Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-01-28
The Democratic Party.
ur New York Lecislature on the 5th

THE New York Legislature ON the 9Th
instant, by a party vote Of 16 to IL III the
Senate, and 90 to So in the Assembly,
passed a resolution resembling the ratifica-
ton of the Fifteenth Amendment made by
the last Legislature. The indications are
that the utmost strength of the Demo
cratic party in Ohio will be put forth TO de-
feat the amendment there. The party
platform and nominations in Indiana in
dicate like purpose there, if the Demo
cratic party can carry the State.
These indications Of the drift of Demo
cratic impulse show that, as heretofore,
the party relies on anti-negro prejudices
and passions as the strongest, and, at pres
ent, the only bond of Conference between
its members. The Fifteenth Amendment
simply gives to the black man through
out the Union the same weapon, without
which the white man has never yet been
able to enjoy or preserve political freedom.
To suppose that the black race can defend
their freedom without the ballot, Or that it
can really be free without the ballot, is to
suppose that it is superior to the white race
in this respect The real hostility to the
Fifteenth Amendment is the damn-the-
niggeranyhOw sentiment and, on this
platform, the Democratic party, after 60
ing into the rebellion upon it and getting
whipped upon it there, after going into
reconstruction upon it and getting whip
ped there, are drifting into a new cam
paign, not SO much because they think
the platform good one as because they
lack the wit or opportunity to agree on
any other. e. ~
1t is settled, therefore, that at least one
year more must be wasted in fighting over
issues upon which the sense of the
whole people has been fully taken, and
which have been decided by their votes
in favor Of the Republican party. On the
single question of Radicalism the Repub-
lcan party is about the best drilled, best
differed, most resolute, determined, over
whelming, and irresistible political party
the country has ever known. SO long as
the opposition will consent to go into the
fight on that question, Republican major
tiles will know no diminution. Begin
ming on the low ground that slavery
should not go into the Territories, advanc-
ing to the higher ground that it should
not be made means of strength to rebel
lious armies, then striking for The naked
right OF the slave to control his own per-
son and services, then rising still again to
the position that he should have free &C.
cess to our courts of justice, then that he
should have the ballot in all the rebel
States. The Democratic party has, by its
refusal to make terms of peace at any
point, compelled us to advance at last to
universal suffrage throughout the land, on
the broad basis of the declaration that
call government derives its just powers
from the consent of the governed" On
no other issue can we so easily preserve
the status quo of Republican ascendency.
Until this issue is settled reconstruction is
not settled. Until reconstruction is set
tied the war for the Union is not won,
and all the treasure, blood, and agony
of the past ten years are spent. in
vain. This is the logical popular convic
ton. This is felt, and therefore needsnot
to be proven. But if proof were needed
how easy to supply it. Unless the Fif
teenth Amendment pass, impartial suffrage
rests merely on State constitutions, re-
versible at any hour after the States are
restored. If impartial suffrage at the
South rests on State constitutions it will
be reversed, and the colored race will sinh
again, from citizens and equal working
men, who know their rights and dare
maintain them, into serfs, pariahs, out
casts, and refugees. No Legislature O
the Southern States, elected by white
votes and unrestrained in its legislation
will ever leave the blacks, as class, thei
liberty. The road from denial of the bal
lot as the starting point, straight down t
slavery as the goal, is short and straight
The restoration OF slavery is the restora
ton of war. All this is plain; and it need
only the heat and agitation of politica
campaign, conducted on this issue, to brin;
it out in its true colors as the same oil
fight between Freedom, Union, and tn
National Government on the one hand
and slavery, secession, anarchy, civil wal
and national dissolution and death on tn
other On this issue the American peopl
can and will never reverse their verdict
The longer the issue is kept up the NOR
determinedly and inveterately they vii
fight for the confirmation of all past vic
tories, and against the overthrow of
single result of the war Chicago 7ri6ua,
Jan. II.