name of Cancellation
1t would intrust the political prosperity
ottcn States to those who 10 not disguise
their reLrcttul reverence for bafiled rebel
lion. AZ it formerly BETRAYED human
nature and struck ut nationality under
the plea OF State sovereignty, 81 it would
net di~homor the nation and outrage JUS
ticc under the Maine of Cancellation and
heavenly GOODWILL.
Yet The chief Democratic argument Is
an appeal to hatred 1t cxpenIS its
force and eloquencr in deilming the ne
gro. lis highest strain is that this is 4
Whit mans government. which Is true
as Il matter OF fact. since otthirty million
Of people only four are colored. But it
is wholly untrue Rs an argument for the
exclusion of colorcd men from the suE-
fra@e. for there has never been time in
the history of the country when they
have not voted in some of the States.
BY incessant denunciaiions OF .'nigger
equality" as well as by the most con-
temptible falSehoods, the Democratic par
ty tries to infiame tie hostility Of race.
While in the city of New York and else
where in the North there is no degree OF
bestlality into which 4 white being can
sink 50 low that he is no. still a good
enough voter and an Intelligent fellow
citizen, yet the colored man every where
- of nonoSsitv of ~, ;,T,,.,,r, 49, 49,: