The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-11

q strong feeling in favor Of that line oi
action which shall restore order and con-
idence, and shall lift off the burdens
which now hinder and vex the industry
of the country. Yet, at this moment,
those in power have thrown into the Sem
ate Chamber and Congressional hall, a
new element of discord and Violence
Men have been admitted as representa-
tiyes of the Southern States with the
decl aration upon their lips, that they
can not live in the States they claim to
represent, without military protection.
These men are to make laws for the
North as well as the South; these men,
who, few days since, were seeking, as
suppliants, that Congress would give
them power within their respective States
are to-day the controllers Of the action
| of these bodies, centering them with
minds filled with questions and demands
that Congress shall look upon the States
from whick they come as in conditions Of
civil war; that the majority Of their pop
ulations, embracing their intelligence,
must be treated as public enemies; that
armies must be kept up at the cost of the
people Of the North for their restraint;
and that there shall be no peace and or
der at the South, save that which is made
by the arbitrary power.
Every intelligent man knows that they
not only owe their present positions to
disorder, but that every motive springs
from the love of power; of gain: from a
desire for vengence, which prompts them
to keep the South in anarchy. While
that exists they are Independent Of the
will or wishes Of their fellow citizens;
while confusion reigns, they are the dis
pensers of the profits and the honors
which grow out Of Government Of mere
force.
! These men are now placed in positions
where they can not only urge their views
of politics, but where they can enforce
Fthem, when there shall be admitted in
this manner, Senators and Representa-
ltiyes from the remaining Southern States.
Although they will have, in truth, no
Constituents, they will have more power
in the Senate than majority Of the peo-
ple in this Union living in nine Of the
great States. In vain members of the
Republican party have protested against
the policy that led to this result:
While the chiefs Of the late rebellion
have submitted to the resultsof the war,
and are now quietly engaged in useful
pursuits for the support of themselves
and their families, and are trying BY the
force Of their example to lead back the
people of the South to the order and In
dustry not only essential to their we'll
being, but to the greatness and pros per-
ity of our common country. All see that
those without ability, or influence, have
been thrown, by the agitation Of civil
conv ulsion, into positions of honor and
profit, and are striving to keep alive the
passions to which they owe their elega.
tion.
And they clamorously insist that they
are the only friends of our Union. Proof
Of that can only have sure foundation in
fraternal regard, and common desire to
promote the peace, the order and the
happiness Of all portions of our land.
Events in Congress since the adjourn
ment of the Convention have vastly In
creased the importance of political VIC
tory by those who are soaking to bring
back economy, simplicity and justice in
the administration of our National affairs.
Many Republicans have heretofore
clung to their party, who have regretted
the extremes of violence to which it has
run. They have cherished a faith that
while the action of their political friends
has been mistaken, their motives have
been good. They must now see that the
Republican party is in that condition,
that it can not carry out peaceful pol
icy. Whatever its motives may be, it is
a misfortune not only to country, but to
itself, for its action is unchecked by any
form of opposition.
It has been the misfortune of the Re-
publican party that the events Of the
past few years have given it SO much
power thatit has been able to shackle
the Executive, to trammel the judiciary,
and carry out the views of the most un-
wise and violent of its members. When
this state of things exist in any party, it
has ever been found that the judgment
of its ablest leaders do not control.
There is hardly an able man who has
helped to build up the Republican or
ganization, who has not, within the past
three years, warned ii against its excess
es-who has not been borEe down, and
forced to give up his convictions of what
the interests Of the country call for; or,
if too patriotic to do this, who has not
teen driven from the party.
If this has been the case heretofore,
what will be its action with this new in
fusion Of men who-without decentre-
speet for the views of those who had just
given them their positions-begin their
legislative career with calls for arms, and
demand that the States shall be regarded
as in condition of civil war, and dec
laration that they are ready and anxious
to degrade the President Of the United
States whenever they can persuade or
force Congress to bring forward new ar
tlcles Of impeachment?
The Republican party, as we'll as we,
are interested in putting some check to
this violence. 1t must be clear to every
thinking man that distribution of po-
|litical power tends to check the violence
of party action; and to assure the peace
and good order ofthe country. The cleo
tion of Democratic Executive, and a
majority of Democratic members in the
House Of Representatives, would not
give to that party organization power to
make sudden or violent changes, but
would serve to check those extreme