Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1838-12-29

WOulu uOt SUNNI w h"'S 'HS' "'NNN
bought privileges wrested from them, the
modest Wings call them 'REBELs."
Gov. Ritner has called out the militia
to regulate the outraged people and con-
tending legislators, which has yet proved
Intellectual. The keystone of the sth inst.
saws: "An armed force, from the city of
Philadelphia, have possession Of the Capt.
tol of the Stotc. Two companies have al
ready trriyed, and five more are expected
before morning" In the New Orleans
Bee Of the 18th, we find the following:
Governor Ritner is making an I'M
necessary parade in calling out the
militia; and thus far we ind that meas
urs has been totally inefficient in pro-
noting tranquility, and, in fact, has
had contrary tendency. There has
been democratic meeting in the coun-
y Of Berks, at which cammittee Of
500 men was appointed to proceed to
Harrisburg, and resolution was pass
ed. recommending that corpse Of 81
900 volunteers be raised, to be ready
to march at a moments warning. Go
vernon Ritner will look in vain for the
support of the community so long as
the law and the constitution are both
against him; even his federal volunteers
from Philadelphia. will be unwilling to
fire upon their fellow-citizens in order
to protect thir party from the conse-
quences of wanton infraction ofcivil
rights. The governors menacing and
angry style in his proclamations, and
the orders Of arrest issued against sev-
eral respectable citizens, are all calcul-
ated to inaamc the public mind, and to
bring the affair to serious issue, in
which blood may be shed. IfIn any
casual aifray between the two parties,
and more especially between the dem
oerats and the&oldicrs, drop of blood
should he split, compromise and recon-
cliiation will be rendered still more diff
ficult, if not utterly impracticable. For
this reason, the governors resort to
the military was highly injudicious and
ill-timed. The people of the state will
not tamely look on and see their coun-
trymen slaughtered for opposing by the
only means in their power, fragrant
infringement Of the fundamental laws.
The whole affair indeed bears so We
ry extraordinary an appearance, that
we cannot satisfactorily to our own
minds explain the proceedings of the
governor, the secretary ofstate and the
federal party in the legislature. We
cannot account for their conduct, ex-
cept by supposing that they entertain
Interior views, which are yet to be de-
vcloped.
Tuesday the llth was the day fixed
by law for opening and publishing tho
official returns of the governors cleo
ton and the vote on the amendments
to the constitution. We arc not well
enough acquainted with the provisions
of the constitution to say what will be
the consequences Of emitting to per-
form that duty on the day prescribed
by law. 1t may have been Ritner's OBJ
ject to keep the general assembly in
confusion till the day shall have passed
in order that he NAV continue in Office
some time beyond his constitutional
term. This is certainly the most har-
dy and barefaced attempt ever made
in this country to keep party in pow
er contrary to the legally expressed
will of the people. Every American,
whatever his political predictions may
be, must hope that it will be unsuccess-
ful and that those who are concerned
in it may meet with condign punish.
ment. lis broadly insinuated in some
ofthe federal papers that the inaugu-
ration of General Porter, the newly
elected governor, will not be permit
ted to take place. If they attempt to
prevent it by force civil war must be
the consequence, and Ritner will be
liable TO the pains and penalties of
reason.
. On Sunday the 9th a thousand ru-
mours were in circulation at Harris
burg, one Of which was that the yolun-
teers from Berks were marching to-
wards the capital, but it was premature.
1t is curious to hear the term rebel
applied TO those who oppose this daring
outrage upon the elective franchise:
the term is well deserved by Gov. Rit-
ner and his conductors, for their son
duct is revolutionary and su5yersiye of
our free institutions,