Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-01
he Re-assemblIng of Congre..

bD TedsSeInOle. anu LOT WDaLE 10 make
greater inroads upon the rights of the peo-
pie and the powers of the Executive. The
laundering demagogues who had the So
called reconstruction act in charge failed
to iclothe the Military Dictators of the
South with absolute power, and Congress
Is to reassemble and take the Executive
and the Constitution in its own hands, and
circumscribe and abridge as they please.
What lis the pretext for all this bluster
Simply because the Executive has seen
proper to place upon their own act fair
and legal construction.
The Radical press of Ohio denies that
their party is In favor Of Military Dictators,
aud yet indorses and upholds Congress in
creating them.
Do they not applaud every illegal act
and high handed outrage committed by
them?
What do these fanatics desire, If it is not
to wholly subvert the Government and es-
tablish Military Government with unlim-
tied powersp
There is not Democrat in Ohio they
would not disfranchise if they could.
There is not a Military Commander in
the South they would not clothe with alb
solute power.
They passed the so-called Reconstruc-
tion act upon the pretext that life and
property were not safe in the South, and
needed protection. And now, when the
President defines the province of the Mill
tary Commanders to be, to see that life and
property are protected, and that the cleo
tions are conducted according to law, these
hypocritical scoundrels eXclaim, "Why, by
the Presidents construction of the law the
military becomes simply police force"
If the real design of that military force
was to preserve the peace and protect the
lives and property of citizens, what more
could it be than a police force? 1t was in
tended to be simply executive and not leg
islative.
If the commanders are vested with leg
islative powers, and are permitted to usurp
and exercise them, then each military COM
mander becomes a military Dictator at
once. He makes laws and repeals them at
will. Unrestrained by organic or statute
law, he becomes at once despot and ty-
rant. Now, is it not fair inference that
If Radicals impose military Dictator upon
the South when they have the power, that
they will, SO soon as they obtain power,
upon some pretext, impose the same upon
the North?
If they are not in favor of this kind of
why do they support, advo-
cate, and create it?
But they say we propose it tonly for Reb-
els. Magnanimous conduct towards brave
but fallen foe. Our own countrymen, too.
Bone of our bone and blood of our blood.
They fought like men and surrendered
like soldiers. The North accepted that sur
render. And now it is proposed to make
Them subjects of despisable Military Des-
demagogues that know as
little of statesman-like exercise of power
d dog does of Divine revelation
Brave men that thus assume despotic
powers over a conquered people. The
ruth is apparent. The Radicals have gone
On from one excess to another until they are
and embittered to an extent
hat renders them incapable of dealing
Justly with political opponents at home or
1umapely with Frustrated foe in the
south.
But it is triumphantly asked what the
Democracy propose for the
South?
That question can easily be answered.
They propose the reeogn;tfOn of the old
Jnion, the establishment of fraternal
ceiling, the regulation of local affairs and
he right of suffrage by the people of the
States respectively, and, most important Of
I'll, the re-establishment of the Democratic
of the fathers and return to
,he ancient land marks of national great
less.
If Congress reassembles, and does all
,he most jealous Radicals desire, what
hen? Do they expect the people |
20 submit to these gross acts of injustice
without appealing to the Executive to in
erpose the Constitution and the law? And
{ hedoes interpose, is he then to become a
7ictim of usurpation? If so our Govern
nent is at an end. The Military Com
nanders will be masters of both North
md South. What will be the result of all
his? Do not considerate Radicals know
hat when power has been once usurped
hat contest of factions will arise? GRANT
with his adherants will assail BUTLER and
he horde of vagabonds that follow him.
SHERIDAN with his admirers will come in
contact with SIcKLEs and his friends, and
10 from one to the other the jealousy will
xtend, feelings of animosity will be cre-
tied, conflicts will ensue until, the most
desperate state of affairs will exist. All
his is but the natural result of Radical
policy. Whilst these Military Rulers are up
n one side and the people upon the other,
whilst they are reaching for the coveted
,ower, they may agree. But SO soon as
me is to rise above another then the con-
liet will begin.
Then factions will arise. Then the
men who are to-day encouraging SHER1-
,AN to violate the law he has sworn to
hey, will find every ambitious man in of
Ice. ready to follow SHERIDAN's example,
md that they will have their apologists
ind supporters. Then the Government
will be without an Executive. The pas
ions of men will be their rule of conduct.
The Radicals must not forget that their
of Congress represent minori-
y of the people, and that the people are
he Government. And, furthermore, they
must not be forgetful that oppression has
Unit beyond the endurance of freeman.
That even the people of the South, suffer
ng as they are, are not insensible to the
insults of arbitrary irresponsible military
rulers.
We charge these men to look well before
they go further. We charge them to step
lightly as they tread upon the graves of