The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-05
A NEW RADICAL IDEA.

Before the war SOuCn CaTOllna Ill
ways elected Presidential electors by
the Legislature, instead Of by the pop
ular vote as was done in the other
States. This she had perfect right to
to do, the Constitution having left to
the different States the power of regu-
lating the mode of choosing electors
But South Cardinals way of doing bus
mess in this respect, as wellas in many
others, always stuck in the craw" of
the Abolition party at the North. Mr..
Horace Greeley has often denounced
it as anti-republiean and semi-aristo-
cratic, defrauding the people of their
right to elect a President accorded
them by the Constitution Of the United
States. Mr.. Greeley has, time and
again, called for an amendment of the
Constitution SO as to provide against
any such manner of voting as that
which obtained in South Carolina. 1t
was not pretended that the action of
South Carolina worked any very great
injustice to anybody. Only the Yam
KEGS didn't like it, and TINT was suffi-
cient reason why the whole thing
should be changed.
But, since it has turned out that even
South Carolina idea may be turned
to the advantage of the Radical carpet
baggers, the Radicals have discovered
that the plan of voting SO long prac-
tised by South Carolina is just the
thing for the present cr1sis-that is,
it is just the thing to accomplish the
election of Grant, the present be-all and
end-all of Radical aspirations. Not
withstanding all the infamous Congress
sional Legislation, all the wholesale
acknowledgements of the State CONVEX
tons, and all the test oaths required of
the Southern people, the Radicals do
not feel sure of casting the votes of the
Southern States in solid column for
the Radical candidate. They know
they do not stand a ghost of chance
of success without carrying all the
Southern Stacs, and being afraid of a
failure of all their former expedients,
they have hit upon another to secure
the desired result. 1t is gived out that
a caucus of Radical Congressman, I'M
der the manipulationsof the carpet-bag
has decided that the South
Carolina plan of voting for Presidential
Electors is an admirable plan, and has
that the several legisla-
lures of the reconstructed States cast
the vote of those States without con-
sulting the people on the subject
Such an action on their part would at
once secure the whole Southern vote
for Grant, and enable the Radicals to
repose in the satisfaction that the work
of reconstruction, after all the tinker
ing to which it has been subjected, has
at last accomplished the objects of its
original enactment.
This last idea, if adopted. will be
long stride towards the election of
Grant and Colfax. But we can suggest
a shorter cut to the same consumma-
tion. Let the Radical Congress assem-
bic after the popular vote has gone
overwhelmingly for Seymour, declare
Grant elected and inaugurate him at
the point of the bayonet. just some
such revolution as this the Radicals are
bent on precipitating upon the country
if they lose control of the public plum
der. But it is some consolation to
know that the Conservative majority
in the Union are expecting some such
action on the part of the Radicals and
that they are prepared to meet it. If
Gen. Grant should be fairly elected he
will be peacefully inaugurated, but no
nan who wears as small hat as he
will ever get to the White House by
fraud and violence.
~~~--0>---~~--~~ ss
U According to the figures of the
New York World, which are remarka-
bic for their accuracy, a change of 49,
BOO votes in 1864 would have elected
Gen. Mcclellan President. This change
was required in the States Ct Connecti-
cut, Indiana, Maryland New York,
New Hampshire, Oregon,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, or
an average of four thousand votes in
State. Since that time the States of
Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Penn
sylvania and New York have become
Democratic. and Indiana and Nevada
will be at the next election. The Dem
ocrats: have, therefore, the game in
their own hands. They go into the
contest to win, and will win, in spite of
all opposition.
Tyyr