The Van Buren press., 1867-08-16
rRAI.RLIE COUNTY.


blind passion AMI PURITAN hatred, and not
enlightened slate,man,hip or constitutional
right, ere 10 govern Tie people OF the South.
and that II i, useless 70 look TO the plain
language nf the Constitution, 10 determine
what rights are secured To u. The fact j..
the Constitution i,a nulity. and We are liv-
ing under 'hc most unmitigatcd dc,poti,m
that people ever groancd under ii We en-
JOY singh right, ,ha, freeman should. il
only by su!,UH'c, and because The military
commanders, do not wish 70 exercise absolute
power based on the destruction of their coun-
try's liberties, and not because Congres, has
not reared an irresponsible aid crushing de,-
potism on the ruins of It., country's liberties.
The patriot grows sick at heart, when he
sees the liberties of hi, country prostratcd at
the feet of a mad and intolerant finatici>m.
His only hope is, that the violence of finatical
hatred VIII soon cause the people to arouse
themselves from the fatal letlargy that seems
tn have settled upon t,icnl. before il i too late.
When this reaction shall take place, the names
OF leading radicals, will sink into eternal inf,-
my or only he remembered, like the names of
Nero Calgula and Robsprcrre,tD De eXecrated
by millions yet unborn. Ii seems strange.
that any man possessing single spark of pa
triotism, can be radical particularly south
ern radical. ~ a class they compose the
very drr@S of society, men whose intellectual
and moral qualifications are of the lowest and
most degraded character; men who were
never allowed to associate with refined socie-
ty. and whose want of character excluded
them from all Offices ofproft, honor or trust.
Ii is quite natural that such men. would be
advocates ofncgro equality, as it required no
STOPPING from social, moral. or intellectual
position. to place them on terms of perfect
equality with the common herd of blacks. In
deed respect for the colorcd population of
the south. should prevent any one doino them
such injustice as to rank them with such
"whitc trash" As there seems to be an in
clination, on the part of many, to misunder-
stand "WYStdHg' on every subject connected
with reconstruction | wish to be under
stood, as not applying the above language to
h'i ny 'AN III ldN'l VI lfNbll>lIutllOll Ulltpr
the Military bill | am in favor of strict com
p|iance, in good faith, with, the conditions of
that bill, not because believe it wise. lust.
patriotic or constitutional but because the
interest of the country demands the earliest
possible solution of our present Embarrassing
political position. If we comply, in good
faith, with the terms imposed by Congress,
there can no longer exist even Il shadow of
preteXt for denying us a right to have a voice
in the administration of the government.
Nine tcnth5 of the conservative men of the
South. are in favor of reconstruction under
the Military bill, as there will then be no ne
cessity that can justify the countcnance of
military rule. Much as they desire, an early
reconstruction. but few men believe that a
strict compliance with every thing now de-
mandeG. will bring it about. The Tact l., the
radical party do not desire any settlement, as
they would then no longer have any political
capital, and would at once, sink back to their
native insignilicance and obscuritv. Tis of
snch miserable creatures that speak, without
reference to their former political opinions
venture the prediction that if Arkansas to-
day. should do all that Congress has asked of
her. she would still be refused admission into
the Union. But it il our duty. to make the
effort in good faith and then let the rcspops-
ibilIty rest where it properly belongs. If she
should to-day, while under a territorial GOV
ernment, elect radical delegation to Con
grcSs' there can be no question but what they
would be allowed their seats This is the ONLY
Unllitic9fip rpppirnl h, Ln I,
gress: Their constitutional qualifications are
not taken into consideration. Look at Ken
lucky, state that was always loyal" Two
years ago she elected one half of her members
from the radical ranks, and no objection was
raised as to their right to take their seats
This year all her members. but one, were CON
seWatiyc All except that one, were unccre-
moncouSly kicked out of their seats and ne al
lowed TO take his. What Il commentary ON
the honesty ofradicalS! The only test they
recognize Is, disregard to the Constitution.
and slayish subseryency to the behests of
Congress. Pennsylvania or Connecticut has
no more right to representation than Ken
lucky. and il they were to send LOYAL major
ity of conservatives, they would be doubtless.
iy denied seats. How long shall this state of
things exist? How long shall the voice of the
people be stitied? How long shall the Con-
stitution be trampled under foot? How long
shall the country groan under despotism. In
order that minority Of insane fanatics NAV
rule and ruin?
The country brcathes more freely, since the
adjournment of Congress. No one looked for
any thing, but injustice and oppression from
such body, and it is a relief to know that for
few months, we will be relieved of such a
curse They staid long enough to declare the
acts of their miserable body. the supreme law
of the land that the civil power is to be kept
in strict subOrdination to the military, that
the Constitution is nullty. and liberty a
humbug. II Is wonder they did not do more
that they did not declare, that to dispute the
power of Congress to do any thing is treason
to say a white man is as good as negro is
disloyality, that to refuse to take of your hat
and call every negro a gentleman and every
radical white man, high crime. To say
that Thad Stevens can err, rank heresy and
to say that all honesty and talent don't center
in the radical party, Is felony which should be
tried by military commission. composed of
negroes and dcscrters and punished as nigh,
be directed by Beast Butler (by conlisca.inQ
spoons and watches) or by Kansas law
hawkcr (by stealing all the horses Of the Of
fender and numbering his wife and children
presume this is left for the next session. as
they must do something to make political cap
ital. But enough of this for the present