Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-09-17
snaech of Col. r. B. Swan.


Club at the Court House, last Friday
evening, to a crowded house. Col;
SWAN, like Gen. LoNGsTREET, when
the rebellion collapsed, accepted the
situation in a spirit of common sense
desiring to restore the South from
the denths of ruin, into which it had
been hurled by the terrible struggle.
He is now GRANT man, as he feels
that the whole hope of his section lies
in him and his party, and that they
never can secure permanent peace
through the aid of the faithless de-
mocracy of the North. His speech
won the respect of those who heard
it, being such as rebel, who having
fought and lost, acknowledged the
consequences, could make without
dishonor to himself. 1t was instruc'
tive as showing how the promises OF
Northern democracy had been a
principle cause in starting the war,
and In keeping it up afterwards. He
declared the war was inaugurated to
establish the democratic doctrine of
States rights, as laid down in the
resolutions of '99, that upon this
issue the North and South went to
war. The appeal to arms was made,
and the decision was against them.
BY that decision they must stand.
The South was conquered, and in
good faith should now strive to har-
monize with the North, and make our
country a name glorious among ma
tions. If the South becomes q CO.
laborer with the North in this great
work, it will become an honored part
of the nation, sharing in the Govern
ment, as Scotland, when subdued oy
England, became of one blood with
its conqueror. No good can be
effected in keeping up an impotent
hatred, and hostility. That would
only, as in the case of Ireland, work
its ruin. He then reviewed the status
of the South upon its conquest, and
the legality of Congressional recon
struction. Every lawyer in the
South, admitted that if conquered,
the South became so much conquered
territory, subject to the will and gov
ernment of the United States, instead
of the Southern States having the
right to wheel into liue, as States,
with their powers in the Government
unimpaired. johnson by his course
acknowledged this. 1t was the duty
of Congress then to govern that terri
tory. In its clemency it had pro
posed the 14th amendment as basis
of reconstruction, but it was rejected
by the South, owing to the false
hopes held out by Northern democ
racy. Congress- then, had no alter
native but to assume the work of re
construction. Without inquiring
whether the policy adopted by it,
was wise or not, it is only sufficient
to know that Congress had the legal
right to do it, and has accomplished
the work. Manhood suffrage, the
basis of that policy, the speaker ad
vocated with great earnestness, TAX
ing the ground, for which we Tough
in the revolution, that no class shoult
be taxed without representation, ant
avowed himself not ashamed mo-
afraid to give the blacks their politi
cal rights.
And now with reconstruction lie
gally accomplished, when the broker
limb is set, Northern democrats pro
pose to overturn the whole thing, ant
again break the limb, that they ma!
try new way Of setting it. Thi
they propose to do, by armed vic
lence, to overturn the Senate Of tn
United States, by the aid of the army
and if the army under the lead o
Grant refused to do it, as no doubt i
would, our democratic friends pro
pose to call upon the South. But
said the speaker, they will look il
vain for aid from that quarter. 1t il
now their time to stand by and lool
: on the struggle, and he warned de
mocracy that the South would no
aid them in their revolutionar,
schemes, but in their hearts despiset
them for their faithlessness to then
during the war. He declared tina
peace democracy had precipitatec
the rebellion, had promised then
their aid, and urged the South int
the contest, while too cowardly tt
take up arms themselves; that by
their course they had kept up The
war, and by the hopes they held out
had prolonged the struggle for two
long and bloody years, after the con
test was virtually decided, and finally
that they had lost all faith In them
1t was terrible castigation, coming
\ from one, who spoke of what h'
knew, and all the more severe, be
cause it was dealing in stubborn facts
! The speaker happily disposed o
the democratic hobby Of unlimited
greenbacks, by drawing picture o
the terrible suffering of the South
under the system of unlimited papel