The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-12-21

existence. Hence, unless it can be shown
that mere territory is the life oftho nation, {"
il is nil balderdash and downright demagog.
ism to talk about the War as one for the life
of the Nation, The actual truth is, it was a
War inauguratcd by the abolitionists, head
ed by Lincoln, to abolish Slavery, and to en-
rich and perpetuate the Radical party in
power.
The next subject we shall notice is Recon.
struction. Gov. Woods endorsed and defend.
ed the present Reconstruction Policy of Con.
gress, in the abstract and in the concrete
in letter and spirit; and in doing SO he piled
up sophistry worse than ever. 1t is impos
sible, however, for US to follow him in detail.
We have neither the time nor room for this
at present. OF course no could not speak
fully on Reconstruction without referring to
Negro Suffrage and Negro Equality general.
". Take away these from Reconstruction
and you deprive it of its marrow-its back.
bone-its essence-its vitality. The Cover
nor claimed that his party wero forced, by
the rebels themselves, first to free the ne.
groes next to make soldiers of them and
thirdly to give them the ballot; and he de-
clared these several steps to be right ito be
in strict accordance with all standard authors
on International Law. In other words, he
most emphatically endorsed the doctrines of
Negro Suffrage, and Negro Equality. But
III the next breath he virtually stated that he
was not in favor Of having either of these
dogmas here in Oregon. Negroes should not
vote here with his consent and herein he
manifests his demsgOgism. If negroes in
the South should Yote-if it is a natural
God given right" as Gov. w. claimed -
then all negroes, whether in Alabama or Or.
egon, shonld be enfranchisei. There should
be no Determinations; and the Radical party
are actually carrying out this policy. The
negroes, in all the Southern States, are en-
franchised; and not only placed on an equal
ity with the white man, but raised above him
in many respects. So of the Territories -
the negro votes, or may do so, in all the Ter
ritories. And by the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution, every person born in the
United States is citizen, and every citizen
is clothed with the elective franchise; hence,
as Thad. Stevens justly and logically con.
tends, everybody and black-of every
tribe, kindred and tongue, and every nation.
ality, born on American soil, may vote and
none can hinder. Moreover. while Governor
Woods was in California, canvassing for Cor.
ham, he took substantially the above posi-
tons He shall not be allowed now to dodge
the issne.
Sometimes what public man omits to say
is as ominous as anything be can utter
Gov Woods found time 10 discuss several
dead issues at length; bat he failed utterly
to give US bis views on the Banking System,
the taxing of U. s. Bonds, the Tariff, or to
propose a plan for the liquidation of the
National Debt. We regard bis utter silence
as ominous, and as indicating his desire u
thrust them in the back ground and keep
them in allegiance.
In closing this somewhat lengthy article
we desire to say that we entertain for Gov.
Woods, personally, none but the kindliest of
feelings. We are dealing with him. at pres
ent, as a politician and he must take the
blows usual in such cases. We regard him
as the ablest speaker belonging to the Radi-
Gals in Oregon. But he is not statesman.
He lacks profundity. lie skins over the
surface very gracefully, just as swallow
gyrates through the air. lie has an easy
flow Of good language, his action is easy and
graceful, and some Of his sentences are quite
impassioned. He is very ingenious, and
eyinces fair knowledge of human nature
but be lakes depth, He is not profound /:
and hence will never rise to the dignity Of a
statesman.