The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-20
THE HON. HERsCHEL ". JOHNsoN's
LETTER.

THE HON. HERsCBEL ". JOHESoN's
LETTER.
number of gentlemen in Atlanta asked
the Hon. II. Y. JonEsox, for bis "views on
the duties of The hour" These he gives in q
letter published in the Atlanta Infeiiigencer.
lie sets out by saying that the whites, i'll Geor-
giu, orc largely in the ascendant, and if they
would be firm and united, they could defeat
the nefnrious scheme for their ruin and hu-
initiation. "Wc arc advised 10 accept the
SHERMAN bill OF Congress will ndopt more
grinding measure, and anon, thousands Of tho
timd arc ready TO offer their arms to receive
the fetIers TO accept il, or Congress will con-
fiscato our property, and anon, thousands, who
lovo money more Than free government, are
willing 10 bend their nccks 10 the ignominious
yoke; to accept it, or we will not bo allowed
representation in Congress-, and nnon Office
mongors nro ready to drink tho hemlock"
Mr.. JOHNSON is profuso in his allusion to
the classics throughout his lettor. He says
further on, "gcnerally tho true men of tho
South have ltilo to con6scate, and that little
they are willing to surrender, if need be, as
holocaust upon the smoking altar of their
country" Again: "Let all register and
WELD their ballot to save the State from ut
ter ruin and degradation. This is the club of
HERCULES, by which we can, if united and
true TO ourselves, crush this horrid Hydra
that basks in and fattens upon the slime of the
Lcrnean lake Of radical corruption" Again,
" They" [tho people Of tIie North, who Mr..
JOHNSON thinks, will soon join tho South, If
the Inter holds out against Congress- "may
cleanse the Augean stable, purge the statute
books, and restore the administration /, it's
ancient landmarks. If not, nothing will BIO
left us but acquiesence in the sad necessity
Of our condition. Then, and not till then,
may be inscribed upon the tomb of constitu-
tional liberty, 'Hium Jut."
Mr. JOHNSON ie not charitable in his
structures upon tho conduct of those who hold
different views from his, as he is classical.
Wo have seen what he says of those, who, nc
cording to his opinion, take counsel of their
fear. Further on he says " Little property
is left to tho true men Of the South. AS gene
raj remark, such mon have emerged from the
war with nothing left but poverty and patrio-
tism. There those who were blatant for
secession in the beginning, who denounced
speculation and spectators, whilst they en-
riched themselves by speculation, and who are
now willing TO bend the supple hinges of tho
knee that thrift may follow fswning. They
may have something 10 loose by oonfscation
and IL they oan aava il by roo.s.nay 10 tL.;-
homes anu hearthstones; by abandoning those
whom they led into secession, by becoming
false to their race, and by playing the part
of pall-bearers at the funeral of tho Constitu-
tion, be it so.''
Hero we have il in q few words! There is
no patriotism, no virtue, no honesty, save in
the ranks of "pasaivism." The lovers of
their country must sit still, fold their hands,
and wait for that returning sonse Of JUS
tice of the people Of tho North and West, of
which we have heard 30 much during the past
seven years. To take different view, to ex-
anime the situation and accept facts, to comply
with tho requirements Of tho conqueror, in or
der to contribute to a speedy and peaceful
solution Of the pending difficulties, and restore
us to our former place in the Union, is stigma
tiIed as bowling the knee to BAAL."
In proof Of the correctness Of his position,
he gives resume Of the SHERMAN Reconstruc-
tion Act, item by item, and shows, TO his own
and perhaps to the satisfaction of
those whom he addresses, that in nearly every
provision this Act is - unconstitutional
Here lie the fallacy of the whole argument.
Tho premise is not conceded by those who have
tho power to decide authoritatiyely in such
questions; hence the conclusion falls to the
ground. If Mr.. JoHNsoH's argument is 10
avail anything, ho must first show that the
people of the South are still in the enjoyment
of their constitutional rights; that they have
done nothing to forfeit those rights. This, we
know, Mr.. JoHssoH, and all who think with
him., are prepared to prove to their own entire
But they arc mere advocates.
The Judge has decided against them. This has
been repeatedly demonstrated in the Congress
sionnl legislation Of the past two years. The
President vetoed the Civil Rights Bill and the
Freedman's Bureau Bill, entered his protest to
the HOWARD Constitutional Amendment, vetoed
the SHERMAN Military Reconstruction Act, then
the Supplemental Bill Of March 2e, and is at
this time preparing his reasons for vetoing the
second Supplemental Bill passed last week.
All his objections have been taken upon con-
atitutional grounds, but have in every instance
been oVerruled by the majority in Congress,
who represent tho will Of the people of the
North, who unquestionably hold the power Of
the Government. The Supreme Court, also,
the last resort in case Of disagreement between
the Legislative and the Executive Departments
Of the Government, has declined to take direct
cognizance Of the questions brough4 before IL
involving an examination of the legislation Of
Congress.
A Constitution, after oil, is nothing more
than compact between two or more parties,
which Is binding only so long as both parties
consent to act in accordance with It's stipuls-
lions, or In default Of such continued voluntary
obedience, only so long as there Is a power in
The last resort to enforce compliance. The
Southern States having seeded, and re-
sisted by war all attempts to bring them back
into the Union, 1t is held by the North that they
broke tho compact, and therefore upon their
forced return, forfeit the rights that had been
guaranteed to them by the Constitution. !
Whether this course and opinion arc in accord.
ance with the sentiments declared by Mr.. LIN.
colin, and by tho Congress Of the United