National Republican., 1878-07-18
UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE.

UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE.
If the full control Of the General Govern
ment should ever pass into Democratic
hands, the consequent results would not
only saddle upon the Taxpayers Of the
country an additional burden of debt aris-
ing from payments for emancipated slave
property, but the war amendments would
be practically expungcd from the Constitu-
tion. We are aware that this rather compre-
hensive declaration of the possibilities of
the future will be hooted at and denounced
rs bugaboo political spook invoked to
frightcn the people or intimidate voters
with fear Of terrible future results; but
we are willing to abide by it, and put it
forth as a solemn prophecy, the contingent
realization of which we hope will be avert
ed by the wisdom and patriotism Of our
people.
AS evidence ofthe purpose of the Southern
Democrats to secure payment for their
emancipated slave property we have already
frequently cited the fact that lists Of that
property have been carefully prepared and
filed away in the archives Of county and
municipal governments, rs well rs other
places Of safe keeping The manner in
which these lists have been prepared is
simple enough, for the interested parties
have sworn to and for each others lists,
which include the names, age, sex, and
worth or market value of their former
slaves Statements Of the aggregate sums
lost by each and every ex-slaye-holder in
the South by the emancipation, have thus
been readily obtained, and it is not i'm
probable that many false claims have been
included among them, filed or prepared by
persons who never held slave property, or
who did not hold any to lose during the
war. However this may be, the claimants
have done all they can by way Of preparing
for future collections aud are now anxious
ly counting the interest as il accrucs upon
their claims pending efforts to secure re-
turn Of Democratic rule.
When that return, if it ever is realized, is
accomplished, arguments will be adduccd
with which the public ear is already f,mil-
lar, to the effect that the emancipation
proclamation was an unconstitutional, un-
warranted, and unnecessary measure that
the constitutional amendments were lille
gally adopted because two-thirds of the
Statos-excluding West Virginia, manufac-
tured for the occasion-did not vote for
their adoption and that Congress- has the
power by joint resolution to set aside not
only the amendments but the laws passed
In pursuance thereof or to give them effect
and force. These arguments, already fimil-
lar, as we have said, will enter into the
campaigns for Congress North and South
in fact, they have already entered into them
in heSouth ina covert way, and will become
issues upon which Congressional contests
will Ike decided. Meanwhile the courts,
always pro-slavery under Democratic rule,
will be changed either by the force Of legis-
laton or by the casualties of the civil SER
vice, and in time every obstacle against the
payment of these claims will be swept
away. The claimants will receive thcil
money without the concurrence of the
States in any repeal of the amendments OF
with 1t, If possible but receive it they WILL
and the colossal increase Of the public debt
indicated above will follow, with the addi-
ton of grievous burden to the taxpayers
of the cou ntry. But the South will be the
beneficiary section and the North will, as
usual, bear the brunt Of the burden. The
South will thus get even" will the hated
"Yankees;' the country will relapse into
its ante-bellum condition, and the priceless
sacrifice ofpatriOt blood, offered TO preserve
the Republic, will have been offered in vain.
But there is an IL in the way, and it /,
one that the Democrats will remove II they
can. 1t Is the If that represents loyal senti.
ment against the aggression Of millions and
millions Of dollars embodied in these dis,
loyal claims. Pcaccable methods will pre-
vail in the North to maintain it and mur.
der. npine, and political prescription will
be the resort Of the South to overthrow it
The increased ratio of representation In
Congress and the Electoral College guaran.
teed to the South by counting the blacks as
citizens under the so-called unconstitutional
constitutional amendments, will be the
most effective agency in the hands Of the
Democracy in this contest The Repub
licans, in the event Of u realization of these
direml results, will have themselves, ant
themselves only, to blame They will look
back TO the history OF the past eight years
since the advent of Liberal Republicanisu
and the consequent growth Of Gush, Concilia
tion and namby-pamby, mud-sill, Southerl
hero worship, us the source ul all their woes
But so long as these possibilities confront TIN
public just so long will necessity exist 70
the permanent maintenance of the Repub
lican party, and for the patriotic inspiration
of Stalwart leadership within that party.
CONGREssMAS Il. W. TOWNSEND, Of Illinois
, IL with his family Mt Iano Nav