The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-06-06
Aa1Enf6AR nECoNsTRUTIoN.
English Views OF the RadlcnI
ROIicy I'm COngress-HOw the
aomth IL Governed.

The present state Of affairs in that
vast part Of the continent of North
America which has its center in
Washington, must be an interesting
subjeet OF contemplation TO every
thoughtful man. TO the student of
history, to the political theorist, to the
partisans IF democratic or aristoc.
ratio forma of government, to tho
practical 'pbilRnlhropist, 10 optimists
an such questions as the future of
America and the development Of our
taee, to philosophers, in fact, os every
shade and hue, this crisis offers a spec
tacle as strange as IL is novel-disap-
pointing, II not unexpected; paradox
ical, If not altogether unnatural. The
fathers OF the republic, when they cast
Oft their connection with Great Britain
and his mon1rchical traditions. estab-
lished their commonwealth on the
brcadest basis of individual liberty
that had e7er yet been asserted or
claimed by men. Ali men. they said,
were free and equal. The several
communities into which this country
was already divided were to govern
themsel les freely and absolutely by
the independent vote Of all their citi.
Gems. The Federal Congress and the
Federal Government ut Washington
represented the Union OF States in its
foreign relations, but at home was as.
much restrained in Its authority as the
executive Of the most limited mon
Archy known IN Europe. x 4
The Rump Congress which now gov.
ern the American people has brought
matters to something very much like
a reductio dd absurddm. Either the ten
Southern States are a part Of the Uni
on, or they are not. II they are not,
Congress has no p0perto make ,drS for
them any more than it has Tor Canada
or Mexico. Ifthey are, they have a
right to representation in both houses,
granted by the original Constitution
of The Union, uhich has never yet been
dbro1dted, and cannot, indeed, be set aside
1cithout their consent. The Northern
Congress, however, mas its army,
which the South has no longer, and the
power is to deny to the Southern
States all share in the government, to
question ever their right TO consider
themselves as States all. 1t deprives
the six millions Of Southern men of all
political and civil rights, treating them
Ike red Indians, except in this, that
the latter have the advantage IN not
being taxed. All this has been siren
nously opposed by the President, but
to no purpose, as the Radicals in both
houses have passed the bills over his
~nfA hN- ~, a.nniftna rs mono 49,, N,.a
thirds. The last act and climax of
this injurious system of oppression has
been what. is called the Reconstruction
act, which places tho South undor
martial law, and assigns TO il five mil
itary governors, with special depart
ments.
The South ia now under q military
despotism, and all civil law whatever
Is in allegiance. The soldiers in com
mand are men Of Of character, gentle
men and Christians, and we believe
them incapable Of the ferocious un.
fairness displayed towards the South
by the notorious radicals Sumner, But
Ter and Stevens, who seem TO carry all
before them in the Washington Par.
ty. Gen. Sickies insists,thatFt the fire.
men of Charleston shall defile before n
federal flag, and make solem" obelsance
to IT,. General Pope admonishes and
reprimands the civil Governor of
Georgia for having ventured TO ex-
, prees an opinion on the Reconstruction
act. General Schofeld threatens to
suspend tho Richmond Times tor hav-
ing alluded with some PRIDE to the
prowess of the defenders of Virginia.
All this IS mild in comparison with
the attitude taken up by tho triumphant
politicians Of Nelr England. Theavow-
cd intention of the Reconstruction
act was that as soon as the people of
the South had made up their minds to
grant the suffrage TO the negroes, TO
repudiate their debts, and disown
theirleadcrs, they might organize
State conventions, re-establish State
governments and return representatives
20 Congress. Tie radicals. however,
finding that they have it all their own
way, begin to think of insisting on
still harder terms. Senator Wilson,
~haranguing whites and blacks that
they will be readmItted TO State
rights if they will only promise TO
"%return Union men, EGen this ia to
much for the old demagogue, Stevens,
of Philadelphia. He writes a letter,
IN which he solemnly denounces Mr..
Wilson for having promised 50 mach
What right hasele to promise it when
there is n o suoh State us Virginia, and
no one has authority to say when or
how i. will be recognized? There
mnsL FIRST be punishment for the guilty
and contiscation of the properly of
disloyal men. Iiy this man, and such
as he the restoration OF the Union is
Indemnity postponed, 1t is by his
fault, and that of his fellows that the