Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-17
From Tic Anti-s!avOry ssandard.I
The Radical View Of the Result.

Abolitionists ard all earnest Radicals are
now summoned to address themselves to the
work which is yet 10 be accomplished 1t
has become very apparent, through what has
transpired in Georgia aud elsewhere, that the
Reconstruction laws require careful revision
aud perfecting in sundry particulars. The
negroes and loyal whites of the South greatly
need the means of self-deicGce The question
of confscation, especially with reference to
the large amount Of land fraudulently conveyed
from the possession Of the United States Gov
ernment to the hands Of rebels. should be at
once considered in the interest Of the landless
blacks, TO whom by virtue of their past unre-
Quilted toll the soil rightfuly belongs. 4
system Of national education which shall be
comprehensive, and at least co.extcusive with
the extension Of the ballot, should be inaugu-
rated by Congress. The measure of primary
importance now to lie promptly initiated and
adopted on the re-assembling Of Congress, is
an additional amendment of the Constitution
forbidding disirauchisement, or prescription
from official trust, on account Of race or color,
in any State or Territory of the Union.
Such an amendment, if adopted promptly
by Congress and submitted 10 the Legis-
lature Of the several States would, doubtless,
pow be ratified by the requisite number. 1t
is urgently demanded to guarantee the ballot
to Southern men. and to cnfranchise many
Thousands in the Border and Northern States.
This measure should not be postponed for the
consideration Of the Forty first Congress, but
should be promptly acted upon aud adopted
by The Forticth.
'J.et us have peace" has been many times
reiterated during the compaign just closed
One danger before us is the assumption that
the fact Of Grants election in itself will insure
''pcace" at the South. Aboiitionsts, and
those who have studied attcntivcly Southern
society, know better than this. While South
crn Legislatures are permitted to rerpctratc
such hi2h-hauGed outragcs rs the lawlcss
expulsion Of coIored members, rs IN Georgia,
witIout due punishment: frcbcIs arc permit
ted to take seats iu the House of Rcprcscn~
tativcs, who conc from districts therein colorcd
and white Republicans were practically cx-
cludcd from the polls, peace" cannot be
realized. The negro is still the bone Of cnnen-
tion, and until his manhood aud political
equality is everywhere recognized he will
continue to be disturbing element in our
Io!iiics Srlarting uudcr their political dis
conifturc the Kuklux vii! still hold sway,
especially if their reasonable chief is permit
ted to remain in Tho White House ill the .ith
Of March next. With the triumphant re-
election Of General Butler, and the well known
desire Of most OF the new Southern members
for tic revival Of the measure, VIC have strong
hopes of the successful cnnsumr,aIi0n Of the
impeachment and deposition OF johnson. by
the beginning Of the new year. With Wade
even two months in the White House, and
such tools Of treason as Rousseau, Steedran
& Co. Of New Orleans, replaced By Sheridan
and ether trustworthy, l"yal mem with tI!e
Reconstruction laws property revised and
amended; with suffrage, and the right to hold
Office. vouchsatod, TO the negro everywhere,
the nation will be well on the way toward
''reace," having secured its essential cordi-
tons, before Grant is jnauguratcd. While
deliberate aad organ zcd irjns.icc to tie negro
is rcrpetuated, The ''irrcprcs>;bie coulct' VIII
continue, matter who may be President
Let US have peace" then, by FTO'ugt!y doing
these things which make irr peace.