Middletown transcript., 1868-08-29


sooner rush upon death itself than live de-
graded and dishonored lives. If there be
any people in the world who will not sub
nit to hopeless oppression, it is those who
have been raised under the free institu-
tions of the United States. Let each
voter of the North ask himself how he
would feel and what he would do, if an
usurping Congress were to deprive him OF
the rights of a freeman, and subject him in
life, liberty and property to the absolute
control of ignorant and pcnniless negroes.
As he would answer that inquiry, so let
him act. Let him not wonder that notes
such as he himself might utter under like
circumstances reach his ears occasionally
from the South; and let him ask himself
whether he is prepared by his vote to re-
produce on this continent the conduct of
England towards ireland, and of Russia
towards Poland. No man of sense and
intelligence can expect peace in the South
so long as a large portion of the white
population are excluded from all partici-
patton in their own government, and ex-
posed to be plundered and oppressed by
their late slaves, led on by adventurers
from the North. They laid down their
arms in good faith; they gave up their
slaves; they surrendered the princi pie for
which they had fought; they accepted the
poverty to which they were reduced and
they sought only to be allowed the privi-
lege of free and loyal citizens under the
old flag. This, President Lincoln, and
President johnson, following in his foo =
steps, desire to concede them. The for
mer fell by the hands of rebel assassin
the latter has been ferociously hunted by
another class of assassins. The policy of
the two Presidents was identical and yet
our Radicals, with singular inconsistency,
defy the dead Lincoln and cruelty the liv-
ing johnson. Why is this? Lincoln is
out of their way, and they would profit by
his virtues johnson is lion in their
path, and they would destroy him for his
fidelity in attempting to protect the Con-
stitution.
What sort of peace is to be expected in
the South so long as white people are pro-
scribcd and negroes allowed to govern,
may be safely inferred from the condition
of those reconstructed States-Louisiana
and Tennessee. Their Governors and
Legislatures are calling for military aid,
avowing their incapacity to maintain peace
and enforce the laws by the civil authori-
ties. If this be so, it is conclusive proof
that Congressional reconstruction, as a
means of tranquilizing the South is n fail
ure. The road to peace is in another d.
rection. Let Congress retire within the
limitations of the Constitution. Let them
abolish their test oaths and remove all
their disabilities. Let them restore to
the President his legitimate functions, and
allow his pardons to have their constitu-
tional effect. Let them strengthen instead
of weaken the judiciary, and sustain it in
its full exercise of its powers, for the pro-
lection of both the white and the black.
Wipe out as with sponge all your er
post facto legislation. and restore to all the
States their constitutional rights. Do this
and you will have peace The men whom
you now hold disfranchised and have
pushed to the verge of despair will become
your sureties for the preservation of peace
and the restoration of order.
Reverse the picture, and what are the
of this country? Attempt to
sustain these negro governments by force,
and you rednce the prescribed white men
to despair, Your army instead of being
must be doubled The taxes,
instead of being diminished, must be in
creased. If Congress cannot { as they
have not) prevent an increase of our fright |
full national debt in times of peace, what
must be added to it by re-
newal of war? And in the anarchy which
must ensue, what is to become of our re-
publican institutions? Are we, like the
people of so many other republics which
have lived and perished, destined to seek
'or repose in the arms of military dcs-
Dotism? l implore my countrymen to
ook the dangers of the crisis in the face,
md so use the power left to them as to &C.
cure union, peace, and prosperity, without
urther resort to prescription or the sword
These views come from one who warned
he South against secession as the road to
'uin, BUT in vain; from one who warned
he Democratic party against yielding to
o the counsels of few leaders who were
ukewarm, or worse, in support of the war
or the Union, but in vain from one who
kinks he sees the fatal results of persis-
ence in Radical reconstruction as dis
inctly as he foresaw the results of seces-
ion, and the effects of Democratic policy
Turing the war; from one who wants
lothing from his Government but to be
and let alone; from one who
must soon be summoned before his Maker
o account for the manner in which he has
his duties to his God, his coun-
ry, and his fellow men.
AS ever, jackson Democrat,
AMOS KENDALL.