The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-02-07
Letter from c. +. Vallandig-


to = letter from the editor Of the La
Crosse Democrat: -
'.. DAYTON, OHIo, Jan. Q. 1867.
N. A. PonteSoy, Esq, La Crosse, Wis, !:
DEAR SIR: Yours Of the 3lst ult.,
with the card inclosed, L have just re-
oeived, and will answer impromptu. O..
As to your first inquiry, Congress, in
my opinion, has no more constitutional
power to territorialize " the i" seeded
States" (so called) than to make ter
ritories of Ohio aud Wisconsin. Neiih-
or has any department Of the Federal
Government, nor all departments CONS
bined. The States madeEihe Federal
Government, in the beginning butnow
the fable of Saturn is reversed, and the
child devours the parent.
e., A to your second inquiry-tbe pros
-bsble result II the radical scheme be
carried out or attempted pardon me
a little Latin de Cdrthagine sdteus est
silers guam deere. Only general re
cults. at the most, can be forseen by the
wisest Of mortsls, and ia these dark
times, when every lesson Of history. and
every lew Of God, Of man, Of political
economy and of finance, seem to be
broken with ,impunity, and when either
folly or treachery, or cowardice, or all
three together, thwart the wisest, most
honest, most patriotic plans for the pub.
lie good, / have ceased even TO specu-
late as 70 the future much less do I
venture. TO prophecy. Yet, I think that
had the programme for the political
campaign Of, 1866, as agreed upon,
formally, at Washington, in April and
May last, been honestly, courageously
and vigorously carried out, instead OF
being set aside, for that combination OF
procured abortion aud accidental mis-
carriage, the Philadelphia Convention
Of August 18th, We should have had as
great victory in the fall elections as
We suffered decisive defeat. As il is, ]
fear that. the last hope Of the reaction
perished then, and that the "-Great Rev
oiution Of 1861 must now go on un-
checked, till either il shall have over.
turned totally in form; as already sub
s.antislly in fact, that great old Fedora
Republic which our fathers set up cub
stituting In ,its stead imperialistic des
potisn1, under the shadow Of the nam,
and form and the cant of free institu
tions ,or have precipitated a counte
revolution, through which, by the. ex
piation Of FIRE and blood, and suffering
ii may be, the American people shall
recover that light, free, cheap system o
government which they so. esgerly anc
Tecklessly have thrown away. All this
indeed, was implied by the late. civi
war for the Union, when il commenced
and ], for one, have no new. quarre
with radicalism and it's opponents 70
striving to attain the natural, legitima.
and inevitable .-esults Of changing on
systen from a Government of consen
to q Government of coercion or force
AT the same time L am not prepare,
to compete with them in the race Q
radicalism; and II Iwere, Ishould ain
at that " hich alone could command cue
cess; to " out, Uerod; Hefcd, and 90 a
one bcnnd 80 far beyond its present dc
mands, that iRepublican iradicalisr
would stand agbast. i should !" cut ur
der 2 So deep that no s. lower deep
could be found or fathomed. For, j
soo,h, ! am not one Of those who dc
iude .hemsslves with the vain noiior
that by yielding one half the other ,cs
be made secure. Such "sops to Cerebus
never silence The triple headed dog ,
fanaticism. And there is bnt one wa
to deal with o revolution ;eiiher- to Q
with ittotally, and ahead ofit, OF. 8gi
It every inch and crush it. Wo hilhe
to have not 30. fought the battle, and
consequence, We have. gone down b,
fore the. bold, dasiring charge Of u
Black Night With his ,isor up. An