Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-03
iSPpubliCaAiSIn,

We observed yesterday that we would
hail with delight the advent Of tie Radical
orators, g political missionaries, " to use the
language of Northern Radical organ,
g from the North, to enligllten the South
ern heather" if we supposed their action
and their promises bound their party to
speedy and certain reconstruction. If the
attempt to radicalize the South was an ear
nest of their determination to admit tie
excluded States into the Union, we would
their work and offer them every good wish
in their labors, but success. The credu-
lous who might look with distrust and pos
sibly with contempt upon the pledges Of
such nondescripts as Conway, are apt to
suppose that great party, controlling al
most every State recognized as in the Union,
shaping through the Congress of the United
States the destinies of the country, acting
through its National Executive committee
and speaking through its chosen and most
distinguished leaders, would not wilfully
and mischievously deceive people, whom
it has already, by hostile legislation, re-
duced to the last extremity. 1t might we'll
be supposed that common decency and Or
binary honesty would compel their recog
nized and honorable champions to keep
strictly within the bounds o. party instruc-
tons that their words of 60 enlightenment
to the Southern heather" would be in strict
accordance with the tenets of the Radical
bible that at least the high-priests, COM
ing Immediately and by official authority
from their political Mecca, would prove no
false prophets that what they preached
could be relied upon as ''by authority
Mr.. Wilson had hardly begun his South
ern canvass, when, possibly, warmed by the
welcome he had received and influenced by
prospective success, he gave some hopeful
promises to the Virginians, at Fortress
Monroe, in regard to early reconstruction.
The telegraph summary of his remarks
contained the following promise He
sc said there would be no impeachment to
&C Southern representatives i'll Congress if
&C they elected Union men," lie closed
his remarks "by asserting that he would
" leave Virginia with a full conviction that
s. a Republican Governor, Legislature and
" ttco Senator's. would be elected" This
glimmer of light, as feeble as it is, did not
escape the wakeful vigilance Of the Con-
gressional dictator, Thaddeus Stevens, who
takes immediate occasion, through the col
umns of the Washington Chronicle, to read
Mr.. Wilson and all future party orators a
lecture, which, if it does not cause them to
be more prudent in making promises and
peddling amnesty" will possibly open
the eyes of the Southern people to the
value of such pledges and pa1dons Mr..
Stevens says:
So No man shoria make promises for the party.
BY what authc r.ty does any one say that by the
election of loyal delegates they will be admitted
By what authority say that Virginia VIII elect two
loyal Senators, while in truth there is no Virginia
Much is to be done by the people and Congress
before any Representative Senator or State can
be recongnized. Who authorized any orator to |
say there would be no confscation, as in another |
place Those things are too fippantly said;
think they had better be gravely pondered.
"Who is authorized. to travel the country and