The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-03-20
THE POLITICAL sITUA-
aIt &Hk TAON.
gsSEs2 E,k sASt - -
Es.sss-
An Able Document for the
Times. 50 G9 a.

An Able Document for the
,-....,su.., Times. 50 g@ q
We do not know that we have
ever read an ADLER document than
the following address adopted by
the Democratic convention of West
Virginia. The address embodies,
with remarkable brevity and power,
an exposition Of the unconstitution.
al'and stosolutionary policy of-tht
Radical party. Itis . document
which should be in the hands Of, ant
read by, every American citizen. =
Read and give it TO your neighbors
It is beyond all questions the bes1
political document Of the times ~ s
To tks' People of West Iirginia:
We hvitcyour attention. to re.
fviev Of the generals Political situa
ton. its evils, and their remedy. e.,
Since 1861 the harmony Of this
nation has been sadly disturbed. -
For four years Of the int.rvenin.
time the interruption ofpeaceful re-
lations was due to a state of war,
The practical Il. disunion existing
since 1S55is referable'tos a course
Of Congressional action, wicked il
motive, Illegal ID character, and ru
inous in result. s.u.g ..
While the war for the Union wa.
in progress its successful issue was
anticipated as the guaranty o.
promptreunion and dperna nent pc ace
Such q contamination was tho ain
of patriotic effort in tho field, thu
the object Of solemn pledges in tn,
halls Of Congress-, and the confdcn
expectation Of the masses Of tn,
The war has long since ended
The rebellion has long since beer
|crnsAed. Every obstacle placed BY
Southern movement in the way d
the nations unity has long sine.
been removed toa 4.
Nevertheless, disappointment
waits upon the people wish. TIL,
pledges Of Congress have been rcpu
dated. The triumphs Of our ar
mics, have been neutralizcd, and tn,
pnRposes of the brave mon who Sc
cured them have been shamcfullJ
defeated. e, :
4 4 dissolation nors disastrous thar
that now existing between the South
crn States and the Federal Govern.
ernmcpt could scarcely have beer
brought about by the success Of tht
rebellion. 49, '>'',..
| 4 a condition of atfairs 80. much d,
variance with the wishes and inter
est Of the. people of our entire coun-
try demands . reference to the act:
and aims Of those who produced it
CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
For more than two years the South
crn States have. desired to renew
their old relations to the Govern
tnent. #saat'
Congress has constantly prevented
that resumption. rzHfr
They are entitled to be restored
upon the basis Of the Federal Con
stitution. h>'sa +.
Congress has confessedly throwt
aside THAI instruments, and obstruct
cd restoration with terms and con
ditions of its own prescribing.
Affecting to desire the perpituit.
Of. the Republic nit has made dead
~ assaulk upos tepablican institu
tions. s =ar
Protesting to aim at the salvation
Of the Union, it has wrought tn,
destruction of ten of the States.
The right of each State to regu
late its own internal affairs, enfran
chise its own voters, and, choose It
own rulers and, lawmakers, is q
sacred as our Constitution, and q
indestructible as our Government
Without It republican liberty i
worthless, f3r when the people ceas
to be free citizens of the States the.
become. the subjects Of unlimite
and irresponsible Federal power.
When Congress abolished the 10
cal governments Of the South.
violated , yital principle in GU
| system.
Whom II erected military estah
lishmeats in their stead, it intro
duced the most abominable featur
Of desposism..
In further pursuance sof ] its pur
poses, Congress has thrown the po
litical power Of the South into negs
hands. s3ea ctr.
Tosassure this result, Il has dis
franchised the white population b
hundreds Of thousands. 80 Z
Enfranchising the blacks, it ha
made voters of the lgnorant. th
vicious, and the brutal; legislato,
Of those who regard liberty as Il
leenss, ana law as the instrument (
revenge; and rulers Of class who's
ideSs Of governments, like their NJ
1tions of. religion. tend directly , sn
inesitAhly to barbarisn-4s
.tMILIrARY GovERNAEAT' AND ITS RI
- - > =. eo!'s' .;s.as 49,. h,;;r.,
A, Having given the negro the rigt
Ito vots and the power to rule. Cor
'igress confesses k;s incompctency K
lcither By insisting that. the bayon,
Iofthe soldier, the disfranchisamay
| Of the citisens, and the superyisip
| of the Freednen's Bureeu are nst
sssary 70 sustain bin in his new =.