The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-01
4 Gcorgia Senator.

reSpes, ith iteStinkbf inf&zhy and its
rotten line az loyaE AM one after
anothet tlle Southeri States ;2re cmptyl
ing their carpcthaggers and scrubs into
the halls Of Congress Now comes
-Georgiaswithsa Senator elect IN the per-
son of Mr.. Foster Blodgctt-thc leader
of the Republican party of the State
Dosrou know Blodgett's recordi lido;
for learned it a few years ago in the
city of AUGUSTA, ., where. e,l.iyes. : at
the outbfeak Of che waft &c, was etiie
meanest and most malignant rebel in
the State. When Alexander Fl. StepE-
ems was speaking in language which in
the light of subsequent events reads
like the inspiration of prophecy against
seccssion-disavowiDg its causes and
foretelling its consequences-this man
Blodgett was Organizing a Vigilance
Committee in Augusta to hangl every
man who lifted his voice in favor of the
Union. Stephens, who lives near Au-
gusta, was one Of shis threatened victims,
and Blodgett did his best to incite mob
violence against that great and, good
man. he,remaincd at his home during
the entire war, prosecuting Union men,
but too. great a coward to expose him.
self to the hazalds of the battlefield
When peace came he rushed to Washing
ton, pledged himself, to the support Of
Johnsdns administration, and was ap-
pointed postmaster of Augusta, He
took the iron-clad oath without any re-
servation-Whereupon he was. indicted
by the Grand Jury for perjury-indict.
ed by men who knew his record, and
many Of whom had been the victims OF
his villainy in the days of secession.
have lost sight of the matter since, and
do not know swhetheraor not he was ey-
er tried for his crime But now he looms
up as the loyalist par sexcellence os Geor.
gia, and the people are called upon to
shout and clap their hands at the return
of an "erring sister State under pol.
fey which puts q premium ON evillainy
and exalts treachcry into virtue by the
election of a fellow like Blodeett.
can't see it in that light Twould rath.
er rejoice over the dismembeffhe ent OF
the Union with thirty-seyen petty repub.
lies ruled and controlled by men of hon.
or and integrity than over the consolida-
ton of thirty-seven States with one Re
public ruled by scoundrels.
But the Radical answer to all such ar.
ticles as this ready made d Democrat.
ic hate of men who repent of their par
ticipation in thesrebellion.' Not at all
If the cowardly crimes of Blodgett are
to. be forgiven by the Republican party,
why not the brave crimee of Others NY
objection is to the policy which allows
such man as Bfodgett to rise to power
on the political ruin Of the men who
were associated with him in the work oi
secession. Why make d .straitor' ol
Toombs and a spatriot'' of Blodgctt?-
The question answers itself, and shows
the slimy filth of Congressional recon
struction all the way through, from its
first act to its last. Mr. Toombs coald
be patriot" too, If he were. not 8
gentleman. Doubtless he, too, could be
taken to the bosom of the loyal party
if he would but denounce his old com
rades in secession, applaud their disfran
ciiisement, and help to trample then
with the heel of military tyranny. And
thus the work of Congressional recon
struction goes on--flling the highesI
posts of trust and honor in Americs
with the vilest wretches on the face oi
the earth-and succeeding such men as
Toombs and Stephens. in the halls oI
Congress with the Blodgetts and Black
guards Of the Southern States. Proceed
gentlemen, and all ye conscientious debt
payers walk up to the captains Office
and settle the bill. The liabilities of tht
H"war for the Union'' are but three thou
sand millions; the assets are Blodgett
Revels, and negro suffrage-MAcK
Washington Correspondent Cincinnati
Enquirer. 7 z