Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-07-18

struCleu according ~ tIiC Nohsti'uhV"'
which is SAYING, and it is what they did
claim, that Congress had no right to pre-
scribe rules and regulations for the adj
mission of those States which had been
in rebellion.
II was the intention of the Democrats
in opposing the Reconstruction laws OF
Congress, that the States which rebelled
should be permitted to come back into
The Union, with the same rights and
privileges which they possessed when
they went out, with the laws OF Slavery
still in force. and their Senators and
Repres be admitted to seats in
Congress. with theiy hands yet wet with
the blood of the nations defenders
"Immediate restoration" was the howl.
ing CRY OF the Northern democracy,
which was soon repeated by their South
ern friends, and went revcrberating thro'
every part of the South. They were de-
termiued, though they had lost on the
field of battle, they would yet save them
selves in the halls of Congress. and hence
their eternal warfare against every meas
ure offered TO restore and make better
! the condition OF the South.
/ But hear them farther In speaking OF
the Republican party, it says: Instead
of restoring the Union, it has, 50 lar as
/ in its power, dissolved it, and subjected
ten States, in time OF profound peace. to
military despotism and negro suprema-
ey." And again: Under its repeated
assaults q. C., OF the Republican partly
/ the pillars OF the Government are rock
/ ing on their base. and should il succeed
I in November next. and inaugurate its
/ President, We will meet rs subjected and
conquered people, amid the ruins oil
/ liberty and the scattered fragments OF
( the Constitution; and We DO declare and
resolve, that ever since the people OF the
/ United States threw off all subsection TO
the British crown, the privilege and
trust OF suffrage have belonged to the
several States, and have been granted,
regulated, and controlled exclusively by
the political power of each State, and
I that any attempt BY Congress, or any pre-
teIt ,chateUer, 10 deprive any State OF his
! right, or interttre icith us exercise. as a
| fragrant uSarpGiion Of powcr whtcR can
md ,l0 rdrraM ia he Constellation. and
II sanctioned By tic people, WiH SaJre't
oar form Of gorerHmcIat, and can only
end az q single centralized and consolidate
I'd gorerHmeat. IN chich the separate ec-
iSteHcc Of he States 'ciH be entirely dJ-
sorted, al.d an unqualified deSpotiSna be
established ia the place Of tie Federal
| CHi0Ji." Yet further, lind Wc regard
/ the Reconstruction actSsSo called, Of Con-
QrcSS as such ga wSurpdtion and HncoHStt'
tciional, revolutionary and rotdn
But read the first resolution OF their
platform, set forth by the Democracy in
their State Convention held at Augusta.
Resolred, That burying out of sight all
dead issues, and deprecating The discus
sion of all past questions that can have
no application TO the present affairs and
condition of our State and country. &c.
And farther:
/ That we recognize our binding obliga-
/ ton TO the Constitution OF the United
/ States as il now exists. denouncing the
means by which the same became the su.
prume law Of the land.
/ Now where is the man so blind that he
cannot see from the lore going, one
of the most inconsistent somerSaults
ever performed by any party. So incon-
sistent and disgraceful. that it does seem
TO men OF reason and good sense. that
no party or set of men possessed OF COM
mon intelligence could I've found. who
would Stoop so low rs TO absolutely deny
the record made by their own hands.
But such is The fact, for their platform of
90 discards the right OF Negro suffrage,
and accuses the Republican party OF lis
solving the Union instead OF restoring it.
But, on the other hand. their late plat
foIm recognizes as binding. the obliga-
tons OF the Constitution, and Of course,
the Negroes right of voting, thus adopt.
ing and recognizing rs just, what they
then accused the Republicans of en-
deavoring to force upon the people for
their own political advantage. How does
the Democratic party cconcile this clash
If doctrines? How can they make their
National platform OF '6S coincide with
the doctrines of their New Departure
They cannot. They don't want to
reconcile these Inconsistencies, and il
thew did, they have SO far denied them.
selves that it would be useless for them
to attempt il.
They have said and repeated il. that
any attempt or any pretext whatever. by
/ Congress, to establish Negro suffrage, or
TO deprive the Southern States which had
been in rebellion, of the right of control
ling and settling this question themselves,
was fragrant violation of the Constitu-
lion. aud il carried out, would subyert
the Government 20 centralized despot-
ism. But yet, all this and still more has
been done, and we still breathe the free
mir CT free Republic Negro suffrage
was established, and the Government is
not &c, I despotism. We inaugurated
our President, and yet we are not sub
iected and conquered people, neither is
lillnriN In rilins nor The Constitution