Year: 1868

we WOulu DC giau to Qulet thc aIiN- ieties of our readers by answering this momentous question, which, in private intercourse, is asked almost hourly and daily; but we regret to say that the result is still involved in doubt, and that, at this distance from the national capital, we are left to speculation and the theory of probabilities for an ap- proximate conclusion.

 At the late election on the adoption of the constitution, the radicals claimed a total majority of l,679. In securing this majority frauds of the grossest character have been prGcticed, and be- yond our power to fully bring them to light. During the progress of the elec- tion, the Democratic State Central Committee received early advices from precincts, townships and counties, with usual accuracy, and the time elapsed since those returns came to hand has been ample to afford opportunity for correction and, according to present data, the constitution was actually yo- ted down by clear majority of 6,342.

 To establish our claims, the central committee have, with much patient la ber, and at considerable expense, for warded to the commanding general of the district a large mass of evidence, showing that ballot-boXes had been stuffed that persons disqualified from --.a vol i~t~-.~~- i---t .e- s-~t .i---s the privilege of franchise had been exercised once, twice, or more, by the same persons at different places; that electors, fully entitled to vote, had been unjustly cut off; that ballots against constitution had been fraudulently de- stroyed or changed; together with other information valuable to the military authorities, should they be actuated by desire to dc justice in the premises.

 These facts ih brief, corroborated by an expressed purpose on the part of the commanding general 10 hear the testimony impartially, and do justice in the matter, would naturally lead to the conclusion that the present state government will not be changed, and that the proposed constitution will not be accepted. But whether it will or not is matter of grave uncertainty, for the reason that the party is forced to a position of extreme desperation, and will leave nothing undone that might contribute to its further success. The presidency is the first point sought to be made. If the accession of Ark ansas would be likely to aid in the &C., complishment of that end ceteris pari- bus, the state will probably be accep- ted, and her distinguished delegation admitted to seats on the floors of con- gross. But possibly the great radical council, reckoning on success without the aid of the south. and fearing, as well, the censure of the north, at the possibility of these newly reconstructed states passing beyond their control at their first elections, may wisely con clude to drop them for the present. New York and Pennsylvania arc worth looking after certainly, and the shrewd radical leaders will not be likely to risk their fifty-nine presidential elec- tors to gain the five to which we are entitled. The Alabama case is directly in point, and very well illustrates the republican estimate of the value of its reconstruction measures. It would have required but little stretch of the radical conscience, at its present ten sion, to have taken Alabama in but it was remembered how ominously Ohio and Michigan, with their twenty-nine electors, had whispered ''beware!' And so they passed her by.

 It is urged by some, with much force, that the radical party has risked all on it's pet reconstruction measures, and so far committed it's leading organs and public men to them, that it will be fore ed to concede quasi endorsement by the admission of at least one state, and that our own is probably the most available. Nothing is more certain than that the drowning monster will not cling to this straw, when there is a plank in reach. If backing reconstruc- ton will defeat the party, reconstruc- tion will not be backed; and if it is thought that the negro burden cannot be borne, it will certainly be cast of; but whether timely enough to save us, is matter of doubt. The result will probably be known within the next ten days, and we await the expiration of that time with deep interest.-Littlc Rock Gazette.