North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-27
The Blacklist Record.

In speaking of the character Of the bill
reported by Stevens from the Committee
on Reconstruction, and which passed the
House of Repre- entatives, on "Wednesday,
the 18th inst, the National Lntellissneer,
OF the "ext day, thus forchIy describes it:
1.-The blackest record ever made by an
assembly ofthe representatives of free
people stained yesterday the proceedings
Of the House of representatives. Never,
in TIE most tyrannous hour of the Long
Parliament misrule; never, amid the ut
most subservience to the royal mandate OF
an English King; never, in the most
bloodthirsty epoch of French convention,
did the representatives of the people stamp
themselves with greater ignemy. The bill.
which passed by vote of 100 to 55, hands
one third of the people ofthis country over
to military government. For the rule of
law it substitutes the will Of an officer -
For the tribunal of Judge, il furnishes
drumhead court martial or military com
mission. For the process of a court and
the peaceful visit of a sheriff it proffers
the order Of petty satrap and the presence
Grief Magistrate of the United States -
1t invests General with absolute power
over one third of his countrymen. 1t erects
subord. nate dictators, armed with unhrl
died power, from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande. Throughout this broad domain,
comprising the faircst and most fertile Sec
ton Of the Republic, no man is 10 have a
secure title to his property no mans
house is free from search; no mans chat
telS exempt fiom seizure; no mans life
sale from peril. An army officer, soldier,
exalted above the law NAV ruthlessly in-
wade citiztns home and drag him from
the bosom of his family. Such bill
makes mockery of free institutions. 1t
despites all the great safeguards of popu-
lar liberty 1t tramplrs on the freedom
of the press. 1t annihilates the right Of
free assemblage. 1t silences the lips If
free speech. 1t infrlnges the right of the
people to bear arms. 1t wipes out the
guaranty of a grand jury presentment 1t
aholishes the tx mption of freedom from
seizure and and from search. 1t abrogates
the right of trial by jury of ones peers
in the vicinage Of the commission of the
alleged offence. 1t tranpIes upon the pre-
rogatlve of the President, it m kes war mp
on the Constitution, it reb'l against the
authority of the Supreme Court. 1t in
vades the sacred constitutional rights of the
the citizen. 1t is treason enveloprd in the
forms of law. 1t is rebellion wearing the
garb of legitimate power. 1t is usurpa-
tiUn assuming the sanclity of constitution
al enactment"
As bad as the Stevens bil ia, which is
so well described by the Inteliigpncer. vet
Elliot's bill for the government tn
Louisiana, which passed the House bv
vote ll3 to as, is much worse. Even the
New York Times, a Republican paper,
thus sp"ak Of Its character and effects
1T is proscrlptive after the manner of
Tennessee, and will giye rise to the heart
burning, the angry CONTROVERSIES, the bitter,
bloody strife which preuua in Tennessee to
tbs hour. 1t conftrs the franchise npnn
the negroes, universally. while it diSfran-
cIrises nearly the entire white population.
Practically, therefore, the reorganization
OF Louisiana will be entrusted to its freed
men; they, and they alone, will have the
election legislators, and through the Con-
vention the framing of the new Constitu-
ton; the resident whites being at their
mercy in all Things political. No gJh OF
prophecy is needed to for, tell the consequent
ces Of this Policy. II IS Irritating and
danqeyous tn the last degree, and its 'tftct
upon The property and business interests
of the State will be most disastrous"