American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-17
SMistfilameuus.
The Democratic Indictment.

resolutions of the late State Convention
of the Democratic party of Pennsylva-
nia is what may be termed an indict-
ment of the Republican party for often
ces alleged to have been committed by
the dominant majority in the last Con-
gress. As the record Of that Congress
has been discussed over and over again
In the press and elsewhere, it seems like
an old story to speak ofthe matter again.
But the Democratic Indictment does so.
1t tells us that we have "overthrown the
Constitution. We thought that we
we're still governed by that charter of
liberty, and we were rather strengthen
ed in the belief by the incsssant appeals
Of Democrats to that charter to bear
them out in their partisan views. We
were under the impression that accord>
ing to that charter we were suffering
from the denominations of a Democratic
administration after we had elected a
Republican President, and supposed we
had also chosen Republican Vice Pres
ident.
We really thought that under the pro-
lection of the Constitution jefferson Da-
Wis had been let loose on bail, and the
Indiana rebels set free because they had
been tried by court martial, and the
test oath nuliied by the Supreme Court,
and John II. Surratt allowed civil trial
and the ordinary rules of procedure ap-
piled to the rebel attempts to upset the
executive authority in the south. So
strong has been the public belief that
tho Constitution is still triumphant that
the pending amendment to that instru-
ment, though overwhelmingly adopted
by Congress and the loyal States, is yet
not considered part of the Constitu>
tion, because it has not been ratified by
the Secretary Of State. If, however
the Constitution be everthrown, why all
the struggle over that amendment!
On closer examination, however, we
are inclined to think that the Democrat
ic Convention meant 10 charge us with
eyerthrowing the Constitution in Pick
wickian sense. They consider it over
thrown for partisan electioneering effect
IN their own ranks, but in full force to
restrain the Republicans at every step
In this respect they very much resemble
the rebels, who made war to destroy the
nation itself, Constitution and all, and
then come back prating of being de.
prived of their constitutional rights. "
In the same sense we must holi the
charge that we have "dismembered the
Union" We made war to prevent that
very thing We succeeded in keeping
the whole nation together, and now we
are told that we have dismembered it
Worse still, it seems, according to this
platform, that we have "subverted re-
publican government" Do tell us how,
when, where At the close of the war
no Congress was in session, and conse>
.quently the Republicans in that body
could not have subverted anything tiLtil
they met IN December. The govern
ments Of the conquered States we're SUBJ
verted by Andrew johnson, now head of
the Democratic party, of his own will,
upon no authority whatever, and with no
Republicans aiding.
We might here stop and ask attention
to the cool assurance of these charges,
we've it not that the people are aocus'
toned to this sort of reckless auiacity
from Democratic conventions The very
party that fomented rebellion to destroy
the Constellation, the Union and republic.
can government, deliberately charges the
offence against the party that thwarted
its schemes, that saved the Constitution,
the Union and the republican govern>
ment, and has gwen them to the people
better, purer, stranger and grander than
ever. As forrepublican government, the
thing at the south bearing that name was
an imposition. 1t was an oligarchical
government and nothing else. The peo>
pie had no power there, and never could
have had any under such a system. Our
reconstruction bills secure truly republi>
can governments to every one of the ten
States, based upon impartial
suffrage. If the Constitution be over~
thrown because it no longer tolerates
slavery, and because, in fact, it now pro-
hibits that iniquity, then the Democrat.
ic statement is true. If the Oonstitu-
tloh 10 oFStbuiuhA F'6CduSG ISDGiS 1TG uUb
allowed to march back triumphantly into
Congress with colors flying and drums
beating, boasting of their deeds of blood
in the cause of treason, prosecuting
southern loyalty as high offence, and
prepared, by holding the Senate powers
less and backed by the President, to
prevent all progress at reconstruction,
then, indeed, is the Democratic state
ment true. If the Constitution is over,
thrown because States containing twelve
millions of people are no longer allows
ed to be governed despotically by mi
nority of S00,00 persons, according to
their own interests, policy and views,
then again our opponents are correct in
saying so. Ii the Constitution is over
thrown because four millions OF human
beings are no longer deprived of civil
and political rights in legal manner to
defend themselves and the cause of the
Union against oligarchs. outlaws, rebels
and traitors, then again do we say the
Democrats are right. We plead guilty
to the indictment on those conditions ,aHd
on none other. If our Democratic op-
ponents are anxious to accept the issue
on such a basis, we should be glad to be
Informed of the fact
Have we dismembered the Union be-
raus.a xra nrarantad tbai rahal Stntps from