Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-11

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q Northern man, whose mind cannot be Oh.
scured certainly by the so-called heresles ol
Southern doctrines, what was the principle on
which the war was waged by thelNortb, ana we we
are warned-God grant thatthe warning may
not be in yain-what will be the result II TINS
principle is irrevocably established. Let 1t
be established, and we may bid adieu to con, IN,
stitutional liberty-republican institutions WIN
be swept away in the storm that WILL arise,
and we shall enter on those dark and gloomy
scenes which always precede nations death:
The time will then indeed have come 1or us
to pray, in the words of q fearless and elo-
ouent son of Georgia, for the speedy advent
of g the American Cnsar.p The whole re-
cent legislation of the fractional Cong ress at
Washington seems to have only in view TO
break down all the barriers f the Constltu-
ton of the United States; to ignore the II I'M
mortal truths of the great rebellion OF 10,
and to convert government, which had' as
its only foundation, the consent OF the gov
erued,h into one sustained BY force aioDe' e!
None of the Radicals pretend that the militia.
ry bills ARE constitutional. They admit
perhaps I should say, rather, they trust-that
these measures are unconstitutional, Wnlie
they endeavour to make the South ratiiy
them, By arousing and appealing to the oasest
passions of human nature, fear and cuPloiiy'
They threaten US with confscation, on The
one hand, if we do not accept these measures,
they give them the semblance of law, while
on the other they attempt to brioe those
amongst US who arc so base and venal as 70
be willing to purchase immunity for them
selves by selling the liberties of their country
WILL THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE MAKE ANY FUR
THEIR CONCESSIONS?
Are these despicabla motives strong enough
to corrupt the virtue Of the Southern people
Will that people, who have proved them
selves capable of making any and all sacri-
fees for the sake of their principles, sink so
low as to buy the mere privilege TO llve-eVen
if they live saves-by giving up all that they
have heretofore held sacred, and all that
makes life itself worth having? Wlii they
allow their action to be Influenced by threats
Threats can never govern brave men. are
they afraid of confscation by Congress? II
tbey adopt these Reconstruction acts. they
will most assuredly suffer .confscatlon In lis
worst and most tyrannical form, through tne
+" reconstructed" States. 1t is for them to
determine these momentous questions Tor
themselves. They have already carried con-
cession to the verge Of folly. Hear what
another Northern writer says on this point
"The programme of the ruling party can
not be altered or changed by concessions.
That has been tried in the South. All the
demands of Congress have been complied
with by the States lately in revolt. They
have altered their constitutions, adopted the
amendment abolishing slavery, attended to
the condition of the freedmen, repudiated the
debt contracted by them for war purposes,
and in this manner showed their anxiety to
resume constitutional relations with the Fed
eral Government. But each concession has
been. met with fresh demand lntiffat the
present time,ssteni States tesa. tbaen turned
into military divisions, ten Governors, chosen
by the people, superseded by five Brigadicr-
Generals. ard TIE will Of minority Congress
placed over ard above the power and author
ity of the constitution. In order
to carry out this scheme, which was con-
cocted by tie revolutionary committee OF
Congress, the Southern S atcs ale made sub
icct to a military tyranny. without Limitation
o. responsibility. or otner checks or i's'ruc-
tiois, than that it shall use its powers literal
ly to carry ou; he political purposes OF the
ruling party in ihe nation"
WHAT HAS rEEN GAINED BY CONCESSION
Has this policy OF concession 10 Unlawful
demands been 50 productive Of benefit that
we sill desire TO prrsnc it? Are We pre-.
pared for the sake Of expediency ;bat fatal
fallacy which has iured US 50 lar on the road
to destruction-,hat Trojan Horse which has
brought with it al Iliad Of wocs-to barter
away the few rights remaining to us? 1et
this is the Course we must f,ilo", If we ac-
ccpt terms which we know TO be contrary 'c
the conditions on which we surrendered: which
are inimical to all true rcconcillations, and
which are IN open and palpabc violation o
the Constitution of,he United Statcs-ot that
constitution Which We swear 10 support, al
the very moment we are grossly outrasinS It's
most sacred provisions Would not those
who vote for these laws. knowing them 10 b.
unconstitutional, be guilty ofpeljury? What
good can come of laws which begin in fraud
and are carried into effect ony BY pe' jury
Let me not b. understood as uaking any re
Elections on thosc Southern men whn hon estly
and conscientinu>ly advocate our acceptance
of these military bills. ANY divisions amongst
us are to be deprecated, md 1t is as unwlsf
as it is unkind t" impugn the motives OF mel
who, on many a field, have proved their de
vo;ion TO the South. Especall, do regret
the yirulcat attacks which have been made oa
that galIan, soldier who SO long and So ably
led the ilusrious First Corps oil the Army o
Northern Virginia. 1t has beenhis hard fate
in peace as in war, to wounded By his own
people. That charity which "hopetb all
things" and natural distrl.t of our own
Judgment, should male us treat the conyic
lions of such men " at least kindly and
proper consideration. But for those ".whc
soc the right and yet the wrong pursue" ]" who
while their country seems to be struggling IN
the throes of death consult only their own
base fears and low instncts-wbo, to save
their vile property or still more vile persons
would degrade their State-who bid us &C.
cept dishonour as the price OF saiety-lan.
guage has no terms strong enough to brand
their nfamy. They are as far beyond the
reach of adequate punishment in this world
as they are beneath the scorn and contempt
of all honorable men.
WHAT WILL BE GAINED EY CONCESSION Ii
But to return to the consideration Of the
Reconstruction acts, from which this digres
sion has led me. What inducements do the
advocates cf these measures hold out to lis
to accept them Can they promise us peace :
Look at Tennessee, and learn what kind Of
peace we are to have. Can they promise US
an acceptable State cons;itution-one that
will not be nterlered with by Congress ?
Look at Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky
three "loyal" sovereign States-which are
TO be put on trial before Star Chamber COM
mittec, on the charge Of not having republic
can constitutions. Can they promise u re-