Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-09
SOUTHERN RECONSTRUCTION
CAMPAIGN.


The Union Republican Senators and
Members Of the Fortieih Congress assem-
bled on the evening Of July 18th, in the
Hall Of Representatives, to hear the report
Of the Union Republican Congressional
Executive Committee with reference tothe
Southern Reconstruction Campaign.
The following resolution wa~ adopted
''Resolved, That we, the Republican
Senators and Representatives of the For
ticth Congress, having listened with great
Interest TO the statements Of the Chair
man Of the Executive Committee and
others Of said Committee, therefore pledge
our personal efforts in our respective dis
tricis to the work of raising money for
the use of the said Committee immediate
ly upon our return to our constituents"
The Committee, therefore in urging the
importance Of immediate and vigorous la
Dor, desire to briefly recapitulate what
has been done; the agencies aud oppor-
tunities now at its command, and the ne
cessities which require assistance. Dur
luH tuS AtN thVntHo tudk nNNt tidU<tQ
since the reconstruction acts were passed
this Committee has been earnestly at work.
For the first time opportunity offered for
discussion in the South Of the principles
purposes. and history of tho Republican
organization--th party Of National pro-
gress, political justice, and territorial in.
tegrity. 1t was determined to inaueurate
a vigorous and comprehensive agitation Of
questions connected with these subjects.
This purpose has been as fully carried out as
the means at the disposal of the Committee
would permit. The Committee has receiy-
ed but SIS, 250, muinIy derived from the
two Houses of Congress. There is now
expected from various sources sums
amounting in all to $500, which will
about cancel obligations already incurred
With this small amount, the Committee
has sent several hundred thousand suita-
bic documents thrc ugh the South. Ii has
employed over seventy active and intelli-
gent speakers and organizers, who have
been at work in the unreconstructed States,
ard to limited extent in Tennessee.
Both white und colorel men have been
and are now employed. La addition to
those directly controlled by the Committee,
State Committees aud Union League Codn
ellis, with other auxiliaries, have been mid
cd Under this stimulus, in many locali
ties, funds have been raised to delray the
expenses Of local agents, and much work
accomplished
/ The Committee has the names Of 90, 600
loyal persons at the South to whom docu.
ments are regu,:rly sent TO about one
fourth Of that number large packages are
forwarded, so that it is in the way Of imme-
date distribution Of 900 or moie cop
les Of any document it desires 10 circulate.
This list is being daily augmented. The
Committees correspondence is very extern
siye; hundreds of letters being received
weekly from all parts of the South. From
their contents, a minute knowledge Of the
necessities of almost every Consrcssiona nal
district is daily attained. OF agents now
in the field, some are at work in every
State. A Republican organization exists
in each State, the Representatives of which
arc in constant correspondence with this
| Committee. Union League Councils are
being I. pidly formed. Our agents are all
empowered and directed TO aid the organi-
cation, aud as the Grand Presidents office
is located in this City, We are enabled to
bring about harmony of purpose aud effort.
Were ample means at the Committees dis
posal there would be no difficulty in wide
ly extending its operations. The demands
made far exceed its means, present aud
prospective. \ large number of Intel j..
gent men, willie and eo.ored are ready to
enter the field, most Of whom could be adj
vantageously employed. Our fun DIS have
been alto sether devoted to circu'atingsu ia
bic reading matter and employing speakers
and organizers. They will continue to be
SO used. This committee cannot UNDER
take tho establishment or support Of Re
publican newspapers, although that i'm
portant agency demands attention. When
the military bills became law, there were
in the South but fifteen Republican jour-.
nails, two only of which we're daiies
There are now ninety; twenty of which
are dailies. The speediest method Of es-
tablishing vigorous Republican press,
without which no permanent success can
be obtained, is to give the Republicans
party contIol CT the State organizations.
This object can be permanently secured,
provided its Importance is appreciated and
corresponding efforts are made, The pres
ent campaign is but continuation OF the
war; 1t has, however, assumed another
shape. 1t is no longer the shock Of armies,
but the conflict of ideas. The thunder Of
guns no longer rends the sky or makes
the earth tremble; but the results for
which our best lives were given are still
trembling in the balance. We contend
for the principles for which We fought
We seek power, because We believe in our
principles. They cannot control unless
money, the sinews Of any struggle, is used
to aid those who work for that success.
Shall we lose an empire from want Of this
material aid? Shall we, victorious in the
field be defeated at the ballot box 1t is
not possible. The needs of the hour
with those who desire to sec the entire
South, lately cursed with slavery and blast
ed by revolution, marching ito the music
of the Union in the solid column of Re-
publican States, are active work, ample
means, aud unialtering faith. Your Com
mittee have faith and can work efficiently.
Means only are lacking to carry each one
of the unrcconstrHctcd States at the cleo
tons provided for by Congress. If ade-
quate funds are furnished, the party can
be so organized as to ensure the electoral
vote Of each regenerated State for the