The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-09-05

Government, in the degradation OF the
people, in a long and bloody reign of
anarchy, with social, civil and agrarian
wars, resulting, after unparalleled hor
rors, 10 despotism for the whites OF the
whole United States, and in tho cxter-
mination, exclusion or political re-en-
slayement of the African race.
5. That the only remedy for these
evils, both threatened and existing, was
speedy return, by the people Of all
sections, to the Constitution, and the
vigorous enforcement Of its remedies
against all It's violators.
These are the great, all absorbing
Leading questions tnat discussed, and
sought to establish by argument, by
prceedents, by authorities and by his
tory; and sought to enforce by appeals
to The good and by denuncations Of
the wicked.
And how wonderfully important are
these great questions to every creature
of every race on the continent, either
living or yet to live! And howimpcr-
ative is the duty Of every man who en-
ters the discussion TO see to it that his
whole powers be employed to promote
their correct and proper solution. And
how does this eX-Governor--so proud
of having been so often chosen by the
people--come to the review OF these
questions ?--Readcr, anxious reader,
how?
/. BY writing my biography! Well,
suppose am as unimportant and un-
worthy as the Governor wants me to
be, does that make Military Bills ConsH-
Mtionol? Would it negative single
position urged in the arguments?
2. Next he devotcs three fourths of
the balance of his review to show that
| have often been inconsistent during
my life, and am inconsistent in the ar
gument presented in the "Notcs" and
in the Atlanta speech.
Well, suppose he is right; suppose l
have contradictcd myself in every line,
and turned a summersault every hour
of my life; would all that prove right
in Congress to violate the pledged faith
of the nation, to subvert the Federal
Government, to abrogate States and
deny to trecmen trial by jury and all
other glorious provisions of the Bill of
Rights incorporated in the Constitu'
tion?
3. Then he attacks my motives, and
says my only desire is to get office, and
my only real objection to the plan OF
reconstruction is that l am ditranchised
byit. -,
Well, suppose this is all true; will
that justify the Radical party in desc
Grating the Constitution to perpetuate
II new party in power? Will that les
sen the horrors Of anarchy, or soften
the fctters of despotism to us and our
children?
+ Some, doubtless, would excuse me il
f were to write, in turn. the Governor
: biography. Some, indeed, may expect
+ it and desire to relish the production
!, But cannot consent, in crisis lik'
q this, 50 to lose my sense OF sclf-respec
n nor to soil white paper. ] can neithe
IL retaliate, however tempting the matcr
l. ais under proper circumstances; no
a can l, under any circumstances, imitat
; the plan and style Of his SC. o.called argu
d ment l will not, myself, be diverted
c nor if I can prevent il, will permit tn
1 public mind to be diverted, from the Vi
$ tai and momentous issues now pressin
c US for solution.
G If our liberties are to perish; if Ou
: Constitution is to be abandoned; if
!. corrupt Radical will is to be our onl
n law, and prescribing Radical oligal
II chy our only government; what ca
o honest men care for Office, or dcccn
men for place, or sensible men for bic
V graphics? Who cares to boast Of th
number of times he has been the chose
j. leader Of the people, if he lead them I
Y runY Who should desire to be know
e to postcrity as being among those VIII
d destroyed their liberties, wasted thoi
Il patrimony, and bequeathcd them moth
e ing but debt, disl1onor and despotism
l. Than such Immortality, better. far bel
ter, that none of us had been born
\, Better now that mill stones were hang
e ed to our necks and we cast into til
II sea
id The man who can care for himse
while his country is pcrisliing; VIII
hunts an office while liberty is dying
:, who advises his people to accept di
- honor because reckless power demand
it; who joins, with intent to aid, pa
ty seeking to pcrpctuatc its power j
dislranchising intelligence and enfral
c, chising ignorance, in violation to til
" written Constitution; who would a.
d cept an Office by the votes of the ncgr
" race, with threat to Cypress and 70
a. the white race; who praises the bay'
,r net that picrccs the Cons titutiOn, an
It approves the arbitrary will whit
le strikes down the supremacy ofthe law
such man would have administert
v. the hemlock TO Socrates because Il
lc mob desired it; would have execute
q Sidney because power decreed it; al
q. cstccms Barrabas hOnored above Il
Savior because the rabblc, by ovt
by whclming majority, elected him! Su
to a man could stand on the bleedir
ng corpse of tho Constitution and, am
by its death throes, latter its murdere
to for favor!
ite For myself, my resolution is take
Inv nv course is fixed. / feel that II
ho views are correct trust l may
IN mistaken. l believe unparalleled evl
ng impcnd, and will come upon us-all
le. us.-unlcss the people awake. l q
,hc willing to be dccreed fool, If theret
IN. the evils can be avertcd. am willr
that my worst enemy shall be cover'
N. with giory-shall have an imperishab
,c. monument lifting its summit till it cate
es perpetual sunlight, il his counsel slia
avert the evils. deplOre now, as ne
ry or before, the fecblcness of my power