The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-12-24
SOUTHERN REpURLICANIsm "


When it is remembered that the
Republican party in Virginia was beat
en- by majority of $4,000, it seems
singular that there should be enough
of it to indulge in a split. Yet the
recent Convention in that State on the
oath of November, after somo extraor-
binary scenes separated into two fac
tions. The moro intelligent and de-
cent part, comprising some go members
of the original Convention, led by Jas.
II. Platte, a Radical member of Con-
gress, seeded and issued new call
for Republican Convention. The
other faction led by Chas. II. Porter,
another Radical Congressman, adopt
ed the resolutions which were tele-
graphed us some weeks since as the
platform of the Virginia Republicans.
These Virginia Republicans afEoid a
notable illustration of what Radical
ism is when unalloyed and unrestrilin-
ed. 1t was the Tennessee Convention
over again. Unreasonable, violent,
indecent, possessed of mono of the at
tibutesof craftsmanship, it had all the
characteristics OF truly progressive
Repubicanism. It was q specimen of
the reconstruction effected in most of
the Southern States, and from which
only Tennessee, Virginia and Te xas
have fortunately and for the time es-
capped.
The extract published below is from
the New York Heralfs account of the
proceedings. It is g miniature of re-
constructed politics in the South "a
specimen of the government to be
given Virginia and any other South hern
State under a stringent enforcement
OF the disfranehising and test oath
laws. We invite intelligent Republi-
cans in Oregon TO an examination OF
these revolving features of their party
in the South. We ask them to satisfy
themselves that that party is bent
upon a policy of hate and violen ce (;
that the disorders apparent in their
Conventions viii leayen the whole
lump of State politics. if Congress for
ces the State under the domination Of
that party. We ask them to note The
lamentable fact, that SO soon "a the
better part Of their own party in one
of these States frees itself of the vi
cious element and wins victory, upon
avowedly Republican principles, Con
gress eYinces q disposition to interfere
in behalf Of the defeated disreputables.
Witness the petition of the Tennessee
Republicans in Congress, asking that
body to set aside the late Tennessee
election. The fact is patent. that the
more degraded and indecent portion of
the Southern Republicans enjoys the
greater favor of Congress and obtains
in that body the highest character for
true loyalty.
The HeraLd's correspondent says
"If new elections are ordered, the
test cath exacted, and the officers Of
the State turned over bodily to Porter
and his faction, then they are willing
that the State should be admitted.
When the election Of temporary Chair
man took place, it became palpably ev-
ident that the anti-admission clan
were largely in the majority, and from
that moment the hall rcseInbled 4 per-
feet pandsmonium. Previous Radi-
cal Conventions, and even the State
Constitutional Convention, where the
most stormy scenes ever Witnessed in
such body were enacted, failed to
come up to the bedlam, excitement
and threatened violence on the occs.-
sion. Half, and often O majority, Of
the members were on the floor at the
same, tire yelling, and so1:se Of them
actually hooting, at the temporary
chairman, who was literally bewiIder-
ed and confused beyond comprehen-
sion and utterly unable to obtain Q
hearing from that body. The Conyen-
ton was held in an old theatrical hall,
the walls, windows, stage and benches
of which we're in dilapidated, shat
tered and most uninyiting condition.
There were no fires, and it was intense
ly cold the members kept on their
oyercoats, smoked cigars, walked, or
rather rushed, from bench to bench.
jumped mp spasmodically. yelling eve
ry two or three minutes and this ex-
ercise, together with the heat of the
debate, served to keep them warm. It
was rich performance, tho actors be-
ing in the body of the hall, with tho
audience on the stage and in the gal
leries- all of whom no doubt enjoyed
it."