Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-02-20
Strong Probability of Military Govern
ment in the South,

It is difficult to ray which ono Of the many
schemes of teconatructon proposed during the
session of tho pressn. cougrC,s, will finally assume
the form Of ON Act and become ultimately the
Law of the land or rather the law of tho South
srn Staio1. FOrsomO time past, tho original Bill
altered by Mr.. Thsddeus Steyens Of Ponnsylva-
mia; the great head,of tho extreme Radical party,
and, the tyrans Of the House Of Representatives,,
has been considerably obscured by tho numerous
amendments offered thereto, and by tho par.ia-
men,ary tactics resorted to in order to cushion
for the present tern. 81
Tho latest Congressional dispatches. however,
inform the country that Mr.. Stevens is himself
ag.ia-redirirus in toto-aad e1ulting. in his Pc
culiarly internal manner, over tho jmminont sue
cess Of his cheri.hcd measure; that measure Sc
inimical to tho rights and liberties of the South.
Indeed we are assured that the Stevens pro-
grsnme, modified rory little, if at ALL will bo
shortly thru.t upon tho so-callod "DisloyL
States"
This Bill, as we understand 1t, is simplyas fol-
lows The Southern States arc to bo formed into
different military Departments, each Department
to be governed aud directed by an Officer of the
United States Army Lot under the ranko Of Briga-
dier General. North and South Carolina arc to
form ono Of those Department., with Gen. Sick
les, in all probability, as its military Commander
Tho writ Of Habeas Corpusis to be suspended and
only uueh civil Courts and proceedings are to be
tolerated as the Department Commander MAY
direct.
Tho Bill though simple in its details, is
profoundly revolutionary, and totally subrersivo
of constitutional Government. Itproposes in re-
ality, though not in terms, to place the Govern
ment of our states entirely beyond the reach of
the President; and this without even impeaching
him For it is very evident that Con. Grant will
DO the direct Commander Of his subordinate on
GERS who arc to DO placed at tho head of the differ
ent Military Departments of the South just as
in tho Roman provinces the Pro-consuls were ac-
eount.b!o to the Imperator who resided at Rome
with this remarkable and significant difference
that tho policy Of Rome was to allow the local
lams to remain still OF force in her conquered
provinces, whilst hone of the political foes Of the
South are to enforced within her borders.
II the President does not willingly, or rather
quietly, submit to this innovation upon his pre-
roga,ire, he will be forced to DO so; for it is now
apparent that the Army is st the bidding of the
Radical party. What would it avail for the Pre,i
dent, as Commander-in-C -Chisf, to call upon the
Army to sustain him, when no we'll knows that
<uch call would bs utterly futiio-sor ct praete-
| RIA nihHt
The South, if di,ro,ed 20 maintain the Consi-
tuition, is utterly porerlors, being possessed Of
neither men nor money.
What then arc we to e1peet' The experience
Of every day teaches us to await aOthing but the
inevitable doom Of al conquered countries; to
mako plant our nscks for the Caudine forks; or
to make ready to abandon forever our native land.
Wo must determine to browse with tho yoke upon
eur ncoks, and, like Starnes Avs, picks fon clee-
mosynary turnip tops By the roadside, or gather
up our Pcna,es and shake the dust Of our own
country from tho soles of our feet.
"Sunicient unto the day is the evil thereof" has
lost, however, mono Of its meaning bY'agc snd
triten, q; and it nsy be that We unduly sntici-
pate evil. At any rate, let us meet even ADVERSE
ty manfully. and entesvor under all eircum.tan-
cos to do our-duly to our country.