The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-09-04

Government. But each concession has
been met with fresh demand, until, at
the present time, ten States have been
turned into military divisions, ten Gov
ernors, chosen by the people; superseded
by five brigadicr-gencrals, and the will of
a minority Congress placed over and
above tho power and authority of the
Constitution. * i i In order to carry
out this scheme, which was concoctcd by
the revolutionary committee of Congress.
the Southern States are made subject to
military tyranny, without limitation or
responsibility, or other checks or instruc-
tions, than that it shall use its powers
literally to carry out the political pur-
poses of the ruling party in the nation"
Has this policy Of concession to unlaw-
full demands been so productive of benefit
that we still desire to pursue it? Are we
prepared, for the sake of erpediency-that
fatal fallacy which has lured US so far on
the road to destruction-that Trojan
Horse which has brought with it an Iliad
of woos-to barter away the few rights
remaining to us? Yet this is the course
we must follow, if we accept terms which
we know to be contrary to the conditions
on which we surrendered, which arc mimi
cal to all true rcconciliations, and which
are in open and palpable violation of the
Constitution of the United States-of that
ut the very ySmoment we are grossly out
raging it's most sacred provisions! Would
not those who vote for these laws know
ing them to be unconstitutional, be guilty
of perjury? What good can come of
laws which begin in fraud and can be
carried into effect only by perjury? Let
me not be understood as making any re-
Elections on those Southern men who hon
estly and conscientiously advocate our &C
ceptance of these military bills. Any
divisions amongst us arc to be deprecated,
and it is as unwise as it is unkind to I'M
pugn the motives of men who, on many
field, have proved their devotion to the
South. Especially do [ regret the viru-
lent attacks which have been made on
that gallant soldier who so long and so
ably led the ilustrious First Corps of the
Army of Northern Virginia. 1t has been
his hard fate, in peace as in war, to be
wounded by his own people. That charity
which "hopeth all things" and natural
distrust of our own judgment, should
make us treat the convictions Of such
men with at least kindly and proper con-
sideration. But for those "who see the
right, and yet the wrong pursue" who,
while their country seems to be struggling
in the throcs of death, consult only their
own base fears and low instincts-who,
to save their vile property or still more
vile persons, would degrade their State
who bid us accept dishonor as the price OF
safety-language has no terms strong
enough to brand their intamy. They arc
as far beyond the reach Of adequate pun
ishment in this world as they are beneath
the scorn and contempt OF all honorable
men.
But to return to the consideration of
the Reconstruction Acts, from which this
depression has led me. What inducements
do the advocates Of these measures hold
out to us to accept them! Can they
promise us peace? 4? Look at Tennessee,
and learn what kind of peace we arc to
have. Can they promise us an acceptable
State Constitution ono that will not be
nterfcrcd with by Congress Look at
Delaware, Maryland and kentucky
three 'sloyal' sovereign Statcs-which
are to be put on trial before q Star Cham
Der committee, on the charge of not hav-
ing Republican constitutions. Can they
promise u restoration of the Union The
radical rulers especially declare that their
measures are not ''tinalities" Can they
promise, even that doubtful good repre-
sentation in the Congress Of the United
States? refer you 10 Kentucky, whose
representatives are ignominousl ly rejected,
because redels uoted for them! But sup
pose that the State accepts the terms pro
pToscd by the military bills; that she
agrees to the permanent and total cxclu-
sion from her councils Of the intellect,
tho experience, the wisdom and the pa
triotism, which, in times past, gave her
lustrc; that, instead Of these noble quail
tics and virtues, she commits her political
dcstinics to tho guidance of ignorance in
experience, folly and radicalism; that she
adopts q constitution disfranchising for
ever the men who, in obcying her COM
mand to defend her, believed that they
were serving God; that she
ys-ignomnous purchase-short reposc,
With dying curses and the groans OF those
That served and loved, and put IN her their trust.
Suppose she does all these things, and
that, tho radicals then graciously permit
her to send her representatives to wash
inrton, from what class will she select the
men who are to fill the places once hon
ored by Lowndcs, Calhoun, McDuflic,
Preston, Chcvcs, Haync, iugcr and their
glorious compecrs? Tho samc body
Which has shown such wisdom and mag
nanimity in framing these Reconstruction
Acts that arc to bring so many blessings
in their train, gives you the answer in the
following Act Of Congress:
81. Hereafter any person elected OF ap-
pointed to any office Of power or profit