The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-14
3joluiraI.
ueauiies o." Ieeconsiruciion ;"
81. Louis Il, publican, March, 9, 1863.

>
In all the provinces of our Southern Pentarchy,
the process OF reconstruction, it is facetious-
lv called l,f-,tsa nan luco,,do,) has developed an
amount Of political proaigracy and personal ras-
oality on the part of men intrusted with the gra-
vest duties which, If prevalent in the country at
larpe. might well be held to threaten the stabil-
ity of our institutions--if indeed these institu-
tions are not irrecoyerabiy gone already. The
folly and madness of those who are engaged di-
rectly in this business of Reconstruction, respond
ing fully to the qualities in the Congress
which orginatedit, enormous, and cover the
American pame and fame with disgrace. The
responsibility for this shameful state of things,
the Radical party--with whom the guilt wholly
lies-aro striving to shift to the shoulders of
their opponents and of those who are opposed to
reconstruction upon such basis as Congress Is
determined it shall stand on. Nevertheless, facts
sometimes leak out through Radical organs,
which ought to convince honest Radicals, if any
such there are that the trouble is mainly with
their own party and with the character of the
measures which they are forcing upon what ought
TO be--but is not and cannot be with their policy
fiourishing like Upas tree-a portion OF the
American Union. From Florida, tor example,
we have a statement through Republican press
there. the Florida Union, which explains the
origin of the disgraceful quarrelling among the
Conyontionists of that province" That state
ment is that three men--one of them named LIB
FRTY BILLINGS formerly of Maine, whom the
Boston Advertiser describes as an INSCRIPTIONS
and small politician: another, DANIEL RICH-
ARDS of Illinois, and the third black man
from Baltimore, who now bears the name of
SAUxDERs-fcrmed, last summer, political
partnership, in other words a ring" with view
to control the Republican party in their inter-
ests. Neither OF them were eligible as a voter or
member of The Convention Nevertheless, they
so managed by lint of the most rascally appeals
to the negroes, to get returned themselves, and
enough co-conspirators to bring their force up to
nearly half the Convention. But as they had not
secured the majority, which they labored for,
these confederates undertook to stave over that
difficulty with new trick.
1t was agreed that the whole BILLINGS faction
should be on hand promptly at the first moment
of holding the Convention. Those not in the
plot were not prompt, consequently when the
time arrived BILLINGS had rallied about twenty,
while the i,.25oce1ts had only half that number.
But as there was an unsuspecting quorum, the
Convention proceeded to business; and as a mat
ter of course the conspirators elected full set of
officers, appointed all the committees in their in
terest, and shrewdes of all, adopted rule, which
required vote of tcoNtird8 to override decis-
ion of the President!
Thus far everything was7''lovely" in the eyes
of Billings and hisaccomplces. But gradually,
as the lacking members dropped in, and those
not in the ring began to compare notes with each
other, the innoconts perceived they were in a
clear majority but in a majority about as help
less as it was clear They knew that Billings
and his associated ring-leaders were not entitled
to seats in the Convention, but how could they
get them outr Every attempt looking to their
deserved expulsion was of course declared out of
order, and the decision was sustained by the mi
nority, who formed more than one-third of the
Convention. SO things stood for WHILE Bill
ings' ring watching vigilantly for something to
turn up. Shortly something did turn up. Some
of the innoaents being absent on ono occasion,
the Billings gang, finding they had pro tenn.
majority suddenly thrust upon the assembly
full-blown Constitution, in which it nay be pre-
sumed, they had carefully provided for them
selves, aud were about summarily putting it to
vote, when the minority, now quite alive to the
situation, withdrew in a body, leaving the Con-
vention without a quorum Ibis last-mention-
ed circumstance was, however, not allowed by
the Billings-ratcs to balk them in their purpos-
es The gang, though not a quorum and incapa-
bic Of doing business, proceeded to adopt their
Constitution, and then adjourned. Thereupon
followed new move in their chess-board.
Themaiorjy- ings-re-assembled and
having quorum, proceeded to business, and un-
did good deal which the Billings ring had
done. Shortly after some Of the Billings men
Joined them, thus increasing their strength The
Convention expelled billings and Richards.
These last-namcd worthless had proceeded to
Washington TO lay thcir work before Congress
and claim il to be the nc, Of Florida. What Con-
gress viii DO it is impossible to say. Though it
is perfectly safe TO predict that, if this Corsttu-
tion most EEors tie partisan schemes of Congress,
1t will be accepted, mauger the fact that it was
conceived i'll sin and brought forth in iniQuity.