The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-02-27
Stringing Pearls.

We extract the following paragraphs
from the National IntcUigenccr. They
contain truths very fifty and aptly writ.
ten but we fear our respected cotem.
porary is engaged in the unpro6ta bic
business of stringing pearls TO cast them
before swine
Mr.. Harding might woll say, as he
did in the House yesterday, that ten
years ago the most ignorant law student
In the country could not have been
found pretending that there was any
constitutional power for establishing a
military government within the limits
Of any State in this Union -
The arbitrary arrest and persistent
confinement Of an Englishman, held by
military orders in spite of tho writ Of
haJeas corpus, would convulse all Eng.
land. viii the American people consent
that one half OF their countrymen shall
hold their liberty by the will Of militia.
tary commander and his subord-
mates. 2
1t isa maxim Of law, that it is bet.
ter that nine guilty men should escape
than one innocent be punished. With an
cnlighted statosmansiptha should make
all law-givcrs blush, the Congress ofthe
United States would cnslavc whole
people, lest few lawlcss men should 90
unpunishcd.
Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, declared
that the portraits oGthc founders of the
Government should adorn the panels and
their busts fiji the inches of tho House,
that its members might catch something
of their patriotic and heroic spirit. They
would look down with pity and with
scorn upon the degenerate men who
would gravcly debate for an hour, much
less days, the proprety Of putting abso-
lutte power over the life and liberty and
property ofonc.third of its people into
the hands Of military dcspot.
A House Of Representatives that
claims to represent the great party Of
freedom justifes This pretension by seek
ing TO impose Oh the entire people of a
State complete oligarchy, under the
pretcncc OF preparing them for self. gov.
ornment. 1t voted yesterday TO annili.
late the laws enacted by people, III
order to establish those dictated by o
Senate and enforced by the bayonct.
We'll might Madam Rowland cxclam,
0 Liberty, what crimes arc committed
in thy namo!"
Military power is The last resort of a
decayed and dying republic, said Mr..
Raymond. The words made strong
impression, not only on Mr.. Garfield
who so easily recalled them, but on
every thoughtful man in that House.
Martial law and republican institutions
are asincompatible as light and dark
ness, as fire and water; aud he is no true
friend of his country who, when no in
vasion Threatens our borders, when no
rebellion convulses our territory, would
hand the nation over toJthe unlimited
discretion Of even q Cincinnatus or a
Washington.
There are sixty.on men in the House
Of Repre- n atives who are willing that
half her countrymen shall hold their
liberties at the will ola brigadicr-gene.
raj of the army. Are they willing TO
hold their own liberties by tho permit
ct a military commander2 Ifthcy are,
they are fit to be. slaves, aid unfit for
the high duty Of an American rcpresen,
tative. If they are not, with what ins-
tice can they claim to he true Democrats
or honest Republicans, who would i'm.
pose an arbitrary authority on their
conntrymen. to which they themselves
are unwilling to snbmit7
Was rebellion great crime? IF 80
can we not leave the people Of the
South to find it out7 All our fierce
contention and angry controversies will
not add an iota TO their appreciation Of
its folly and its enormity. Nay, the
jreer; we leave them 10 the discussion of
the acts Of those who mislcd tho most
likely they are to arrive at The truth.
The attempt to coerce the public opinion
OF the South by test oaths and punitive
legislation, lisa nti.repnbican and hostile
to the spirit of our institutions. 1t shows
want Of faith in the truth and its inev-
table triumph that might become an
advocate of tho Inquisitlon or a subject
OF the Sublime Porte, but is utterly for.
cign to the civilization OF the nineteenth
century and the tolerant temper Of the
American people. y
STRONG LANauAoE.-While review.
S,rns I,.nI 81 l.. ~