Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-30
Views of Herschel v. Johnson.

l
| A number of citizens ofGeorgia having Gale
upon Ex-Gov. Herschel V. johnson of tina
State for an expression of his views upon tn
subject of reconstructing under the Sherman
Shellabarger bill, he complied with their re
quest in letter dated July 11th. 1t will b
remembered that this able and distinguished
man was candidate for the Vice Presidenc
on the ticket with Hon. Stephen A. Douglas il
1860. He received large vote in this and th
surrounding counties. We regret that we hav
room only for some extracts. As the letter i
an able one, we should like to publish the Who'll
oft We must content ourselves, however
with such extracts as will serve to give the drif
of his views.
| I'VE are advised to accept the Sherman bill
or Congress will adopt more grinding meas
ure, and anon, thousands of the timid are read,
to offer their arms to receive the fetters to ac
cept it, or Congress will confscate our property
and anon, thousands who love money more thar
free government are willing to bend their neck
| to the inominious yoke; to accept it, or we will
not be allowed representation in Congress, ant
| anon, office ce-mongers are ready to drink thu
| hemlock. l do not feel the force of these ap
peals to our fears
Congress will adopt "a more grinding measure.
What more can that usurping conclave do
Has it not already broken down all constitu
tional safeguards for the protection of property
| life and liberty? Have they not obliterated the
sovereignty of the States? Have they not de-
stroyed the federative feature of our govern
ment Pits character of compact between co.
equal States, and converted it into an unlimited
irresponsible despotism?
X X x
IF Congress had taxed its ingenuity to see
how many and what grievous infractions of the
Constitution 1T could compress in the fewest
words, they could have originated nothing more
successful or nefarious than the proposed scheme
Of reconstruction.
X X
Now, suppose we do not accept the Sherman
bill, as We are sweetly advised to do, lest Con-
gress should adopt a more rigorous measure,
what more rigorous can human wickedness de-
wise! 1t is threatened that they will add con-
tiscation. That will be utterly impossible if
they attempt it under the forms of law. They
may plunder; they may rob- they may spoliate,
by military power; but every man of common
sense knows, and Judge Chase has so decided,
that property cannot be legally confscated until
after trial and conviction, and he will be COM
PEELED to decide, whenever the question shall
be made, that any act of Congress, for that
purpose, will be unconstitutional, because sea
post tacto."
To the suggestion that if we do not accept the
proposed scheme Of reconstruction we shall not
be allowed representation in Congress, am, if
possible, more Indifferent. Who cares for such
representation as will be foisted upon the people
under its operation? They will be representa-
tlves IN name, but misrepresentation in fact
Much as deprecate military government, it is
tar preferable to such a government as will
probably be inaugurated under tile Sherman pro-
gramme.
Entertaining these views, I never will ap-
prove, consent to, or accept the poisoned chalice
offered to our lips, nor will advise my fellow
citizens to do so. If permitted to vote, in view
of the turn of events, / should register, and /
hope every man in Georgia who can will do so,
with the view of defeating the scheme for our
degradation and the overthrow of republican
government
1t cannot fail to strike the mind of every re-
hecting man, that the consent of the people to
the proposed plan of reconstruction is desired
by the dominant party; for having obtained our
consent they will insist that what is irregular is
thereby cured, that whatever is unconstitutional
is thereby waived, and they absolved from their
sins. Then the door of redress, in every form,
will have been forever closed. Then all future
by the retort upon US that we consented to the
scheme, and that the State Government and
Constitution, organized in pursuance of it, are,
In truth and in fact, the Government Constitu-
ton adopted by the people. Let us never
consent, but having the power, let us see to it
that we reject it. This we can do only by regis
tration and voting against the proposed conven-
tion
X
1ok Ill IL -
ballot to save the State from utter ruin and de-
gradation. This is the club of Hercules, by
which we can, if united and true to ourselves,
crush this horrid hydra that basks in and fattens
upon the slime of the Lernean lake of Radical
corruption.
We are in great struggle for the right of
selfgovernment, which our forefathers intend
ed to secure, forever, to the people of the sew
eral States. We are asked to consent; nay, it is
sought to compel us, by appeals to our fears, to
consent to fundamental change in our system
OF governments change which must prove
fatal. 1t we consent our ruin is inevitable; we
can be but ruined if we refuse. 1 prefer the
latter horn Of the dilemma. We are afoat up
on storm-tossed sea in the darkness and fury
Of the tempest we have but one plank--the
Constitution: Let us cling to that, and. if
submerged, let us 60 down, grasping it with the
desperate energy of death. Property and life
are nothing without good government. We
bequeath to our posterity heritage of woe if
we surrender them to the mercies ofdespotism;
Our oppressors can put chaius upon us If
they viii, seeing us 1mpotent and prosrrarc az
their feet; but let us consent to it never. We
are overpowered, but not conquered. They can
rob us Of freedom, but let us never agree to be
slaves. They may overthrow constitutional
liberty; but let US never embrace their despot-
ism.
Idespair of fredress by Executive interposition.
The President is powerless. | despair OF re-
dress by any appeal to the Supreme Court.
That tribunal is not equal to the occasion. 1t
bows to the black su. ges OF radical fanatlclsm.
| My only hope, and that not sanguine, is in q
possible reaction among the people of the North
and the Northwest. They want the harmony
| of the Union restored they, like us, at heart
are attached to the great rights OF self govern
ment they are in passion now, but that pas
| sion may subside in time to save the Constltu-
| ton if, by rejecting the Sherman scheme we
afford them an opportunity to rally. When
| freed from its binding influence they will see
the danger; for that power which will crush US
will involve them in consequences fatal to all
their interests
This great issue must go before them, in theil
next elections, and l desire that it shall not be
closed against us by our consent to the chains
forged for u.s. IF it can be fairly presented they
may say to the angry sea: '.Thus far shalt thou
90 and no further" They may cleanse tht
Augean stable, purge the statute books, anG
| restore the administration to its ancient land
| To ,o@ rofb;pr, bo Loft b,,t On