Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-01
Radical Reconstruction.


which this journal has expressed since the
passage OF the military bills submit. ting the Rad
lcal plan OF miscalled reconsu uction for the
adoption or rejection of the vot ers of the South
ern otates--in reference to the objects which
the Radicals expect to accomplish through its
-astrumentallty, and the classes of persons who
will vote for Conventions to effect them, coin
eide with those entertaine by independent
thinkers even in the North, we publish below
an extract from an able article from the Round
Table" an Independent Republican journal,
and one of the ablest published in the North.
1t says that "the white vote will be largely cast
against Convention, because the present mill
tary rule is preferable to such reconstruction as
would be thereby effected 1t says that, ''the
Radical achites and the negro Uoters, aoho are
interested IN sm,uertsng all decent rule and au-
Mority, araU Of course, ANTE IN favor Of COnven-
tion" 1t says that if Convention be called
it will be practically a negro convaation," and
that ''it will frame constitution that will throw
the whole power of the State into the hands of
negroes and white men who hope to profit by
the sufrages of negroes" and that then ''the
prescription Of white men will be more sweep
ing than Congre ssional prescription" and that
the ''contfscot;on of the property Of achite men
by their negro rulers ,oiI be to Jollo0." and
that such coniscation would be ''more destruc-
| tive'' thin confscation by the Federal Govern
ment even granting that such confscaton would
take place, of which, however, we have but lit
tie, if any, dread. 1t says that, by the Radi-
cal plan of reconstruction, liberty of outrage
will be amply secured and that, ''the liberty
of death will be the only liberty secured to men
whose crime is that they were born white.
| Can any, except those "who are interested
in subverting all decent rule and authority ~
and who are willing to see Liberty murdered in
| the land Of the free, and the home of the
brave hesitate for moment in deciding
whether they will vote for or against Conven-
ton? The following is the extract from the
| Round Table to which we have referred:
The plain meaning of the pseudo-Recon-
| structlon acts OF Congress, now being pushed
to their most merciless contamination, is SIM
| ply this :-First-To register in the South the
entire negro population and such whites as may
unite with them In supporting the radical par.
ty in Congress. Second-To prohibit the reg
istration of the vast majority of the whites who
have real interest in the quiet and prosperity
of the country. Third TO submit to the vo-
tiers of the States thus registered the question
whether they will or will not hold convention
for the reconstruction of their States under the
Congressional plan. Under this mode of pro-
cedure it may be seen what hopeful future
lies before the South and the whole country
Either the States will vote for convention or fol
no convention The white vote will be largely
cast against convention; for the present mill
tary rule, with all Its advantages, at least af
lords protection, while reconstruction such az
has been perpetrated in the State of Tennessee
gives little protection but to negro brigands.
The Radical whites and the negro voters who
are interested In subverting all decent rule ano
authority will, of course, unite in favor Of con
ventlon. Now, suppose-although the case il
hardly possible-that the convention is by such
a mockery of suffrage rejected. Then the Rad
lcals will avail themselves of the Cry of South
ern contumacy; Mr.. Stevens mild confsca
ton is brought into play the South is wholly
ruined by this villainous atrocity for merely say
ing, as our generous Congress has invited he1
to say, that she prefers the rule of military sa
traps to the harder rule of uninstructed negroes
and white bravoes. On the other hand, sup
pose-and this is the only supposition justified
by the registration which is being made-tha
a convention is desired Then it is practically
a negro convention 1t will frame a constitu
ton that will throw the whole power of the
State into the hands of negroes and white mer
who hope to profit by the suffrages of negroes
The prescription Of white men will be more
sweeping than Congressional prescription.
Coniscation of the property of white men by
their negro rulers will be sure to follow ano
the indirect conisaation will be more destruc
tive than confscation outright. The ruling
class, having no property themselves will look
upon the transfer of their subjects property in
to their own possession as the one great end O
government With a penniless negro Legisla
ture to tax, and defenceless white men to be
taxed the issue cannot long be doubtful. 1r
every county taxes will be laid in the same way
by negroes upon white men. In the towns ano
cities negro councilmen will vote themselves
large salaries, create unnecessary offices for pur
poses of plumber, and for like ends undertake
enormous jobs of fanciful public improvement
JUSTICE administered by negro magistrates will
be farce; redress of wrong will be impossible
Liberty of outrage will be amply secured. The
liberty of death will be the only liberty secured
to men whose crime is that they were born
white"
LADY SUBSCRIBERS experienced editors