The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-03-13
mo. 80

! tiVts Vi Cile doomed nartlcs were cXClu.
ded from all participation in the trial.
The conviction is to be followed by tho
most lgnominious punishment ever
inflicted on large masses Of mon. 1t
DISTINGUISHES them by hundreds of thoi,s-
ands, and dcgradcs them all--cvcn
those who arc admitted to be gnitless--.
from the rank Of frcemcn to the condi.
ton Of slaves.
The purpose and object Of the bill
tic general intent which pcrvades it
from beginning to ends to change tho
entire structure and character of tho
State governments, and to compel them
| ny torcc to the adoption Of organic laws
| and regulations Witch thev are mwill.
| ing to accept, if lefy 60 themselves Tho
negroes have not asked for the privilege
Of votinG-tho vast majority of them
| have no idea what it means This bin
not only thrusts it into their hands, but
compels them, rs we'll rs tho whites, TO
use them it i'll n particular way. If they
DO not form constitution with prcscri.
bed articles il it, and afterwards elect
Legislature which will act upon Ger.
tain measures Ill prescribed way,
| neither blacks nor whites can be relieved
from the slavery which tho bill imposes
upon them. Without pausing here to
consider the policy or impolicy OF Arri-
canzng the Southern part Of our terri.
tory, | would simply ask tho attention
OF Congress to that manifest, we'll
known, and universally acknowledged
rule Of constitutional law, which declares
that tho Federal Government has no
jurisdiction authority or power to regu-
late such subjects for any State. 10
force the right Of suffrage out Of tho
hands OF tho wh,,o people and
into the hands Of the negroes is an
arbitrary violation OF this prnci-
plc.
Tlo bill imposes martial law Mt onco
and It's operations will begin rs soon rs
the Gcncraland his troops can bo nut in
place. The dread alternative between
ita harsh rulo and compliance with tho
| terms oil this measure Is not suspended,
nor arc tho people afforded any time for
free dcliberation. The bill says to thom
take martial law first, then deliberate.
And when they have done all that this
measure requires them to do, other con-
dltions and contingencies, over which
they have no control, yet remain to bo
fulfilled before thcy can be relieved from
martial law. Another Congress must
first approve tho constitutions, made in
conformity with the will orLhis Congress
and must declare these States entitled 10
representation IN both Houses The
whole question thus remains open and
unsettled, and must again occupy tho
attention Of Congress, and in the mean.
time the agitation which now prevails
| will continue to disturb all portions Of
| the people.
Tho bill also denies tho legality Of Tic
governments Of ton Of tho States whicl,
participated in The ratification of tho
amendment 10 tho Federal Constitution
abolisl,ing slavery forever within tho
jurisdiction Of tho United States, and
practically excludes thom from tho
Union. If this assumption Of the bill
be correct, their concurrence cannot DO
considered as having been legally givon
aud tho important fact is made to mp.
poar that tho consent OF threo.fonrlhs
Of tho Statcs-tlc requisite numbcr---
has not been constitutionally obtaincd
TO the ratification Of that amcndmons,
thus leaving the question Of slavery
where it stood before tho amendment
was officially declared to havo become
q part Of tho Constitution.
That tho measure proposed by this
bill docs violate tho Constitution in tho
particulars mentioned, and in many
other ways which I lorboar to cnumo.
rate, is too clear to admit OF tho least
doubt. Tt only remains 10 consider
whether tho injunctions Of that inslru.
mont ought to be oboycd or not, I
think they ought to be cbcycd, for rca-
sons which l will proceed to give as
briefly ms possible.
In the first place, it ig thc only system
Of FREQ government which We oan hope
to have rs nation. When it ceases TO
be tho rulc Of our, condnct, we may,
perhaps, take our choice between COM
plete anarchy, consolidated despotsm
and total dissolution Of lho Union, but
national liberty, regulated by law, will
have passed boyond our reach,
It's the best franc Of government tho
world over saw. No other is or can DO
80 well adapted to The gcnius, habits or
wants OF the American people. Com
bining the strength ola great emp' O.
with nnspeakablo blessings oflocal self
eovernmcnt--',aving q central power
to defend tho general interest, and re.
coenizing tho authority Of the States aa
tho guardians industrial rights it is Mhe'
shcct.anchcr of orr safety abroad and
our peace at home" 1T was ordalied
'Lo form n moro perfect union, establish
Isasticc, insure domestic tranquility, pro-
,note the general welfare, provide fortbe
common defence, and secure tho bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and to our
[postcrity." These great ends llaYc
been attained heretofore, and will be
again, by faithful obedience 10 it, but
lthey are certain to be lost il FIVE treat
with Disregard its sacred obligations.
It WAS TO punis', the gross crimeof