Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-16
The Last Resort of Desperation.

The Radicals have been driven to extremi-
ties by the unexpected opposition they have
encountered at the hands of the President.
They are at their wits end. Their last ex-
pedient, developed in the Washington cores
pondence of the New York Tribune, is the
most radical aud revolutionary of all their
projects, and shows the lengths to which
party will go to maintain itself in power. This
scheme is as follows The loyal men, white
and black, in the States of Arkansas, North
Carolina louisiana and " elsewhere" are to
unite and issue calls, in their respective States,
for State Conventions, to which they will pro-
coed TO elect delegates. The Conventions so
0odying the principles of loyalty, freedom
md equal rights" and pledge themselves to
the payment of the National debt, the repudi-
alton Of the Confederate debt, and the disfran-
chisement Of all "rebels." They will then
elect Governors, State officers, Representatives
and Senators, the latter of whom will at once
demand admission to Congress. Their demand
is to be met by instant compliance on the part
Of the Radicals.
In these days men have learned to be sur
prised at nothing. The present is a period of
political portents and prodigies. There is no
mOnstrosity that has not its partisans. But of
all the mOnstrosities yet brought forth, this is
the greatest of all the products of distempered
radicalism, this is the most preposterOus and
extrayagant. Black men and white men who
suppose themselves to be in state of nature,
without rulers, governments or laws, are to
come together of their own will, form a State
Government, make laws and elect rulers, and
the laws and rulers so made are to be recognized
oy the dominant party in Congress.
A grave argument to prove that Govern
nents exist in the States referred to, would be
almost as great a folly as is this plan which
proceeds upon a denial Of their existence. To
,ay nothing more, they are all recognized by
the head of the nation, the President, who has
handed over all but one (Texas) to the Cover
nors Of their own election. True, by an anomaly,
he result of the recent war, martial law still
,xists over them, and that by the demand of
he radicals. We all know what martial law
$. 1t is the strongest form of Government,
md the President, through his military officers,
IS the administrator Of it.
The movement contemplated, therefore, is
compound treason-treason against the States
and treason against the Federal Government
Tor it sets at naught the authority Of BOTH
Nor are these treasons unprovided for. There
l., q, Grf, oy,I
them, as follows:
By the law of 1895, " In case of an insur-
rectiOn in any State against the government
- thereof, it shall be lawful for the President
81 of the United States, on application of the
g Legislature of such State, or Of the Execu-
"a tive (when the Legislature cannot be con-
svened,) to call forth such number of the
'' militia of any other State or States as may be
" applied for, as he may judge sufficient to sup
" press such Instruction" The law Of 1907
provides that 90 In all cases of instruction, or
" obstruction OF the laws, either of the United
" States, or of any individual State or Terri
tory, where it is lawful for the President of
"a the United States to call forth the militia for
the purpose of suppressing such instruction,
% or of causing the laws to be duly executed,
- it shall be lawful for him to employ, for the
&c same purposes, such part OF the land and
50 naval force of the United States as shall be
judged necessary"
We cannot believe it possible that men, who
or four years were engaged in putting down
rebellion" should have so completely lost
their senses as seriously and so soon to con-
:emplate an act which will subject them to all
he pains and penalties of treason.
Upon the President would devolve the exc
cution of these laws, and how impartially and
aow faithfully he would execute them none
can doubt who are familiar with his history
and remember the pledges contained in his 22d
Of February speech.