The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-30

OF THE STATES, FIR the sake OF gain
inS even so desirable an object.
From the Philadelphia Age
MEiifary Governments North.
The Connecticut election. followed By
that of Kentucky, has acted as a recon
noissance in force on the part of the Dem
ocrats to unmask the radical policy with
reference to the Northern States. That
policy we have before indicated to be the
overthrow OF all State power and authority
and the supreme domination of Congress
in the local affairs of the people. The Gin
cnnati Gazef~, in commenting upon the
result of the recent election in Kentucky.
and denouncing it as a triumph of the en-
emles OF the Government SAYS:
"W hat is the remedy? The same that
we have applied to the rebellion in the
other States, to just such an extent as may
be necessary. First, adequate military
protection for persons and property and oil
civil rights against the oppression and de
NAL OF justice by the rebel control of legal
power Second the disqualification of reb-
els by act of Congress for all National and
State Offices. Third, the onfranchisement
of the blacks everywhere, by act of Con
greSs. The necessity for this measure to
create loyal voting people is as great in
kentucky as in any other rebel State
Congress has the same power to establish
by direct that it has to require the States
to establish it as con lition OF restoration.
1--WE have seen the almost miraculous
change worked in the rebel ruling class by
this measure in the other States. and we
have reason to suppose that it will create IA
loyal popular power in Kentucky that will
give the loyal white men moral courage to
make tie contest boldly. by the backing of
a party that can carry the State. Fourth
the requirement ofthc entire submission to
the laws Of the United States. and their
execution in good faith in all the State
tribunals. as conditions for the withdrawal
of the direct supervision of the National
Government.
These measures will probably be effect
ual. II they fail, then, as in the case Of
the terms by the rebel States, the powers
OF the general government are not exhaust
ed, and it may DO whatever is necessary
for domestic tranquility and national sccu-
rity. If the party il whose hands the
people who put down the rebellion placed
the control Of government to settle the
war, fail to secure this, they will be un-
faithful to their trust. II any are to hang
back in this matter, the people ought to
know them before there is another clcc-
ton"
Here We have the radical policy in de-
tail First, military power to be used
That is the foundation If the proposed pol
icy. The legal powers 60 s.ituted By the
people Of a State, aresto be overawed or
overpowered by the military force of the
nation, and persons and property, together
with all civil rights, subjected to the will
CT a military commander. This is death
blow aialed at the Constitution, for, under
the provisions of that Instrument, the mil
it1ry powers are declared subordinate to
the civil, except il times of actual war
The country being in Il condition of peace,
all the States in harmony with those rela-
tions which should exist between them
and the Federal Government, the policy
recommended by the Gozcftc IS a virtual
abandonment of all regard Cor the Consti-
tuition and the assumption Of despotic pow
ers. which amounts to revolution
In the second place, the ''rebels, mean
lng all who will not agree to support the
radical policy, are to be disqualified "from
all National and State ofices.' If the
General Government can enter State
and declare who shall md who shall not
fill the offices in the gilt Of the people, of
Il State character, what may not be dcnc
by the same powerY What right of the
people is safe? Congress may ill the
office OF Governor by vote Of that body,
or remodel the school system, or alter ihe
laws of contracts, or change the mode and
manner OF collecting debts None OF these
rights of people of State are more sa-
cred than that of designating, elect
ing and keeping in State offices such
persons as majority Of the people may
designate ut the elections held in pursu-
ancc of State laws. And yet the policy of
the radical party contemplates the abroga-
ton of this right; and the substitution in
its place of the will of Congress represent
ing only portion of the States.
In order to create "loyal vote" in Ken
lucky, the GozcHc urges the bestowal of
the elective franchise upon the blacks in
that State by national authority, and de
clares that Congress has the same power
to establish the franchise, by direct act,
that it has to require the States to estal-
lish it as a condition of restoration" This
is certain. They have neither power gran
ted them by the Constitution. But be
cause Congress has usurped the power to
impose unconstitutional conditions upon
the States which revolted against the au-
thorty of the national government, does
it follow that they have light to act in a
like illegal aud unwarrantable manner with
reference to all the other States or any