Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-01

for by our fathers and ourselves, were hereiical.
Does any honest man say that We did this of our
own good will; that we deuied the political creed
of our fathers impoverished our country freely
and voluntarily? Nest as.urcdly not
We knew that Gov. PERRy had been commits
stoned as Provisional Governor Of this State, that
he had been in intimate correspondence with
President JOHNSON, had sat at the feet Of this his
modern political Gamaliel, had shared his counsel,
and armed himself to a certain extent with his
authority. And therefore the State followed his
advice, and expected in exchange for her obedi'
ence the correlatiyO duty of protection.
We believe that the President and Governor
PEnnr would have extended her this protection had
it been in their power, and that they expected to
do so by an anappcs 10 the people. The Philadelphia
Convention shadowed forth many and mighty
things; the tour of President JOHNSON through
the North and Northwest, still mightier things.
The Vetoes were to arouse the people in their
might, and consolidate all constitutional parties
in defence Of Southern rights. Tho elections by
the people were TO vindicatc the policy of Presi-
dent JOHNSON. The fansticism of the Radical
party, like Saturn Of old, was to devour its own
progeny. Meantime, the Radicals, flushed with
success, powerful at home, powerful abroad, mas
tors of Congress, masters OF the Mint, masters of
the Army, allie, energetic, and securely mailed in
the prestige of the ctnqueror, became stronger
und stronger; until, in the face Of all tho pro-
phetic horoscopes of our Southern leaders, they
forced upon us The Constitutional amendments,
and the Sherman and Supplemental Bills. And
now we are again asked hy Gov. PgRRr to stand
still and awst the grea. aud certain triumph Of
the Democratic party.
Is it not like the Rustic in Horace, expecting
the flow of the river to stop that he may cross,
while it flows on forever, laJi,ur ct labetur IN
scternum." The Democratic party rs it existed
before the war, is unknown to the present genera
ton. It has become in great degree effcte. Its
former leaders deserted their cardinal principles
(or what we deemed those principles) during the
war, and no longer shadow forth even the pro-
visions Of its once honorcd programme.
Five or six years ago Gen. b. T. Butler, Daniel
lar breeze on the wings Of the Southern Demo.
cratic PARTY. They had participated in the Char
lesion Convention, in fact might have said "mag-
ma par, jai," and the wholo Southern people were
throwing up their hats and crying huzza, to their
names and principles. Wherc are they now
The despaion and ruin of The South answer in
the wall Of rae riciis.
If we mistake not, the two great Union Cap
were both Democrats, and are Democrats still
but Democrats according to their own consttuc-
ton Of what Democracy ought to be. Who then
constitute this Democratic party at the North, to
whose triumph VIC have been looking, and are
advised still to look? It is evident that the
power Of that party has departed. Gov. PERRY
thinks that the reaction which has already com
menccd in Connecticut "Till sooner or later
sweep over the whole Northwestern and Middle
States" We fear it will be later" indeed. Ye
the colossal shadow of the power once held by
THE Democratic party seems still to haunt the
crumbling temple of its devotees, and to fit ghost
like amid the gloom Of its ruined colonnades. II
exists. we fear, only in name-"Aat nominis uni.
bra"
We are now to deal with matters practically
The reign of Democracy, however much we at
tempt to disabuse our minds Of the fact, has
passed away. The President, with all his ability
with oil his energy, with all his patriotism, with
all the patronage at his command, Commander
in Chief of the Army, and clothed in all the
maiesty of bis e1atel Office called loud and long
for the People, tho Democracy; but there was nc
response to his eloquent appeal. He forgot, ca
many seem to forget, that the People were nc
longer the soreregns Of the country. The popu.
lar crown had been torn from their brow, and
transferred to that of tie Army. It's the con
sequence, as history teaches us, Of all wars, and
e.pecialy of intcrnecnc strife and rebellion, thai
the Army remains the conqueror and u'urps ths
power.
Who can now deny that to day the Army gov
erns this country7 Can any man rend the Mill
tary Reconstruction and Supplemental Bills, and
the late lofts. or order of Gen. Pope to Gov. Jen
kns Of Georgia, and hesitate as to mho is tht
sovereign of the land? If President johnson
had appealed to the Army instead of to the Pco
pie, who can say what the condition of the coun
try might not have been?
We insist now that the South must no longei
expect aid from the Democracy or the Democratic
party. We must act for ourselves, and we mus
act practically.
If gentlemen, whom in power, have advised u,
to abolish Slavery, to declare Secession to b.
it not now too late to say that We ought not tt
vote for Convcntion7 The voting for Con-
rention is certainly m Insignificant matter wher
compared with the abolition Of slavery, &C., a.
stated above and yot we are advised not to do abou
the simplest act which has been requioed at oul
hands, and ono which we deem pregnant with
practical results to tho country.
If VIC are advised to rcnounce our great cardi
nal doctrines Of Slavery, Secession, State Sover-
oignty, &c., why nre wc to stop short at the COM
paratively mild requirement of resort to the
ballot.bo1 by the people
For one we are tired of "masterly inactivity
It is in reulity an anomaly in language and a
contradiction in terms, and productive of no
fruit. Will our condition be improved by having
no Convention7 Do we prefer military rule ? Do
we in reality expect the triumph of tho Demo-
cratic party2
As at present advised, our policy is not only to
lave Convention, but, if possible, to control
that Convention and we can do so only by en-
tering tho lists with cnorgy and zeal, and an hst-
oss purpose TO promote the practical welfare Of
the Stste.