The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-02-25

to tI.e Constitution Of the Enited States.
1lyssesIs IS. Cant las Seen officially
deeiared to have been elected Prcsi- +
dent ,ofstlis United States, in The very /
midsi, as II Wee, of one of the most
Eefiefaent and exciting debates on the
everlasting negro question that has ta- |
ken place for years. 1t was constant
ly proclaimed by his supporters, du-
ring the Presidential canvass, that his
election would at last give the country
"peace." The closing sentence of his
letter of acceptance, Inscribed as Z
motto on all the eiectiofeerihg ban
ners- of his: party, was, "Let us have
peace.n Ii this had any meaning, itr
must haEemeant that the negro agita-
ton, ghiehthas so. long conyulsed the
,countfN,lBas to be hushed, that while
General Grant was willing to accept
what had ND to that time been done,
and to regard it as final, he was op=
posed to any further advances in the
same direction !, opposed to the opcn-
ing of,newf questions ON this strife
stirring subject; !; opposed TO further
turmoil in behalf of the enegr0 race!
We all see how delusiEe, how perfidi-
ous,i was this pledge.0z The debates on9
the new onegro suffrage question arc;
so hot, the excitement runs so high.
lthatthe Senate held all ghtsessions,
and the conflict of argument and pas
sioniextendsno within half an hour of
noon on the following day. If the
proposed amendment passes Congress,
the exeiteinent will be transferred to,
the States, and the whole country be-
Yexed and heaTed like the billows of
the ocean. ziootl g 40 Ii ufd J,ila sd
q, It tisonot merely the ideep-seated and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 'of a large, per-.
ton of the people to negro equality
which Will shake, and eagitate the ma
ton; titsis not lnerelElthe opposition
of thoughtful minds Ito the cehtrafiz-
4 ing Iland consolidating, tendeneiesnoof
/ this Revolutionary measure sRliere
Yilbbe superadded to these indigna-
tionnefi honest and misunderstanding
menoatuthe egregiouse and shameless
pertidg ofIanpartS which gained the
election by promises of peace; and,
before their candidate .is;inaugurated,
plunge tho country anew into a eontro-
Eersy yswlrichirckindles the old embers
to glowing heat, and lfeFiyes IallIthe
raneor and bitterness of the stormy
period through which we have been
passing. This reckless renewal of the
negro agitation is5not, only a fagaaut
| per1idyTro The countFv, but an afffoht
and IAN insultnt9 General GpantliaIt
tramplesmpon ehis pledges. 1t is as
| faithless and 1eontemptuous towards
| him miasnthe grhmbling4 at THE terms. of
surrender he granted totthel rebel arr
my; i;sterihs (which the Radicals wished
ITO bReak.infE Surrender and you shall
/ not,be disturbed was no more bind
i ing upon the honor of General Grant
whenih he n1adeihis promise tosaIee's
army; them g Nectl me, and you shall
4 have peach, y binds hisH honor in nd
ministering i9thei government. BE- Fer
lCohgEess ito break hisipledges asthe
head, of a party, is not "a whit less dis
/ thonoring than itiwould have been TO
have broken his pledgssias ithe1headi OF
an army. b9u9I0 sisW lfdto1 9dI 4
Itis2notmerely General Gfant'sown
pledges that are treated by Congress
with perfdious seern; that body is
equally faithless respecting the pledg-
es made by the Republican party at
Chicago. With consummates and un-
blushing, hypocrisy, they disclaimed
in their platform any intention to reg,
ulate the elective franchise in the loy-
al States by Federal interfersnce.-
'.sThe question of suffrage in the loyal
States. properly belongs to the people
/ of those, States" was their election
eering declaration. This declaration
was q btazen deception. The pledge
lis violated at the first Opportunity
After, ipveigling the country to elect
their candidate on this faithless pledge,
they treat it with as much contempt
as if it had been a part of the Demo
cratic platform. .I. @,,i4,,a, no
u The spirit of honest Indignation
(which this wanton violation of solemn
pledges viii rouse throughout the
country, win insure the defeat of this
absurd amendment, and shatter the
,perfdious, party which thus practices
upon the public credulity and sports
i with the Confidence Of tile country
II General Grant is an honorable, high
] minded man, such perfdious conduct
:, will disgust him as much as it viii
shock and revolt the people. What
right has the Republican party, after
using his name to carry the election
to pour contempt on, promises whicE
/ they borrowed Of, him. as their rally.
ing cry T With what face can the,
!, ask him to respect the Republican
platform, vi when they proclaim, BY fheil
=. own measures, that, its declaration. on
! were false and hollow we hope w w
may not be Compelled to believe tha
General Graannt has been acting par
4 as faithiess and iinnsincesrre : as as that .
5, Congress! The sstteadinl,ess and so1idi
i|ty Of character r9 with which he is cred
tied are ssiinlggnlarly at variance viii
that restless love of agitation antt nc
demonstratiye fanatiitciissim which be
long to the Radicals. Unless he hia
been actinsgg" y" part, he heartily despise.
the fuss fuss. tie parade, the stump ofisato
TRY, the Wild ebuilifionss of pas passion, sion1 til,
fierce Sectional vengeance, EN- a the Sense SEN
/ liless deiicatiomn Of the negro whicl
! are the vital breath of the Republican
n party The country .yearrnss' fol! peace
IDS 4 tempest-tossed and sea-sieR9 Va 1oy 4
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