Year: 1866

The Radical Ornt0rs-A Break in the Ranks.


The speeches OF the leading men in the
republican and radical party exhibit wide
difference in sentiment in regard to the con-
stitutonal amendment and the restoration of
the South. Their utterances on the stump in
different localities reveal the fact that they are
pulling in opposite directions and labOring to
bring about contrary results. This has already
been developed in this canvass to a sufficient
extent to show that breach must sooner or
later take place which will separate the mode
rate portion from the more radical element in
the party. Whenever this takes place the radical
Jacobins must 60 under and sink into obscurity,
where they should have long since been forced
to 60. The time when this rupture will be
effectual depends upon the action Of the South
in accepting the constitutional amendment and
the course Of the anti-radicals in the North.


The recent speeches of Thad Stevens and
Bethel Fisher Butler, for instance, foreshadow
a new crusade against the South. They init
mate that the adoption Of the constitutional
amendment by the Southern States will not
be sufficient, but that still further concessions
must be made by that people and other guar
antees secured. On the other hand, such rep
resentative men as Senator Wilson and Repre-
sentative Conkling, in their speeches on the
stump, repudiate this idea of Stevens, Butler
and Company, and declare that the faith of
Congress is pledged to admit the Southern
representatives upon their States ratifying the
constitutional amendment Upon this point
there is as wide difference between the
party leaders as that which exists between the
two political parties of the day. The success
Of the republican party in this contest will be
the signal for bitter controversy between
these two elements on the assembling
Of Congress Stevens will then unques-
tionably lead Off in his efforts to
compel the adoption of bis theories, which he
was unable to incorporate in the amendment
at the last session, while those who secured
the adoption of this amendment by the last
Congress stand pledged before the country to
insist that that, and that alone, shall be the
condition of admitting the Southern represen-
tatives On this point the issue will be made,
and on this rock the party must sooner or later
split. There is no mistaking the fact that the
sympathies Of the great mass of the people
adhere to the present constitutional amend
ment and are opposed to the extreme Jacobin
doctrine of Stevens, Butler and Company.


The public are anxious for the restoration of
the country; they are sick and tired of this
constant agitation and excitement about the
negro and the isms Of the Jacobins As long
as it continues it interferes with the business
arrangements of our mercantile and CONNER
cial interests. For this reason their influence
will be thrown in favor of the constitutional
amendment, as against the extreme faction, as
the best way Of again securing quiet, peace
and prosperity. In this condition Of affairs all
that is necessary is for the South to come for
ward and accept the amendments adopted by
tho last Congress, not only without delay, but
in good faith, and they win secure their early
admission into Congress and so strengthen
the hands of the moderate republicans that
they will be able to defeat all the efforts of
the radicals in requiring new guarantees. The
speeches Of Wilson and Conkling are pledges
to the South that the Reconstruction Commit
tee. and in fact q majority of the party in
Congress, intend to stand by the reconstruc-
ton policy incorporated in that amendment.
Now let the South come forward and strengthen
their hands, and they will nnd their constitu-
tional rights restored to them, followed by .
division in the republican party that will
secure the utter rout Of the radical Jacobin
faction before the adiourument of Couoress IN
the 4th OF next March.