The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-10-01

declaration, and to the end that We
might know at what time We could gc
back and say who were the citizens Of
the States, 1 asked that they would de.
clare that these questions belonged to
the States under their constitutions up
to the year 1866. Gentlemen were
there from the North, South, East and
West, and by all We were met with e.
trems cordially. They said they we're
willing to give rs everything desired ;
but we Of tho South must remember
that they had fight to make, and it
would not be policy TO place upon that
platform that which would eneender
prejudice at the North. They, how
ever, pledged themselves to do all in
their power to relieve the Southern
states and to restore to us the Corsiitu.
tion as 1t had existed A. We were
met in such friendly spirit, I could
not but reciprocate it. l knew that l
was representing the feelings of nv
people whe" did so, and told them
that l would withdraw all the rcsolu-
tions that l had offered, and no doubt
other Southern delegates would do the
same, and would accept the resolutions
by Hon. Mr.. Bayard, tho Senator from
Delaware, which declared that the right
of suffrage belonged to the States. I
said would take the resolutions if they
would allow me to add but three words
which you will find embodied in the
platform. l added this: sAnd We de-
clare that the Reconstruction acts are
revolutionary, unconstitutional aud
void.'" -.
1t is plain that the rebel leaders have
an understanding with the Democratic
politicians Of the North, that, in case of
the success of their Presidential ticket,
the results Of the late struggle shall be
obliterated as tar as possible, and the
South be put where. it was before the
war, the bare act Of slavery alone ex-
cepted. The blacks will be 1isffan.
chised, the con6scated property be re-
stored, virtual reputation be the policy
toward the war debt, the Southern Un-
ionists be delivered over to the mercy
Of wrathful neighbors, and the old State
Constitutions be declared to be in force.
This cannot be done or even attempted
without bloodshed. Already the mere
hope Of such triumph is instigating
outrag:s at the South on whites and
blacks, which are . sure prediction of
the more dreadful future. Armed RI
oters break up the courts, Union men
are driven from their homes, and sys-
tenn of intimidation is entered upon
which is intended to deter the blacks
and the Republican whites from at-
tempting to vote in the Presidential
election. 1t is this prospect which in
duced the Alabama legislature to use
the extreme measure Of adopting a bill
directing the choice Of Presidential
electors this autumn to be made by the
legislature, as has always been ::::.e
case in South Carolina, was formerly
true Of other States, and is perfectly
compstible with the constitution Of the
United States. We are not sufficiently
possessed OF the facts in that state, to
judge whether a course, now SO unusu-
al aud unpopular, is or is not necessi-
ty. As further evidence of the spirit
which is reappeariug at the South We
quote from u recent address Of Ex-Gov.
Brown Of Georgia, the following dis
tinct statement
"In 1860 I acted with these leaders.
/ knew their counsels; heard their
popular language and their appeals to
the prejudices of the people. They
touched the popular heart, and they
moved the mass to action. I hear the
same expressions now, the same artful
appeals to popular prejudice, the same
key-notes to revolution and see the
people who have lost heavily by the
war, and whose prejudices, as these
leaders know, are, on that account, tho
more easily moved, shouting the war.
cry, and moving forward like sheep to
the slaug ghter."
The political prospect at the South is
not cheering, but an clement of hope
is found as regards the national result,
in the probability that these exhibi.
tions of violence and revelations of q
secret understanding between the reb.
els and the Democratic leaders, will re-
act in favor Of the Republicans at the
North, and enable them to sweep the
loyal States by an immense majority.
The people wish peace and not war; .
settlement and not further agitation
Of reconstruction. We have faith that
they will rise now in their political ma
jesty, as once they did in their military
strength, and decide this whole contro.
versy forever. To this end let every
man impress his neighbor with the
idea, that the election of Grant and
Colfax means peace, order, justice, law.
liberty and prosperity, while the cleo
ton Of Seymour aud Blair as surely
means violence, misrule, anarchy, war,
oppression, aud both national and indi.
vidual bankruptcy. A plain Christian
duty is, to save our country this autumn
at the polls.
FRANK DA00ETT. of the Wabasha