Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-15
TO THE VOTERS OF JEFFERSON
COUNTY.

powerful parties entertain entirely Inherent
opinions, as to the mode by which they may
be 50 adjusted, that may again stand upon
Il firm and equitable basis OF nationality,
have concluded, that inasmuch as | am be-
lore you us Il candidate Tor your suiirages, it
is my duty to maintain and viud!cate, to the
best Of my ability, those principles which calm
retectUu aud au ardent desire that we may
again meet as brothers of a common country,
have led me TO espouse.
do not hold up for your consideration
either the Importance of myself, or my Opin>
ions ;. .Lar from it. | know, as well as you,
that they are meagre. That l should at
tempt to instruct you, many OF whom are far
advanced in age and experience, and who
have watched and studied the clushing phases
of political questions, long before they ever
entered my brain, would be an absurdIty, too
glarIng, for me 20 entertain Tor moment. |
therefore only propose to call TO your minds,
those questions, upon which, in my humble
opinion, hangs the future destiny of our
American Republic. Those questions you
must decide upon in the coming election
God grant that the decision of the people may
be such, that peace and harmony may again
assume their sway, and this political jurgon
and ianaticul fury, that has 50 long distracted
our land, merge into the calm and placid
waters of brothcTly love.
The main question that is to be decided
upon by you, Is, shall the Constitution OF the
United States remain the supreme law OF the
land. or shall it be disrcgardcd by unprinci.
pied demago|ues, that party aims aud ends
may be accomplished? Shall it remain the
embodiment OF American liberty, the pr0tec-
tor Of our privileges aud immuutles. and the
avcnger of its violations or shall it bear but
the sembIance Of name, an insignificant
i Il 1. 1 ,
believe that it is your desire that it shall
remain invoate aud that it is only necessary
that you be convinced Of its violation, that
you may be relied on in lending your manly
efforts to hurl from the places of power, those
foul and designing tIiCksters who would de-
file it.
Ia discussing the present issue OF the times,
| eau truthiuliy say. that / am animated by
laudable motive; and that, my love Tor the
complete union of our States aud those cardl-
nal principles which guarantee to Us rcpub.
lican form Of government. Being thus uc>
tua;ed, have watched with the deepest
hcitudc, as | suppose yOn all have, the leg
islatiou of Congress, whose only ann seems to
have been, the success and aggraud 'zemeut OF
IA political party. The Constitution which
was bought by the blood AID treasure of our
forciathcrs, and bcqucathcd to Us Il priceless
:
aud maintained by the present generation,
against the most powerful rebellion tie world
ever knew, has been violated, discarded, de-
famed and spit upon, by reckless aud hci-
deserving party spirit, that has the doubles
faced audacty to term itself 6GyHL
In discussing radical legislation, I shall
first call your attention to the military recon.
structiUn bill the very unuIe Ul which, Is an
insult to AN American citizen, ANA whose rot
ten aud internal carcass, Is stencil III the
mu,tri!s Of civil liberty Never before in the
auaas of our government, has any one dared
to UlIer Il bal IN COngIeSS, 50 utterly ucpn-
s,steut with the Constitution, aud destructive
of the elements which make up its compost
ton From its every line glares out the in
cbriltc eyes Of malicious vIudIctivencSs, giving
uumiStakable evidence Of The drunken pas
sion that RACES within the breast of those who
/ have mercilessly framed its diabOlical pro
visions.
In order to make some show of the neces>
sity of this bill. i, starts with an assertion,
which facts will prove, to be as wlnion IA false
hood as ever cOucOctcd, for the miSrep-
reseutatiuu OF people.
The preamble states, that there are no le
gal state governments, or adequate protection
OF life or property in the States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
sissippi. Alabama, Louisiana, FIoridu, Texas,
aud Arkansas.
As to the iIlegality of those state govern
meuts, | am at Il loss to know in what man
ner, or 10y what power they We're so determin-
cd. They were certainly legal, so long as
they remained republican in form and the
theory that they were otherwise, has not been
avowed by a majority even of the radical party,
mucn less maintained. 1t is unnecessary to
discuss the question, whether disluyul men
were iii possession of the official positions of
those States That could in no way affect their
governments, as they still remained unchang-
ed, and the mere fact as to who administered
the laws, could not possibly affect the legal,
ty of their existence. 1t those States had e-
gal governments before the rebellion, and
! the rebellion failed to accomplish its Object
which 1t certainly dId-theu they have legal
state governments still. The very fact. that
the government successful in the late
conflict of arms, establishes beyond all doubt
or cavi! the supremacy, and legality of the
laws of those states, within their proper sphere
and jurisdiction. Any other view of the sub
/ jcct, is contrary TO Ihe decision Of the war.at
variance with the object tor which it was
wagcd, Incompatible with the justice of the
cause, and subversive of the ends which it
sought to attain.
The government entered into the conflict
that law might be maintained. and not that
it might be destroyed, and the loyal people of
the country ever deSirous that it might be
preserved.cheerIully gave that hearty co oper-
alton. which eventuarcd III u final and glorious
victory. aud yet, in the 'ace OF this, the bill
in question, asserts that the laws of these
States are illegal. although they do not differ,
in substance, with those in the northern and
western states, and with other civilized nations.
Their laws for the protection of life and pro-
perty, were alike binding upon all their citi-
zens, and what, in their opinion, was sufficient