The Van Buren press., 1868-07-17

is the voice Of the majority, untrammcll-
ed in i,s expression by test osths or othI
disabilities That will is known to be adj
verse 10 the whole plan Of Congressional
usurpation, and, yet, though greatly rev
crenccd BY speakers and writer's, Is Who'll.
lly ignored and trsmpled upon by the
Radical party in its practice. All this
disregard Of the viii Of the pcople-these
outrsges upon their liberties--this ahsn
donment Of the Federal Constit ution-
this injustice and political crime, i, ex-
cused by the Radicals TO themselves, by
the absurd and shallow pretcxt Of sccur-
ing proper guarantees against future re-
bellion. Exclude all white men from the
ballot.box and does that prevent out.
breaks. Are rebellions gotten up and
fought with ballots? But the folly Of
this pretence is fully discovered. when we
reflect that they put their disfranchise.
ments, and consequent guarantees, upon
the ground that they have heard much
traitcrous talk, by men of the South and
the leaders must be rendered powerless.
We venture to affirm that ninety nine out
Of one hundred of the foolish, men, who
talk as they say ;%are voters Under the
Congressional .plsp, Those who are
willing to accept the Federal Constitution
as framed by our fathers, and who only
oppose political outrage and crime, and
fully accept the true results of the civil
war, are generally the men who are dis
franchised, Any man who will abdicate
his manhood and aid in elevating their
partisans to o!ilce, is no longer dangerous
aud the guarantee" 50 far as he is con,
ccrued, becomes useless. The true test
of loyalty to the Federal Government,
then, means only, fealty to the Radical
psrty. Born amidst Republican feelings
and reared under,,a free constitution, these
leaders of Radcalism play the role Of des,
potism but poorly Gov. CLAYTON has
permitted these surroundings Of his for
mer life to betray him into utterances
such as the one last quoted and such as
are wholly unknown to, and render him
unit for alliance with, the Radical par
ty. Their policy is pains, penalties and
prescription for opinions sake. These
are unknown to free institutions. They
are the fit implements oftyranny and des
potism. They are buried deep down in
the grave Of the past The mighty tide
ofcivilizatiop and enlightenment has long
since left these behind They suited the
Hun, the Goth and the Yandal--thcy
are not becoming the American Of the
nineteenth century. Away with them !!
Let us return to the true principles oftree
government Let us have no better guar
antee OF loyalty to the government, than
the love and respect of the citizen. 10y
atty is no forced growth. 1t springs up
voluntarily and comes from the heart
imbued with sense Of justice and benif-
cence on the part of the rulers. If the
rulers oppress and are unjust to the sub
ject, the germ Of loyalty is killed, the
flower fades and tho rank growth of
treason soon springs up. The Radical
party claims to offer equal rights to all
men--let us have equal rights to all Do
away with all this inquisitorial 6ummery
of test oaths aud acknowledgements. 1t is
apcliticsl crime to clothe the negro with
the elective, franchise hut far greater
and more heinous one to rob the white
man oft