The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-08-21

IAe Democratic PaTty-A IH2rd Par
IT, Wherc WIZ Grant Stand-IHe
Test Oath IN Virginia-1He South
erm Ezections- What 1Ney Indicate
Especial Correspondence of Baltimore Gazette
WAsHINGToN. Aug. 4.-The hotch.
potch phase now worn by the Republi.
can party, as exemplified in the condi.
tion of things at the South, is peculiar
to that organization. and can have no
effect whatever upon the action of the
great constitutional party of the country
From conversation to-day with leading
Conservatives, am satisfied that the
Radical press may lay aside their fears
of surrender by their great national
opponents Of a single principle. The
whole reconstruction scheme, which is
not covered by constitutional amend
ments, together with all the unconstitu-
tional acts of Congress, will be fought to
the bitter end
Nevertheless, third panty is a neces-
sity. The Government cannot, ir self
defense, proceed much longer with the
extreme progressive programme of Sum
ner's faction; and Gen. Grant cannot, if
he so desired, do otherwise than run
counter ultimately to further aegressions.
He will be impelIed by a serious and
radical division in his own party inio a
position somewhat similar to that of his
predecessor. though differing in this
essential particular: Mr.. Johnsou's
movement was premature as proceeding
public sentiment in his party. General
Grant will find out that nine-tenths of
the country have become disgusted with
the Radical leaders, and with their
schemes of procrastination. A large
part of the Republican party want repose
They want "peace," as they call final
reconstruction. This third party wants
head, and would evidently prefer the
President, but cannot afford to wait
long. His best friends and relatives do
not scruplv to demonstrate and urge up
on him decisive step at once, but he
hesitates. His course, in respect to .Vir-
ginia, was, and is still, vacillating. He
promised what he had not the moral
courage to perform, and his course in
relation to Mississippi and Texas is yet
dubious. Mr., johnson left office with
out party, but with many wellwishers.
If the General shall fail to seize vigor-
ouslv upon the present opportunity, he
will leave the White House without
friend-rersonal or political-for with
the Radical faction he has already pass
ed the Rubicon.
During the brief visit of the President
to the capital last week, it is known
that he peremptorily refused to enter
:ain any proposition concerning the ac-
ton Of Gen. Candy in Virginia, except,
possibly, in the way of nugatory
"opinion of the Attorney General.
The satrap will probably be permitted
to organize the Virginia Legislature up
on the principle of the infamous test
oath. 1t will surprise many to be III
formed that Gen. Grant takes the ground
(couched in the very language of the
late President,) that the laws, as passed
by Congress, leave him no power in the
premises, except to remove the incum-
bent satrap! It would be useless for
any one perhaps to repeat the inquiry
put to President johnson on a memora-
BILE occasion, namely, why he declined to
exercise the power acknowledged to be
still lett? The deep .fnesse attributed
to the President on committing his willy
enemies in his own camp, is all very
we'll; but he must take care that his
own skirts are clear of the dust. Napo-
leon chose to assume the odium of the
execution of the Duke d'Engh ghein rather
than it should be supposed for a mo-
ment that any man would dare do such
an act in his name without his express
authority. It is not desired by his per-
sonal friends, learn, that the President
should remove Boutwell, and Robson
and Creswell just yet-but if he shall
permit Candy to undo all that has been
done in Virginia, according to the ex-
press wishes of the President, correspon-
dents here will then be bereft of the
pleasure of further favorable comparison
of our great Bonapart with the great
Corsican Captain. So ..
But all of this has nothing whatever
to do with the Democratic Conservative
party. Beyond an anxious desire for
the amelioratlon of the deplorable con-
dition of the South, the Democracy take
no interest in what are called the "elec-
tions,' in the States in that quarter. 1t
is freely admitted that the triumph of
Walker. or Senter, or Dent, or Hamil-
ton, could, in no conceivable sence, be
regarded as Democratic victory. The
Developments there are, however, un-
doubted evidence of the formation of
new and powerful party, which may Or
may not act as a foil to the tyrants who
havs so long despoiled those people, and
put it in the power of the President, if
he shall place himself at their head,
successfully to thwart further aggressions
The " live thunder" will he heard in
good time The Radical organs need
not anticipate it, nor be frightened a.
the paltry premonitions in Tennessee
and elsewhere. .+t
~~-c~~~~-~S~'~~~-o~o
Contracts FOR CHINESE LABoRERs.-
A San Francisco paper Of the 9th ult.,
says contract has been made in that
city to supply 10000 Chimes laborers to
be employed as plantation hands i'll Ten
nessee. The same paper commends the
Chinese laborers for the manner in which
they performed their work on the Pacif-
ic Railroad, and thinks general attention
has been attracted to this class of labor
for the reason that they have proved
themselvesunsurpassed as rough workers.