The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-20
@ H a r L F. S T 0 N.
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 90, 1866.
CIVIL AND MILITARY.

The DUKE OF ALBA, LOUIS the Fourteenth,
and other pious Catholics, not unfre-
quently marched refractory" Protestant
troops into the church and made them attend
mass, aolens uolens. The bastinado was laid
on with no sparing hand upon the unlucky
wight, who would absent himself from the
performance of the holy ceremony. This has
ever been quoted as one of tho absurdities of
blind bigotry. The deepest superstition alone
could refrain from the blush of shame at the
mere recital of such pious barbarity.
Dragooning Legislature is an invention,
We believe, of more modern date. Usually
this has been in tho form of arbitrary mill
tary interference, for the prevention of the
passage of some act or law, displeasing to the
ruling potentate. Thus we have again and
again heard and read Of Legislative assem-
blies being broken up because they could not
or would not vote rs their master desired
them.
This has occurred more than once in 60
called constitutional countries on both sides
of the Atlantic. France, England, Austria,
Prussia, Maryland, kentucky, and others we
could mention, have all at times experienced
such dragonnadcs. But it was reserved to
this late day of ours, and to the original
genius of the distinguished civil ~ Governor
of Tennessee to dragoon o Legislature for not
meeting, and for not passing certain laws.
We know nothing of tho history of the
present Tennessee Legislature, of the char
acter of its members, or of their political
complexion. Nor do we know how much
electioneering they found it necessary to en-
gage In to reach their present honorable i?)
position. Of one thing we feel assured, how
ever, and that is, that the saio il.nhers would
| NOT INV" 49, -~scra in the oan yuss. coutu
Iney huyo foreseen tho breakers ahead.
Governor BRowNLow convened the Legis.
lature, and in his message tells them what he
assembled them for, viz for tho adop,ion of
the constitutional amendment; not for con-
s'dering, deliberating and then aLting upon
1t. BRowNLow comes with no such doubt
ful programme. 1t is all fixed in his
mind, and accordingly he goes on to
enumerate the several amendments not
merely stating them, as became the dignity
OF an Executive laying state paper before
the Legislature, but advocating them, Sec
ton by section, precisely as CHARLES Sum-
NER or THAD. STEVENS would before mass
meeting in their respective villages.
The autocrat of Tennessee has told his min.
ions how to vote, and why they should thus
vote. The minions are not docile; in fact
prove themselves not minions OF all, but yery
rebellious subjects. They arc "refractory.o
They will not even 60 to the capital. What
ls to be done? Here is most unpleasant
prsdicament. Mr.. BRowNLow is under con-
tract to see the constitutional u.lsndment safe
through the Tennessee Legislature before the
adionfbment Of Congress. The weather in
Washington is getting very hot; the ague is
shaking even the most radical determination.
Cape May, Newport and Saratoga are Turing
with syren smiles; and still Dr.. BRowNLow,s
job is undone "Hurry up, Parson !" ory the
shaking and sun-struck Radicals "What am
l to do," quoth the Reverend Governor 81
cannot get the Legislature to do any,hing.n
"Why don't you call in the military7" "Aud
80 WILL" delightedly replies BRownLow.
Mujor.General THOMAS, in command of the
department, is applied to, and he writes to
General GRANT for instructions, not deem.
ing the late order of the general just named
sufficiently comprehensive to include ''refrac.
tory members Of the Legislature.n He writes ::
''Some of the members of tho House of Rep.
resentntives Of the Tennessee General Assem-
bly, behave in very refractory manner, ab-
sentng themselves, and thus obstructing
business. The Governor cannot manage them
with the means at his disposal, and has mp.
piled to me [rHoMAsl for military assistance. l..
Shall furnish iL9n
1t would thus appear that BRowNLow
keeps badly governed school; let's the boy
go out without their asking his permission.
In fact they are "refractory," he "cannot
manage them," and is anxious to procure the
services of one Major. General THOMAS as his
usher, who is to do tho thrnshing of the
establishment, introduce proper discipline
and make the boys vote sill right. This was
new case AMI THOMAS, unwilling to shouI.
der the responsibility of either complying
with the request or refusing it, seuds to
General GRANT for instructions. He in turn
hands the matter over tn, the Sa,rat,r, ,f