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Editorial
October 10, 1867
The Home Journal
Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
Editorial reflects on improbable 1856 predictions of Civil War, abolition, Reconstruction enfranchisement shifts, military rule in South, and constitutional violations by radical party, warning of impending bloody revolution.
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What would have been thought of a prediction, made in 1856, that in five years from that time, this country would be involved in a gigantic civil war?
That in less than five years more slavery would be abolished throughout the United States.
That in less than two years more the slaves of the entire South would be enfranchised and the whites disfranchised.
That in the same period, a military despotism would be established over ten States: Legislatures dispersed: Governors and other civil officers deposed without trial, and the press placed under rigid censorship.
That the acknowledged leader of a revolutionary party would boldly declare, over his own signature, that the whole of this work was done "outside of the Constitution;" and that if any of his party "pretend to act under it, they were guilty of usurpation?"
And finally--
That, by the same unauthorized use of power, the President would be deposed before 1869!
Any man who seriously predicted in 1856 that such events would occur in the United States before 1860, would have been regarded as a fit subject for an insane retreat: and yet all but the last have happened, and the last will occur, or we have, after all mistaken the character of the leaders of the radical party.
Would the prediction of a bloody revolution in this country, within eighteen months, be as improbable of fulfilment as the prediction in 1856, of the events we have recorded?
That in less than five years more slavery would be abolished throughout the United States.
That in less than two years more the slaves of the entire South would be enfranchised and the whites disfranchised.
That in the same period, a military despotism would be established over ten States: Legislatures dispersed: Governors and other civil officers deposed without trial, and the press placed under rigid censorship.
That the acknowledged leader of a revolutionary party would boldly declare, over his own signature, that the whole of this work was done "outside of the Constitution;" and that if any of his party "pretend to act under it, they were guilty of usurpation?"
And finally--
That, by the same unauthorized use of power, the President would be deposed before 1869!
Any man who seriously predicted in 1856 that such events would occur in the United States before 1860, would have been regarded as a fit subject for an insane retreat: and yet all but the last have happened, and the last will occur, or we have, after all mistaken the character of the leaders of the radical party.
Would the prediction of a bloody revolution in this country, within eighteen months, be as improbable of fulfilment as the prediction in 1856, of the events we have recorded?
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Constitutional
Slavery Abolition
What keywords are associated?
Civil War
Slavery Abolition
Reconstruction
Radical Party
Constitutional Usurpation
Military Despotism
Enfranchisement
Bloody Revolution
What entities or persons were involved?
Radical Party
Leaders Of The Radical Party
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Radical Party Actions During Reconstruction
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical And Alarmist
Key Figures
Radical Party
Leaders Of The Radical Party
Key Arguments
Prediction In 1856 Of Civil War By 1861 Was Deemed Insane But Occurred
Slavery Abolished Throughout Us By 1866
Slaves Enfranchised And Whites Disfranchised By 1868
Military Despotism Established Over Ten Southern States
Legislatures Dispersed, Governors Deposed Without Trial, Press Censored
Actions Done Outside The Constitution, Constituting Usurpation
Prediction Of President Deposed Before 1869
Prediction Of Bloody Revolution Within Eighteen Months As Probable