The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-24
OW it Works.
From the Jacksonville (Fla) Union

Like the "sOund of the fire-bcll at night,
the intelligence of the political programme,
now being enacted in Congress, has fallen
upon the ears of our people-it startles and
shocks. The hope had settled ON the South
crn heart. that we were to have peace and
good comfy once more throughout the
bounds of the Union; and clatcd by this
hope, our people had gone to work, in buoy
ancy of spirit and indomitable energy, to
recllperatc their fallen fortunes, and to re-
vivc the industry of the whole South. With
the States nearly wholly restored to civil
government, and believing that the local
affairs of the people were calready in their
keeping, they reasonably supposed that
there would be no interference in the
States modes of governing their inhabi-
tants, and administering justice. But the
passage of the bill by the U. $. Senate en-
larging the powers of the frcedmen's bu-
reau, and looking to the colonization ofne-
groes within the State, already affects the
public nerve, and enervates. But ycster-
day. as it were, the schemes Of settlement
and improvement of property impaired
wholesome life and energy to all; and to-
day men manifest II misgiving rs to the tll-
ture. and doubt the propriety of improve
mcnts and investments. The character of
Congressional legislation. evidently war
rants the apprehension that it is the pur-
pose of the dominant party so to lcgislate
that the Southern States shall be deprived
of any participation in the direction of
public measures, until it has obtained such
amendments to the Federal Constitution.
us will enable it to enter the States with
its legislation. and bestOw suffrage upon
the negro. through whom to add increase
- 81 ,rt t1nt rt aud finn,
cure its pcrpetuatiOn. The threat is made
to return the States to Provisional Gov
ernmcnt, and to hold them in Il sort OTTER
ritOrial status.
Ifthis wicked programme be carried to
successful completion, the fate of Ireland
and Poland awaits the Southern States !;
and they have already reached the pima
Gle of their glory. Is there any one so sill
ly as to suppose that capital, enterprise,
population will seek country thus gov
erncd? Prate, as impractirable theorists
may. about the equality Of the races Of
men. neither intelligent foreigners, nor
Northern men, of Il respectable stamp will
immigrate to such country, however fair
and inviting are her fields.
SagaciOus men are already pausing, and
many good citizens are already talking of
looking to q land where freedom, such on
" rs Americans prize. reigns; rather than
to remain and attempt to rebuild one. where
the fundamental rights Of freedom have
ceased to be regarded.
In our own State, that hmperium IN Lmpe-
ria. the Freedmen's Bureau, has placed at
naught the laws of the State. The time
was when the voice of the people, under
the American Constitution, was Omnipo-
tent, but now, there ''be none SO low as to
do it reverence" A brief order from Il
Subj Chief of an institution. heretofore un-
known to the genius of our system of gov
ernmcnt is more potent than in other lands
Is a MOnarch's will. Col. Osborne says Il
law of Florida, enacted under all the SOL
emn forms and appliances Of power known
to free people, shall not be executed.
Thus is State sovereignty tloutcd in her
own dominiOns.