The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-03-30
Where Are We9

/.
We are now passing through one of those
stages of national life, which the history of
other nations might we'll have prepared us to
anticipate for this country; but which the
sublime confidence we possessed in the stability
as part of history which would not repeat it.
self on this Continent. The Constitution of
the United States has been regarded as SO mas
terly compromise between all conflicting in
tcrests, SO perfect balance wheel to the ma
chincry of government, that there was no dan
ger Of any irrcguarity in its workings But
to-day, where is the force or effect Of that Con-
st!tution The only use made of that august
instrument by the Congress ional majority is to
dcbase it to the vile purposes of the villainous
test oath, and to make its pretended violation
cause Of disfranchiscmcnt for us
And yet Congress, sworn to support that
Constitution, under which republican form Of
government is guaranteed to every State. uI-
dcrtakcs to establish military dcSpotism over
us nanicl t. Sickes, Federal Brig,dcr.
comes among IL: us Satrap Extraordinary and
T.rant plcnipo;cntiary ,i"dcr the most infamous
legislative act Of the most corrupt .ody OF law
makers ever known to the American Continent
lie proclaims his mandates in the confident
language of the master addressing his compla-
cent servants
....IIe doth bcstridc the narrow world
Like Colossus and we petty
Walk under his huge legs
He who, in days not fur remote surrounded
by his bayoncts. held in contempt, the mandate.
of the Federal Court itself: is now made clrsyr
justiciar Of two sovereign States. He can
well afford to be Jcll'rcys. for he is his own
cxecutoncr and there is no obstacle in the
way of his assuming OH the same day the
functions of the magistrate, the judge and ,hn
hungman, and this under flag which has
upon it hazoncd a star to represent South
Carolina ms one Of galaxy Of sovereign
States
What course our military master will pur-
sue we know not. Pcttcd and pampcrcd in his
high estate, his sufcrance may conlcscend to
let us live: or if his displcasurc be evoked
tl,;
nings play among us to our ruin His worthy
compecr, Sheridan, in Louisiana. has ust is
sued an order dcnosin., from Office the Mayor
of New Orleans. the Attorney General of the
State, and one of the judges of the courts. OBJ
noxious to his sublime majesty; and if such Il
course can be pursued in Louisiana. why can
not the same be enacted here? And yet for
sooth, this is free government.
1t seems to us that there is too much apathy
among our people on this subject. Our enc
mics are fully on the alert organized ana pow
crful and the last vcsigc Of our rights will be
swept away by them. if we arc not awake to
the demands Of the times and prepared tn use
all legal means for the preservation Of our
dearest rights.
1t is incumbent on every true citizen to do
all that he can to defeat the neiarious designs
of the party in power And no one is 50 hum
BILE as not TO be able to accomplish somcthin.
in this cause. If there is TO be registration
of voters let every one who is not DISTINGUISHED
register and vote, in order to vote on the right
side. In doing this, We do not admit the lc-
galty of the law requiring registration, We
only accept tho situation to the extent of
making virtue Of necessity. And while
those who can vote do so, lot those Tho arc
dstranchised annul the effect of their disran-
chisemcnt by exercising such. .an influence ON
the privileged classes as will more than com
pcpspto for the loss of their own sulraecs.
Let ovory man whom faction will cxclud. from
participation in the rights Of the ballot box.