The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-07-24
The Democracy and Recon-
sfFuRaiOn.

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The creed of the Democratic party
adopted at New York declares; "Thai
we regard the reeonstruction acts so
called, of Congress, as such, as usurp'
ations, unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void"
The direct issue is here made and
must be met whether all that has
thus far been accomplished in the diff
ficult and laborous work of reconstrue-
ton shall. be destroyed, or whether the
work of restoration shall be crowned
with complete and immediate success.
The Democracy say to the loyal
people of the United States, all that
has been done by your chosen repre-
sentatives in Congress towards restor-
inc the late insurgent States to their
practical relations to the National
Government is Revolutionary and
void"
II From regard to the feelings Of the
unrepentant rebels of the South, the
Democracy cautiously avoid declaring
that firing upon the United States flag
and forts, leyying war upon the United
States, shooting and starving men be-
cause they would not turn traitors to
their Government, we're in the sGght-
est degree revolutionary or even i'm
proper. Their curses and imprecations
are heaped upon the loyal men who
have been striving for three years to re-
establish the Union, but not one word
of censure is bestowed upon those who
labored for four years to destroy it.
We admire the frapknes of our po-
litical opponents when they inform US
that they propose to wipe out Of exist
ence all Congressional legislation look
ing towards the restoration of the
Southern States on the basis of loyal
manhood suffrage. What they want
is to 90 back to the condition of things
not at the close of the rebellion but
during the rebellion. They want to
place the State governments in the
same hands it was before the Confed-
racy collapsed, that is, in the hands Of
the leading rebels.
Without any guarantees, without any
indemnity for the past, or security for
the future, the Democracy propose to
hand over one third of the Union to
the unrestricted control of the enemies
of the Union, to commit to such hands
the lives and the liberties of four mil
lions of free men, without any Of the
pledges of freedom being fulfilled, or
any of their inaleniable rights obtain
ing recognition. The Democracy now
propose to turn back the tide of pro-
gress, to undo not only all that has been
done since the war closed, but all that
has been done SINCE the war began.
In short to place the negroes in the
power of their late masters, and the
Southern loyalists under the control Of
the Southern traitor.
How is this to be accomplished
Certainly not according to law or the
Constitution. By no possible contin-
tiugency can both branches of Con
gress pass into the haRds Of the Dem
oeracy. The Senate must be over
whelmingly Republican for the next
four years. The Democrats see and
acknowledge this. There is but one
suay, says Gen Frank Blair,-there is
but one way says the New York
World-there is but one way echoes
Wade Hampton-and that way is for
the 'DemecFstic President elect to de.
clare these reconstruction acts null and
void, compel the army to undo" the
work already accomplished, in short to
revolutionize the south by another
! rebellion,
This plan wont do. The FennTlle Tl
have had enough of war. Let us
have peace, thsy SAY. Above all we
must have obedience to law. He whc
counsels resistance to the law is him
self an outlaw, and will be driven from
society. This will be Blair's fate
Ohio State Journal.