Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-26
THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

When the people of the South, oversleim-
ed by superior numbers. surrendered their
armies to the Federal Generals, they had some
reason to expect that the United States Gov
crnment would hold to its oft proclaimed de-
claraton that the war was waged solely for the
maintenance of tho Constitution aud tho in
tegrity of the Union; and that that surrender
would be taken as full acknowledgment of
the supremacy of the one aud tho indivisi
biiity of the other. But the moment that
cur arms were laid down, and the-men who
had welded thera SO bravoIy were returned to
the paths of peace. the vindictise spirit of the
Northern abolitionists was pat iato full work
against every man who had supported the
Southern side of the issue. From that day
down to this, we Of the South have experienced
all the wrongs and outrages which tho brain
OF the Northern fanatic was capable of ex-
citipg-and the end is not yet.
The Constitution of the Union has been
utterly disrcgarded; indeed, there is scarcely
one of its provisions which has not been wan.
tonly violated by the dominant party in Con
gress; aud the last effort of this party in
placing ten States of that Union under gov
eminent entirely unknown to that Constitu
tim, only proves to what base and corrupt
eds sectional hate will carry men, aud how
miserabiy false were all tho declarations Of
principles which were put forth from time to
time during the four years of the war. The
new government which is about to be put over
E.,,t a.,
nor does it secure the integrity of the Union.
By its terms ten States are deliberately turn
ed ont of the Union, aud out of the pale of
the Constitution, and put into the hands OF
military dictators-oHe for each of the Statesss
With the exception of cases involving life
our people are placed under tle will of the
,nCficer who may be put in command; juries
|are forbidden; courts abolished; civil law set
aside in every way. All Of our rights are to
be determined by one man. And yet these
politicians at Washington who prated so loudly
for the Constitution and the Union, tell us
that Il is all right, and that if we do not ac-
capt the position assigned US with thankful
hearts, they viii go on and devise some other
mode of Furnishing us, to which this present
military dicta:ion Will be mild in comparison
Neither this military despotism, nor threats
OF worse wrongs against them, will make the
Southern people accept the terms of restora-
ton held out to them. They know they have
lost all save their honor, and that they will
not sink by bending the knee to the auto
Gratis Of Congress and New England. They
cannot go to war again, it is true; but they
can and Will bear brave hearts for every fate
which the malignant hate of the ruling party
my devise for them. We, here in Jefferson,
cannot be worsted. The government of West
Virginia, which has usurped authority over
us, has so completely stripped US of all the
rights of citizens Of the United States, that
We are wiling FOR any change. If Sheridan
himself, with his flaming torch, was again put
over Us, he could not be more completely oh
livious Of all justice and right than is Bore
mans concern Out at Wheeling.