Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-25

that the success of their State ticket will be
equivalent to return to the prohibitory
law, with its attendant constabulary. l
think that there are two matters of national
interest involved in this election, one OF
which is important the other vital. The
former, which take to be the financial
question, was not treated by the National
Convention in New York in a manner
which satisfied my Judgment. By provl-
ding for a payment of the bonds known as
fve-twenties by surplus revenue alone,
thus ignoring what seems to me the valu-
able part of Mr.. Pendletons plan, with
drawal of the issues of the national banks,
the Democratic party appeared to commit
themselves to an indefinite extension Of
the intolerable nuisance of an unredeema-
BILE paper currency. [ am too much of a
Democrat to regard any such prospect with
patience ] believe in hard money, and
therein I hold myself to be true Jackso-
MAN Democrat This dishonored paper
which we are all compelled, as I think IN
constitutionally, to accept as money, is not
only standing disgrace to the nation, but
it is destroying the ancient habits OF econ
omy and thrift, and undermining our old
fashioned honest ideas by the constant
spectacle and example of an insolvent gov
eminent. 1t lays upon the poor man a burden
heavier than he can bear. 1t in ures trade,
commerce, and all productive industry each
year more than the whole sum of doubtful
game which might accrue from cahcelling
our debts by promises to pay which we do
not redeem. If persisted in, I think it
must result in reputation and bankruptcy.
In that event the responsibility will rest
primarily with the party which made tho
notes and then refused, when they had the
power, to make them good, and next with
the Democracy, it they are tempted to fol
low that bad lead. 1t is with peculiar
pleasure, therefore, that [ read your de-
mand for sound and honest currency.
But even if [ differed with you on this
subject, and saw any relief in the party
chiefly responsible for our present leplora-
BILE financial condition, regard the second
or vital question of such moment that my
political action would be governed by the
attitude OF the opposing parties IN refer
ence to that alone The issue which, IN
my mind, dwarfs all others is, shall the
| Constitution or shall a party mandate be
| the supreme law of the land :? Fidelity to
the Constitution should be the final test of
| political utilization to-day. But to act with
the party which has ruled the country
with supreme dominion for three years
past, L must agree with them that the Con-
stitution contemplated an ultimate absorb
ton of the most important functions of the
executive department by Congress that
its fair construction will authorize that
body to wrest from the judiciary depart
ment the Jurisdiction in cases where its
Judgment upon constitutional questions of
the first magnitude may possibly conflict
with that of a maj ority therein must
stand ready to fix my name to declara-
ton of political faith which expressly makes
approval of the impeachment of the Presi-
dent test of party fellowship; and finally,
I no oh 10
that consider reconstruction" for the
sake Of which all this and much more has
been done, is wise, statesmanlike, and con-
stitutional. Now, have always thought, !
with Mr.. Seward. that the wioest wav to
treat the wounds left by the war was to let
! them heal "by first Intention" But ere
construction has torn them open day by
day, until they are now mass of we'll nigh
iucurable gangrene. [ believe that true
craftsmanship wonld have imposed on the
southern leaders the task of bringing their
people back into the Union by frankly and
confidently offering to them the day they
laid down their arms the right hand of OBJ
livion of the past and reconciliation in the
future, which they might reject if they
wished or dared.
Reconstruction has scorned their !
protests, repealed their aid, insuIted their
misery, and inflicted on them an abase-
ment which they felt to he intolerabIe, in |
posting over them their slaves of yesterday |
to secure their pledge of submission to the |
Constitution. But for this ungenerous and |
suspicion, policy believe we might now
have been truly united people, the south
ern white recOnciled to the inevitable the
negro secure in his civil rights, and attain
ing political privileges rs he grew fit to
use them wisely, and the North ennobled |
by Il victory more noble than any feat of
arms-the conquest of its own passions. I
will not argue the unconstitutionality of
reconstruction. The almost unanimous
disinclination Of the Republicans in Con
gress to allow it to undergo the scrutiny Of
the Supreme Court would seem to confirm
the reported statement of the lamented
Stevens, that only two damned fools in
the party believed the reconstruction acts
to be constitutional. Even if they were
so, Ishould deem them unwise. The Union
they impose is, to my eyes, no more like a
true union OF hearts and hands than a gal
vanlzed corpse resembles healthy man.
All the dolngs of men are governed by the
laws of nature. The attempt to subordi-
nate the trained and able classes of white
landholders at the South to the poor, igno-
rant, debased, and landless freedmen, is
one of those futile struggles to repeal Gods
law by statute with which history abounds.
IL uuSt 4dIl, Dut IL is OI great moment GnaC
it should be stopped at once. Every day
it lasts it is encouraging false hopes in the
negro and rendering resumption of a
true relation between the blacks and whites
more difficult. [ think that neither the
instincts nor the destiny of this peo-
pie will allow any permanent DONNA
ton to the African race in any State of the
Union. But the Republican party is ire
vocably pledged to this idea. They have
staked their existence as party on its tri-
umph. TO this idol they sacrificed their
constitutional obligations in the past, and
tor 1t they must find fresh offerings in the
future. The blacks must have lands and
arms and standing army to maintain them
in their false position. They are clamoring
for them now, and the United States must
furnish them.
The path upon which Congress has en-
tered permits Of no halt, and retreat is
ruin. In my opinion we must begin anew,
taking the Constitution for our guide and
natural laws for our limitations. It is true
that the Democratic party in success may
violate the pledges of adversely, and again
1oy0rt tho Tbo Z