Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-10-05

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opinion extensively prevails that il
the Radicals succeed the ruiz of the
South is inevitable, and it must be so,
if the Radical threats are only par
tally carried into eject. Some Of
the leaders have proclaimed, public
ly, that If the South fail to ratify the
proposed constitutional amendment,
it will be visited with swold and fire,
leaving it n blackened waste. That
there are devils incarnate in the
North, who would freely volunteer
for the execution of purpose so me-
farious, there is no doubt, but that
they will have the power to do it, is
an unsettled question, even if the
elections result in their favor.
The struggle, be it rememb ered, is
not between the North and the South,
but between Congress and the Pres
ident. 1t is true that the issue in
wolves the destiny Of the South, but
not as a party to the contest, exer.
cising active agency or silent infu-
cnce. Though powerless, we are not
without hope, SO long as the Presi.
dent stands firm; and committed, as
he is, to the Constitution, and armed,
as he is, with all the power and pat.
ronage conferred upon him by that
instrument, we do not see how the
aggressions of Congress, upon the
South, can be carried to the point of
armed invasion. That body has the
power to pass laws, but none to exc
cute them and even though the Su-
preme Court may affirm unconstitu-
tional enactments, it is none the less
the duty of the President to see that
States and individuals are not de-
prived of their constitutional rights
through the malice or madness of co
ordinate departments. Such attempts
to override the Constitution are moth
ing less than revolutionary, and, as
such, fully authorize the Executive
to neutralize them by refusing to
have them executed.
Mr.. johnson has proclaimed that
the Southern States are in the Union
and, therefore, entitled to all the
rights conferred by the Constitution.
He has declared that the present
Congress is not Congress of the
United States, thereby impeaching
the validity of its acts, and has reit-
Grated his firm determination to con-
form his actions to the clear require
ments Ofthe Constitution. Thus fully
committed, the South has but little
to fear, unless he yielded to the pres
sure brought to bear upon him by a
maddened faction. 1t may be that
an attempt will be made to impeach
him, but such an attempt by the frac-
ton of a Congress will be SO clearly
unconstitutional and revolutionary
that it would impugn his good sense
to suppose he would quietly submit
to such proceeding. Congress may,
as it has already done, pass the most
oppressive and unconstitutional laws
over his vetocs, but pledged as he is
to uphold the Constitution and the
rights of the States, it rests with him
to make them imperative and harm
less, by falling to carry them into
execution. Congress cannot force
him to do otherwise, and the only way
in which they can invade the South,
with fire and sword, is by armed in
surrection, in spite of the President
and in defiance of the army and navy
which are at his command. If this
be part of the Radical programme,
it is not improbable that the fire and
sword will do their work in q differ
ent section, and in other hands than
those of demented fanatics and infu-
rated partizans.
1t is useless to deny that the coun-
try is on the verge of u precipice, but
the danger is not wholly to the South.
1t is common to all sections, and if
the South cannot be saved by the
wise and peaceful policy of the Pres
dent, neither can the North nor the
itself. The ruin will be
as wide spread as the extent of our
territory, and the authors of the ca,
tastrophc will share the fate of their
intended victims. We do not RELY
upon the patriotism of the Northern
people to avert the danger, but upon
the wisdom and firmness of the Pres
ident. Northern fanaticism, the
growth of years, cannot be cured in
"A day, and will run its course unless
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