The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1866-05-12

1ng against the known wishes of such n
'majority of the people, exhibits an am
bition for Office, seliishncss and hardi-
| hood not often met with in civilized COM
| munities. To misrepresent any people,
knowingly, has been, heretofore, always
considered degradation to which ne
man, having proper self-respect, would
submit. Correct principles, self-respect,
duty to the people rs well as themselves,
| should have induced them, at the close
of the war, TO have surrendered their
usurped, ill-gotten power. TO The people
| to whom it belonged, which would have
been followed by peace harmony anil
! prosperity at home.
If such a course could now be adopted,
and the act observation-disclosures repealed !;
and conciliatory course practiced by
those now i'm power. the State would be
as peaceful and orderly as at any other
| period in our history. 1t is not to be
expected that the citizens will quietly
submit to be governed. even wisely and
| Justly by such minority, especially if
obtained from military authority with
out their consent, or getting control of
the State by legislative tricks and con-
| trivances.
The acts of our State Government say
to the world, that Observation-Disclosures
| of our people are traitors to their country
unfit for self-government, and must be
subjected to that by the sword. 1t would
seem but just and proper that those who
entertain such sentiments, should ADAM
don such traitorous neighbors, and seek
home with more genial spirits among
| the Yankees.
To be thus deprived of the Invaluable
right of self-government; to have such
unjust burthens imposed on us, by men
who are not our representatives would
seem to demand ofHs prompt and speedy
action for our own relief, as well as the
suitable punishment of those who have
dared to usurp our rights. But the con-
test now going on at Washington, be-
tween the President and Congress, for
| thsrestoration ofthe States and the rights
of the people, and which must soon be
settled, as l confidently believe, in behalf
of the latter, renders it prudent, in my
| Judgment, for us to be calm, quiet and
orderly, bearing and forbearing much,
so as to enable us to give efficient aid
to the President in his effort to preserve
the Governments as it was made by the
great and good men who framed cur
| Constitution and to put down the infa-
nous Radical Congress. who labor day
and night, to change the Constitution
and overthrow the Government trans
United to US by our venerated ancestors.
Changes or alterations in the COnsti-
tuition, by such fanatical, unprincipled
partisans rs Stephens, Phillips, Brown
low, etc., can result in no good to the
people. 1 prefer trusting my destiny
and that of1ny children to the pure and
patriotic institutions of Washington and
his associates, We may, however,i do
something, in the midst of these troubles,
to preserve the honorl and integrity of
4 the State from the ruthless hands now
controlling it. Each county can instruct
those claiming to represent them, and
demand compliance with the instuc-
tons OF resignation. The right of in
struction has ever been held sacred in a
republican government. If they fail to
obey Instruction., we can repudiate all
they do, and the time will soon come
when appropriate punishment can be
imposed on the miserable tools of party
and faction. They may learn q lesson
from the fate of Hannah, who erected a
gallows for Mordecai, and was hanged
on his own gallows; or from the fate of
the inventor of the guillotine, who was
among its earliest victims. They m
make a bed of thOrns for the people to
lie on, and it may soon become their bed
of repose.
shall never cease to remember, with
gratitgde, the liberal and generous sup
port given me for half century, and
regret that circumstances, beyond my
control, have prevented me from serving
you as L wished to have done, and as
you expected.
Your fellow-citizen,
| O. JouNSON