The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-12-18
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER IS, 1867
that the Union is not only undis-
solved but indissoluble."

that the Union is not only undis-
solved but indissoluble."
8. The description in the mes
sage Of the nature of the military
acts now ruling the Southern
States is most forceable.
"To demonstrate the unconsti-
tutional character Of those acts, |
need do no more than refer to
their general provisions. It must
be seen at once that they are not
authorized. To dictate what al
terations shalt be made in the
constitutions of the several States
to control the elections of State
! legislators and State officers, mem.
bers Of Congress and electors of
President and .Vice-President, by
arbitrarily declaring who shall
be excluded from that privilege !;
to dissolve State legislatures Or
prevent them from assembling +;
/ to dismiss judges and other civil
funetionaries of the State, and ap-
| point others without regard to
State law; to organize and operate
all the political machinery of the
State; to regulate the whole ad-
ministration of their domestic and
local affairs according to the mere
viii of strange and irresponsible
agents, sent among them for that
purpose-these are powers. not
granted to: the Federal Govern
ment or to any one, of it's branch
es. Not being granted, we vio-
late our trust by assuming them
fas palpahly as we would by acting
in the face ola positive interdiet !;
for the constitution forbids us: to
do whatever it does not affirma-
lively authorize either by express
words or by clear implication. If
the authority. we desire to use
does not come to us through the
constitution, we can exercise it.
only by usurpation and 'usurpa-
ton is the most dangerous Of po-
lHical crimes. By that crime the,
enemies Of free government in all
ages have worked out their de-
signs against public liberty and
private right 1t leads directly
and Immediately to the establish
ment, of absolute rule for undele-
gated power, is always unlimited
and unrestrained. -.-.
'The acts of Con gress, in ques-
ton are not only Objectionable for
their assumption of ungranted
power, but many of their proyi-
sions are in conflict with the direct
prohibitions Of the constitution.
The constitution commands that
a republican form of government
shall be- guaranteed to all the
States; that no person shall be de-
priyed of life, liberty OF property
without due process~of law, ar
rested without q judicial warrant,
punished, without a fair trial
before animpartial jury; that the
privilege of habeas corpus shall
not be denied in time Of peace !;
and that no bill Of attainder shall
be passed. even against a single
individual. Yet the system Of
measures established by these acts
of Congress does totally subvert
and destroy the form as we'll as
the substance of republican gov
eminent in the ten States to
which they apply. 1t binds them,
hand and foot, IN absolute slavery,
and subjects them to a strange
and hostile power, more unlimited
and more likely to be abused than
any other now known among
civilized men. 1t tramples down
all those rights in which the es-
sence Of liberty consists, and which
a free government is always most
careful to protect. It denies the
habeas corpus and the trial by
jury. Personal freedom, property,
and life if assailed by the passion,
the prejudice, or the rapacity Of
the ruler, have no security what
ever. 1t has the effect of a bill of
attainder, or bill of pains and pen
alties, not upon a few individuals,
but upon whole masses, including
the millions who inhabit the sub
ject States, and even their unborn
children. These vrongs, being ex-
pressly forbidden, cannot be con.
stitutionally inflicted upon any
portion of our people, no matter
how they have come within our
Jurisdiction, and no matter wheth-
er they live in States, Territories,
or Districts
4. The object of the military
despotism put over the Southern
States is negro supremacy.
ut is manifestly and avowedly
the object of these laws to confer
upon negroes the privilege Of vo-
ting, and to disfranchise such a
number Of white citizens as will
give the former a clear majority
at all elections in. the Southern
States. This, to the minds of some
persons, is so important, that a
violation of the constitution is JUS
titled as a means of bringing it
about. The morality is always