Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-02-27
The stevens. .sherman-Blaine Golgrn-


ment.
In our la,t issue we ondsnrorsd to anticipate
tho final action of Congress on the Steyens pro-
gramme. Our antieipations have proyedentiroly
true, except in regard to the appointment of the
Military Commanders by Gen. Grant.
Tho latest tsegraphic dispatches are to the
effect that tho Senate had passed the Sherman
amendment, with certain amendments tackled
thereto, by vote of 81 to o.
This man Sherman is brother of the incendia-
ry General; he is Senator from Ohio. What
the House amendments are, is Lot oven intimated,
80 far as ws can sec; but we are morally sure
they do not soften tho features or conditions of
tho Bill. We may safely say at present that the
Stevens Sherman Blaine embroglio has ovontuated'
in tho passage by both houses Of Congress Of q
Bill dividing the South into Five Military Dis
tricts, of which, as said in previous article on
this subject North and South Carolina are to form
the second District.
The President is to appoint the Military Com
manderg, subject, however, to aproriso that allows
him little moro than the shadow of choice; the
Bill stipulsting that such Commanders shall be
from the Regular Army and not below the rank
OF Brigader General. The power Of appoint
ment given to the President is virtually taken
away, it will be perceived. by confnng his choice
to certain class of persons very limited in num-
ber and soldiers by profession.
So far as the military provisions of the Bill are
concerned, We infinitely prefer them to such pro
visions as were at one time proposed for the es-
tablshment of a so-called "Loyal Government"
in the different Southern Slates. We Mill know
what to expect from military rule, and may hope
at least for some protection Of life and property,
from the simple fact that such power is an ap-
purtenanco OF all military governments. But the
protection of Loyal Government" would bo to
the South that protection which wolves accord to
lambs.
The sway of an open and undisguised military
dominion, directed by no special eumty, and which,
from it's unquestioned control and unlimited pow
er, could afford to be magnanmoas, is far prefcra,
bic to Loyal Government purporting to be
formed of thosc, who, though living in our midst
during the recent war, stood aloof snd sJmpa'
thizod NTH Federal Arms, and who entertain to-
wards us to-day much more of venom and ranco'
than do the officers who led the Northern hosts
We fear, however, tn 1T ultimately We shall no
escape even this bitter cup; inasmuch as Sectior
sth of the Bill in ques son provides for the forma
ton of just such Government. That is, upor
hehappening of c-rta In contingencies, the "loyal
people in the respective States arc to elect Dele
gates to Convention with view to the establish
meut Of {" Loyal Government" so fashioned asst
restore the States to the Union. The Dslcgstest I
this proposed Convention are to be chosen fron
among those citixess who neither participated il
nor .ympathized xith tho late Rebellion nut
are to be voted foe by those only who can presen
similar racoc8
1t is easy TO, predict, under these circumstances
who will compose sueh Convention, and Still
sssios to sresce our seemingly inevitable politics
doom.
Itmsy be that the President will pocket tn
Bill for the present, and not veto it at once2 $
that the whole matter may SO over to the mex
Congress. Such ~ course however, will be n NOR
| postponement o1 our Serfltuue, no IL 10 'ei
we'll ascertainsd fact that tho approaching Con
grcss will be inoreRadical than is the present
And it may bo-by u sort of miracle!-tha
Congress will net pass the Bill over tho President
veto. In the last extremity tho Suprems Cour
will pronounce it unconstitutional; but, in the'
days the decisions of the Supreme Court are NO
treated with much respect by tho powerful an
triumphant Radical party. So the chance of tn
measure not becoming practically operative
rather q shadowy one.
At any rate, our fate seems sealed. 1t, as
have said above, the strong arm of military rule
to be our portion, we may at least hope for qua,
protection But from the "Loyal Government,
framed as proposed in the Sth Section aforsssit
wo may await the fate of tho vsrquished, an
eIclaim zoe cietis.
We are already poor in tho extreme. Our land
the only property left US, have lost their e1
changeaLle value, and, from present prospect
will, in all probability, sooner or later fall int
the hands of absentee landlords, whose peculatin
economy will fleece US, and whose unconscionsb
extortion, uneovering our rakeduesp, will e1po'
to the world, like tho patched robe of 0tmay
old Woman, a rery variety of mretehedness."