The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-09-07

-FOUR Government was free onc-that it rested
ON consent. But nothing Of that kind can be
Fsaid now, if the principle OH which the war was
scarried on by the North is irrcvocably cstab-
Elished."
q /; .a'ssssslare told in emphatic language, by
la Northern man, whose mind cannot be OBJ
sskcured certainly by the so-called hcreses of
iSouthcrn doctrines, what was the principle on
(which the war was waged by the North, and
I've are warncd-God grant that the warning
Knay not be in vain-what will be the result if
lEhis principle is irrcvocably established. Let
Rt be established, and we may bid adieu to CON
tst7tutlonal hbcrty-republican institutions will
zoe swept away i'll the storm that will arise, and
We shall enter on those dark and gloomy scenes
(which always precede nations death. The
Etlnie Will then indeed have come for us to pray,
Eln the words of a fearless and eloquent son of
EElEeorgla, icr the speedy advent Of 'sthc Amcri-
Han Caesar" The whole recent legislation Of
the factonal Congress at Washington seems to
fqlaye only in view to break down all the bar
|,tlers. OF the Constitution CT the United States
[59Slgnorc the immortal truths Of the great re-
Isyellion OF '16 and to convert Government.
which had, as its only foundation, s'thc consent
IiGfEthes governed" into one sustained By force
none None Of the radicals pretend that the
/ Military Bills arc constitutional. They adj
that these measures are unconstitutional
whActAey cndcavor to make the South ratiry
.thetls,s8 arousing and appealing to the bascst
qns.of human nature, fear and cnpidity.
dhey Threaten us with conf! cation ON the one
hand 81 we do not accept these measures !;
| they glYc them the scmblancc Of law. while on
the, other they attempt to bribc those amongst
.yyEssYho arc SO base and vcnal as to be willing
topnrchasc immunity for themselves BY selling
that liberties of their country.
4AroSthcsc dcspicablc motives, strong enough
Excorrnpt the virtue of the Southern rcorlc :?
NIL that people who have proved themselves
dApa6lesot making any and all sacrifices .or
tie sakesof their principles sink 50 lo,. as TO
bly, tlioslperc privilege to livc--cvcn if they
lise slayes--!,y giving up all that they have
heretofore held sacred. and all that makes life
Hscf werth having? VII! they allow their ac-
cans meyer govern brave men. Are they afraid
ofconfscation BY Congress? If they adopt
these Reconstruction Acts, they will most as
sAredl suffer coniiscaticn in lis worst and most
tYrannical FORM through the reconstructed"
States. It's for them to determine these mo-
hl{ltous questions for themselves They have
sried concession to the verge OF folly
this point: ''sS0 : Ss''
'I'hc programme of the ruling party cannot
be altered or changed by concessions That
has been tried in the South. All the demands
OF Congress have been complied with b. the
States lately in revolt. They have altered
thci. Constitutions, adopted The amendment
aboliSling slavery, attended to Tic condition
OF the freedmen, iepud.atcl the debt contracted
by them for war purposes, and in this manner
showed their anxiety to resume constitutional
relations with the Federal Governments But
each concession has been met with fresh de-
mand until, at the present time, ten States
have been turned into military divisions ten
Governors chosen by the people superseded BY
I'VE bri%adlcr-Gcncrals.a aud the will of a minor
ny congress placed over and above the power
and author OF the Constitution. #
In order 10 carry Oh; thi, scheme, which was
concoctc,. :,y the revolutionary committee OF
Congress. the Southern States arc made sub
jcct to military tyranny, without limitation
or responsibility, or other checks or nstruc-
tons, than that it shall use its powers literally
to carry out the political purposes Of the ruling
party i'll the nation"
Has this policy Of concession to unlawful de-
mands Dccl GO productive of benefit that we
still desire T.. pursue it? Are We prepared, for
tho sake Of capc1icncy-thar fatal iaiiacy which
has lured us SO far on the road to destruction
that Trojan Horse which was brought with it
all Ilad Of wocs-to barter away the few rights
remaining to us? Yet this is the course we
must follow, il We accept tcrnis which we
know to be contrary to the conditions on which
We surrendered, which are inilnical TO all truc
rcconciliations. and which arc in open and pal
pahc violation OF the Constitution which VIC
swear TO support at the very moment wc arc
grossly outra@in= is most sacred provisions
Would not those who vote for these laws know
ing them to be unconstitutional. be guilty Of
perjury? What good can come of laws which
bc.!n Iii fraud and can be carried into effect on
Is hy perjury? i.ct me not be understood as
making! amy reflections on III, sc Southern men
who honestly and conscicni iously advocate our
acceptance Of these military bills. Any d-
visions amongst us are 10 be deprecated. and it
is as unwiSe rs ii is unknd to impugn the mo-
tlvcs o! nen who, on many :; field, have proved
their devotion to the South. Especially do
regret the virlllcnt attacks which have been
ma1c on that gallant soldier who 50 long and
50 ably led the illustrious First Corps OF the
Army of Northern Virginia | has been his
hard fate. III peace as'in war. to be wounded by
his own people. That charity which hopcth
all things, and Il natural distrust of our own
judgment, should make us treat the convictions
Of such men with at least kindly and proper
consideration But for those ..who see the