The Hickman courier., 1871-08-26
The Ledger on The .'Sess De-
partgFe.',

Departure" Judged, this journal at
tempts by some strange process to con
strue our recent State election, into
condemnation offhe so-called New De-
parture, and permits itself, indiscreteiy.
10 indulge 10 some unjustifabe refec
tions, such .ser instance as "the rear
guard of RadrGaiism,' etc, toward those
OF us who have the temerity to differ
with it on such questions. What good
does the Ledger expect to do the party
by this course? Whoia to be benefited
ty il? The position taken by our party
in our late contest warrants no such con-
clusions, nor does it justify such denun
citation. The LibeFaland Bourbon Demo
Gratis alike rallied to the support of the
s-gtate ticket, aua in no wise made test
of their respective opinions. The contes 81;
was between Radicalism on the one hand
and nuti Radicalism on the other, and
has this Significance aud no more.
Our Democratic State Convention
which assembled in May last eounte-
panced no such alignment as the Ledger
apparently attempts to institute. Our
published declaration of principles en-
dorsed the address of our Democratic
Representatives in Congress. which ad
dress recognized the amendments dc rae
70 the law of the land, and if we we're
moved By spirit & retaliation we might
'qiurl this back as direct condemnation
Of the Bourbon style OF the Ledger.
Those who are oRensiveIy termed New
Depnrturisss by the Ledger, simply plant
themselves on the constitution as the
sheet aDohor of safety. The party have
claimed to occupy this ground from the
earliest days Of its political history, and
therefore they have made no new 9spars
uye. We propose to accept the consti
tuition as the supreme las of the land,
and to hold the Radicals 10 it also.
There Democrats whom the Ledger so
hercely denounces, declare that the
late amendments we're adopted By force
sud fraud, but nevertheless know they
are de fczcto the law of the iand--a part
of the Constitution. the supreme law
and therefore should be accepted and
Obeyed as such. We Go not accept them
rs right in principle, but do IN good
faith propose 10 accept them as the law
Of the land. We are hopeful that under
Democratic construction, much Of the
sting OF these amendments. SO far as they
interfere with the rights of the States,
nay be taken out, but the Bourbon posi-
tFou, when stripped of all its CANNON aud
deDsgoguery, can fnd no relief but By
violent and revolutionary means. Few
OF them, we know, desire or contemplate
such resort but it is the legitimate re
suit Of their position. The sober sense
Of the country is realizing the facts.
These are conclusions that no unpreju
diced mind viii deny;
The negro is free. Whether he is
tree By virtae Of the 18th amendment,
which vas adopted by fraud aud force,
Is small question, when we admit the
fact that he IS free By general assent of
the people, aud his re enslavement ac
knowledged to be impossible and un-
desirable except By very few. There
fore there is no great sacrifice in accept
ing this as the law of the land.
We take the same position in regard
to the I4th and 18th Amendments. 1t
i practical fact that the negro is yo-
ter, and there is no probability of his
being disfranchised. Could the Bourbons
repeal the 18th Ameadmeut, the negro
would still be voter in most or the
States Therefore, the advocacy of the
repeal accomplishes ho.hing SO far as the
negro is concerned, and rice cers0, their
acceptance sacrifices nothing more than
Is already sacriSred. The new depar
ture movement therefore, only relieves
the country Of these dead issues, that is
cuts loose from the eternal niger aud
addresses itself to the living questions
OF the day, such as the relief of the tax
ridden country, the removal of abuses,
extravagance aud corruption in govern
n,ent, and the preservation of the Re-
public on the basis of constitutional
government even though the instrument
may not suit US exactly So far as these
amendments nnT strike at the Essential
lite Of the States, We cao only look to
s,he courts" and by construction TO
relieve as.
Tie Radicals will attempt to force the
Democracy to the fight on the Bourbon
grounds, but the NSHtiOnal Democracy
will cut loose frqln its embarressments.
Every Democustie State Convention
which has yet assembled has given them
the direct cut. sod when 10 National
Convection they wil hdo tue same. These
ulg organs should Therefore be slow 10
read others out Of the Democratic party,
for fear their own cugses may return.
Again, the Northern Democracy, not
excepting a single State 90 far, has taken
the very position which the Ledger con
demns. Why should we tramniel our
Northern friends? Rather let Us be
guided by whatever they may determine.
Let them make the platform, nominate
the candidate, aud direct the canvass,
end when they say "pull," let every
democrat iu the South, "down to his
work.