The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-05-05
TFor the Spirit. /
Radical Rump RecOnstructiOn--I
it Statesmanship, or Is IL Thlm-
bIe.Rfgging.


Radical Rump II RecOnstructiOn--Is
it StatesmanshIp, or is IL ThIm-
bIe-Rfgging.
The treatment of our Polands by the
Disunion Congress, and which some of the
Radicals have the cheek to call recon-
struction, consists largely of thimble-rig
ging, eonjuring and prestidigitation.-
When the Rump wanted certain amend
ments to the Constitution adopted, these
Polands were in the Union, and their
votes were counted. When certain other
amendments, which these Polands would
vote against, were proposed, the Polands
were declared out Of the Union, and not
entitled to vote.
It was clear case of "heads, I win;
tails. you lose.' 1t wasa anow-you-see-
itand now-you -don't-see-it' arrangement.
It was the trick Of pouring half dozen
kinds of liquor from the same vessel
Old Thad. turned up the Union thimble,
and there was the little joker, you bet
your money, he turns up the thimble
again, and beholdI the little joker is gone.
The same system, with such improve
ments as time and experience have sug-
gested, is being practiced in regard to the
"a :
admission Of these Polands into the In
lion under their Negro Constitutions.
Alabama was the FIRST to operate on.--
Her people had rejected the mulatto 5as-
tard by afteen thousand majority, but the
Rump was not going to lose eleven votes
for Grant in that way, SO they determined
to admit her anyhow. After the Rump
and the Radical press had fully commit
ted themselves in favor Of this outrage
and were busily maturing their schemes
Ito accomplish it, they were suddenly
brought to q dead stop. An idea got into
somebody's head, and from there into
Radical heads generally. That idea was
contained in this couundrum: If the Con-
|servatives Of Alabama have votes enough
to defeat the Constitution, won't they have
votes enough to carry the State against
Grant, They could see it. They did
see it: and the bill to admit Alabama was
suddenly squelched. They neither ad-
mitted nor rejected Alabama, 5ut set the
darkey Constitution astride Of the fence
to be toppled to either side as the good
of the party might require.
Next in order came Arkansas and
Georgia. For days and even weeks after
the elections in these Polands, it was
claimed and conceded that their proposed
Constitutions had been defeated by many
thousands: But the returns of these
elections went to military headquarters,
and we're locked up. When they were
taken out the effect Of the conjuring ap-
peared. They went in Conservative
majority and came out Negro majority.
This is repetition Of the trick Of fold
ing the ace Of hearts in handkerchief,
then unfolding it, and behold the card is
the ace of spadesl
Signor Blitz can do this trick.N Pro-
fessor MacAlister can do it: the Military
Governors Of the Southern Polands can
do it.
And now, the time that can be spared
from urging the Senators to make Wade
President, is employed in cipheriug out
whether these States can be carried for
Grant, if admitted. Their admission or
rejection depends upon this ciphering,
and not upon the vote cast.
In North Carolina and South Carolina,
they count confidently on having Negroes
scalaWags and carpet-baggers enQngh to
secure their electoral votes for Grant. =
Therefore these electoral votes will be
admitted into the Union without delay
The Radicals are enthusiastic Union men
to the extent Of these fifteen or sixteen
votes for Grant, but shaky as to the 9TH
ers,
The management Of the elections in all
these Polands seems little peculiar to
men who have been accustomed to regard
elections as a means of ascertainiug the
will of a majority on given subject.
The voters are all required to register
their names some days previous to each
election. The registering officer rejects
whoever he may choose to reject, and is
responsible to nobody. He admits to
register whoever he chooses to admit,an
is responsible to nobody. One full third
of these officers are, ir some of these Po
lands, candidates Cor Office, under these
Constitutions; and the existence Of the
Office depends ON the success Of the Con-
stitution.
By this judicious arrangement the can
didates say who shall, and who shall not
vote; they make up the poll-books and
tally sheets; they certify the result Of the
election. Would it not be pretty safe to
bet that under such circumstances these
candidates would be elected2 Is it not
easy to believe that under such circum-