The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-08-24


tiOm.
Il was reserved for the present genera
ton to produce clown, buffoon, an OBJ
scene jester, who, wearing the cap aud
bells Of the court fool, instead of the
royal diadem, should issue sdiots and
ukases with all the authority of an imps
rial Cesar. It is only in the present gen.
Grafton that a cross between a donkey and
monkey has become the king of beasts,
and cross between magpie and a car
rion crow usurps the dominion of the
leagls.
A nation priding themselves on being
the freest people on earth, half pitying,
half despising the people of Europe for
tolerating the restrictions continued upon
their liberties, has learned in three years
to not only tolerate but one half of them
to applaud the most outrageous acts of
tyranny.
It was no Cesar s'the foremost man in
all the world" it was no Napoleon daz-
zling mankind with his military prowess
who thus transformed this people from
independent American citizens to servils
subjects of an autocrat: It was clown
lish, second rate attorney from SaRgamon
county, Illinois. 1t is at his behsst that
men who three years ago held the Consti-
tuition only less sacred than the Holy
Bible, new dsnounee as traitors all who
do not join them in applauding him for
trampling it under his feet.
In the beginning of his usurpations ne
artfully managed violation of the Con-
stitution in such manner as to present
some appearances of doing it for the sup
preston Of the rebellion which he assist
ed to create. All remonst-ances were
drowned by the cry of military necessi-
Fty, military necessity"
But now he boldly tramples upon the
laws and constitution without attempting
to conceal the fact that it is solely for the
purpose of continuing himself in the office
which was Presidents, but which he is
making Kings.
The perjury of Louis Napoleon in vault
ling from the chair of President to the
throne of an Emperor was not greater
outrage than Abe Lincoln has psrpetrated
to gain the electoral votes of the seeded
States.
Congress passed an act defining the
terms upon which restored States should
be permitted to come into the Union, bat
the bill was such that Lincoln could not
hope, even by the most shameless fraud,
to obtain their electoral votes at the next
feIection. What did he do? Refused to
sign the bill, and it fell powerless. What
did he then do? He assumed the powers
of Legislative body and issued proc
lamation allowing them to vote for Presi-
dent in such way as to have their votes
completely under his control.
, Ben. Wade and Henry Winter Davis,
; the one chairman of the Military Com
mittse of the Senate and the other of the
House, both of them ardent Republicans,
, in their recent address upon this subject
say:
4 The President, by preventing this Bill
from becoming law, holds the electoral
votes of the Rebel States at the dictation
of bis personal ambition.
If those votes turn the balance in his
favor, is it to be supposed that his COM
petitor, defeated by such means, will ae-
quiesce?
, If the Rebel majority assert their su-
I premaey in those States, and send votes
which elect an enemy of tho Government,
will We not rspsf his claims?
And is not that civil war for the Presi-
\ dency inauguratsd by the votes Of Rebel
: states7
Seriously impressed with these dangers,
Congress, "tke proper Constitutional aH-
thority," formally declared that there are
: no State Governments in the Rebel States,
/. and provided for their erection at a prop
> er time; and both the Senate and the
I House Of Representatives rejected the
Senators and Representatives chosen un-
der the authority Of what the President
P calls the Free Consultation and Govern
r ment Of Arkansas.
/. The Presidents Proclamation "holds
, for naught" this Judgment, and dissards
: the authority Of the Supreme Court, and
strides hsadlong toward the anarchy his
Proclamation Of the 9th of December
Einauguratss.
e X
Mark the contrastl The bill requires
: a majority, the proclamation is satisfied
= with one-tsnth; the Billrequires one oath
9 the proclamation another; the Bill ascer-
!, tains voters by registering; the procIama-
y tion by guess; the Bill exacts adherence
: to existing territorial limits, the proela-
e nation admits of others; the Bill governs
r the Rebel States BY Law, equalizing all
f before it, the prcclamationscommit them