Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-05-05

Kiux bill. but II is denounced by the Dem.
ocrats as unconstitutional. This was the
old cry Of the party. They had denounced
every measure passed by Congress to give
peace and security TO the South as uncon-
stitutlonal. The recent Legislature of In
diana he'd declared the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth amendments to the constitution
as illegally adopted. The Senator be-
leved the Ku Klux bill not only constitu-
tionsl, but necessary.
In reviewing the condition Of affairs In
the South, he said that in seven and he
believed he might say eight of the South
ern States, there existed q cOntederacy
called the Ku Klux- Klan, whose history
was one of blood and crime outrages and
murder. It was descendant, OF, at least,
a relative Of an organization that once ex.
listed in this State, known as the Sons of
Liberty. All its outrages were inflicted
upon negroes and Republicans, with a
view to cause them to abandon the Repub-
lican party, or quit the country, and 1t was
an important fact that not one member OF
that organization had been arrested or pun
ished as such for crimes so committed
Such state of affairs existing, 1t was the
duty OF Congress to furnish protection To
the white and black Republicans of the
10 but lull tAbtub VI lIlt pOWGI VI
the nation. This protection was due, not
because they were white or black Repub-
licans, but because they were human
beings-because the crime was perfected
in violation of the law Of Congress and of
the Fourteenth Amendment to the Con-
stitulion, and 1t was therefore the duty of
Congress to protectall citizens everywhere.
In reference to the condition of the
country and parties, he said the govern
ment must always be one of parties. Con-
ventions cannot make or unmake issues.
They grow out of the state of the country
and public opinion. Parties cannot define
issues. Their province Is TO take sides,
and the questions to be settled by the cam
paign of 1879 are those which have grown
out of the war. These are not dead, and
will not be dead until the Democratic
party is willing TO accept as accomplished
facts the settlement of the questions that
caused or sprung out of the war. The
party Is anxious to ignore them, but this
cannot be done. They must acknowledge
the reconstruction acts and the cOnstitu.
tional amendments as a final settlement of
the issues before they can be laid aside.
The Democratic party dare not declare its
acceptance of the situation. The Southern
wing Of the party controls that organiza-
ton, and has always done so. Mr.. Ste
| phens, in recent letter, declared that the
| South could not and would not accept the
| Republican adjustment of these issues as
final, and, ss soon "a the party In the
| North signifies Its willingness 10 do so, II
would cause disruption between the
| North and South. But the only hope OF
| success in 1872 was In carrying the whole
Of the Southern States. They dare not
lws, l. - nNxN,-s
and Representatives In Congress had pre-
pared an address, which was drafted with
view to meet the emergency, yet they
totally failed to meet the real issue. They
dared not accept the situation, and barely
alluded to it. An acceptance of the con.
stitulional amendments and reconstruction
laws as the final settlement of the issues
would cause a split in the party, and there
would be two Democratic conventions, as
in 1860. The fact that they will contest
the reconstruction settlement has been re
pestedly charged upon the Democrats il
Congress, and elsewhere, in such mannel
as to demand a reply, and yet this address
prepared with a view of meeting these
charges, had utterly failed of its object
To be successful in the next campaign
that PARTY must carry the united South
and then the South would control the sd
ministration. Being in power, what Womb
the party thus constituted dor The,
would refuse to pay the pensions o
our disabled soldiers, or the widows ant
orphans of the dead soldiers, unless tn
wounded soldiers and widows and orphan
of the G nfedeTacy were put ON the sam
footing. They would nottax themselves t
pay the principal and interest Of the publ
debt unless they are allowed pay for thei
late slaves. This charge has been repeat
edly made, but authoriiatively the denis
dare not be made. The Democratic part
does not anywh hv re aSosPt tho Fourtpent
and Fifteenth Amendments. Every Den
Ocratic member Of the last Senate of Ii
diana voted for resolution d claring tn
T adoption of the Fltet nth Amendmel
illegal. This action is to be taken as a r
Election of the sentiment of the party
Indiana. Give the party power and the
J will overthrow that amendment and di
{ franchise the colored men, and their SUI
: cess would unsettle everything. TT
! Democratic party had no policy to offe
: The address affirmed nothing, proposed I
new policy or measure. 1t is povert
r stricken as to principles. They oppoi
everything, but offer nothing better. The
: oppose the National Banks, but off
t nothing to take their place, They talk
e free trade, but dare not avow themselv
e in favor of direct taxation.
e In the recent election in the State loc
e issues had given the Democrats powe
but next year it would go Republican,
t a largely increased majority. We heal
t much about the disintegration of the r
q publican party, but it was not dead n
0 sleeping. 1t was girding itself for mo
, vigorous struggle than ever. The par
e will not close iIs career until liberty is 8
/. sured to ALL from the highest to &
d lowest. II is in the hands of an All-wi
J. Providence, and is being used for glo
Il Gus purpose.
e In concluding his remarks, he declar
l. his belief that, ii the Democratic par
d came into power, the Southern Stat
3. would quietly secede with the ssnction
n the party. The people of the South q
not believe the cause they hal fought
}. was lost cause, and still cherished t
l. dream Of a confederacy. JEFF Davis b
e so declared in a recent speech, and su
Ie was the hope INDUCED in by all. Tn
I did not believe there ever would