Year: 1871

the late civil war, and all that have grown
out of it. The Republican Interpretation
of the constitution denied the right OF Sc
cession; and when war was forced upon
the people to sustain it, the Democratic in
depreciation of the constitution denied
the right of the government to maintain
by forcible means the integrity Of the
country. After war had actually sheen
commenced by armed rebellion, the ma
tional forts in Charleston harbor fired
upon, and the national forces compelled
to evacuate them, the Democratic inter-
pretation of the constitution denied the
right of Congress to vote supplies OF men
and money to subdue the rebel forces
that threatened, with prospect of success,
the destruction of the country. In 1864,
when the war for slavery had ragged for
three long years, and it was yet con-
sidered doubtful by many whether, the
brave men who were upholding the
cause of freedom under the old flag
would be able to subdue the rebellion, the
Democratic party went into the Presiden-
tial contest of that year with the assertion,
in their platform OF, principles, that the
war was failure on the part of the Uni
ted States government and should be
abandoned: and Democratic interpreta-
ton of the constitution pronounced the
adjustment of slavery unconstitutional


After the surrender of General Lee and
the rebel forces under his command to
General Grant, it became necessary for
the United States government to take i'm
mediate steps for the full restoration OF
peace and prosperity to the country. Be
fore this could be effected the spirit OF
the fell demon of rebellion, still lin
gering in a few who desired, in their mad
ness, to strike a blow at the republic,
caused them to cruelty assassinate the
President. The death of Mr.. Lincoln
brought Mr.. johnson into the Presiden-
tial chair, and the Democratic party
made another desperate effort to have
Democratic Interpretation of the constl-
tuition prevail in restoring the rebel States
to their former condition in the Union.
Mr.. johnson was the willing instrument
of the Democratic party in this attempt
to restore it to power through the opera
ton of My Policy" instead of the
Congressional mode of reconstruction
finally adopted by the aid of
the people. A Democratic interpre-
tation of the constitution has steadily
and persistently denied, until recently,
the constitutionality of the amendments
to the constitution adopted since the
close of the war; and the reconstruction
laws. 1t is true, there has been some ap-
parent division of late on the subject of
continuing this opposition to Republican
doctrine and Republican Interpretation of
the constitution. Quite a number of in
fuential Democrats have doubted the
policy of continuing this opposition, and
some have gone into a movement called
the 'sNew Departure. The late Mr.. Val
landigham was the prime mover in this
proposed deviation of the Democratic
party from its long cherished views
and Interpretation of the constitu-
ton. And the movement is said to en-
brace no less parsonage than Chief JUS
tice Chase, who was anxious to become
the Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency in 1868 upon a suitable party plat
form. Yet there is actually no unity in
the Democratic ranks at the present time
upon the subject of the New Departure. V
But admitting that there may be before
the two parties fully enter upon the next
Presidential campaign, that simply signi-
fes that the Democratic party abandons
temporarily its opposition to accom-
plished facts for the purpose of regain
ing power, when with q Democratic
Interpretation of the constitution, il
means to undo all that Republican ad-
Illustrations, supported by the people,
have done. The Democrats, while feign-
ing to acquiesce in certain facts, do not
hesitate to proclaim that Democratic
victory in 1872 will enable them to restore
the wounded constitution to its old au-
thority, and arrest the alarming aggrand-
izement of what they are pleased to call
the central government. They are the
bitter foes of the federal or central gov.
eminent if they can not control it.
It is then a consolidation of central
power personal, imperial or aris


tocratic system anything they see
| fit to call it, But these charges the peo
| pie know to be false. The men and gov.
ernment thus accused are the choice o.
the people. There is no working of ire
sponsible power and personal government
in this country. The moment party is
crowned with power in this country it be-


comes responsible to the people, and i


its conduct is not good it will soon bt
hurled from power. This was the cast


with the Democratic party in 1860 Th'


government was then confded to Repub


lican hands by the people, and they have


continued to repose their trust in them be


cause the Republican party has continued


faithful to the public interest. The out


line or scheme of the Democratic party


can not be said to have changed in thu


least since 1860. 1t is in reality opposed


to all that the Republicans have dom


since they were called by the people tt


administer the government The differ


ence between the two parties is funda