Year: 1868



 late insurgent States, who have been elected the past spring, have short lived official honor before them. If admitted by the present Congress their terms expire with the Congress admit ting them. That will be on the 4th of March next. They would be members of this Congress only. This would be perhaps an advantage to the Radicals who want the Electoral votes of the l States for the Radical Presidential can- didate. But there must be a new elec- tion this year for the Forty-iirst Con- gress in all the ten States. How would such elections result? That is a serious question for the Radicals. With the State governments in opera tion, the military withdrawn, what certainty is there that the white men of those States woald not reverse matters and elect Democrats to Congress? It is perfectly we'll known that there is anxiety at Washington among Radicals on this very point. They are not sure that the Southern States would remain Radicalized through one election after the State governments assume supreme control, and the people are released from military supervision and the con- trol of officials bolstered up by Con- gress. It is on this account that some Radical Senators discourage haste in admitting the ten States. It is in view of such possible result that some Senators propose to establish an anom- alous condition of affairs there, admit ting them back to the Union as CO., equal, sovereign States, and yet con- tinuing to exercise over them Congress- ional and military control, on the plea that it will be necessary, in order to give successful start to the new order of things. Such plan is of itself a confession that .'reconstruction" will not last day, if the people are left to administer their own affairs, but would be overthrown by the people as soon as the Congressional despotism ends. There is, in fact, no alternative for the Radicals, and the people might as well understand it. Reconstruction has been achieved by bayonets at cost of one hundred millions per annum. Such reconstruction will not last six months after withdrawal of the army. The white people of the United States, in every portion of it, will insist upon their right 10 govern themselves, frame their own Constitutions, and make their own laws. Reconstruction in the South is not the work of the people, but of Congress, and when the Con- gressional tyranny ends the recon struction work will tumble to pieces. The alternative then is for Congress still to maintain standing army in the South, calling upon the people to pay one hundred millions per annum for the outrageous business. Persistency in Radical reconstruction means large standing army, an expenditure of one hundred millions annually, oppressive taxation and continued debt Let the ten States enjoy the liberties guaran- teed to all the States and govern them selves, and instantly scores of millions wrenched from the pockets of the peo- pie will be saved to them, the prosper ity of the South will begin to return harmony, peace and contentment will prevail, and the Republic will move on as the fathers designed. It might re- suit, and probably would speedily re- suit, in the return of Democratic Rep- resentatives to Congress. But this would be as just and proper as for Massachusetts to send Radicals, for such would be the twill of the people," To deny to them the realization of that will is the guilt of Radicalism. But it cannot last. The white people of the South will rule the South.-Missouri Republican.