Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-19
The Blacklist Record.

In speaking OF the character OF the Dill re-
rorted by Stevens from the Committee on Re
construction, and which passed the House Of
Representatives, on Wednesday, the 18th inst,
the National IatelHgenser Of the next day thus
forcibly describes it:
1.-THE blacklist record ever made by an as
sembly of the representatives OF free people
stained yesterday the proceedings OF the House
of Representatives Never, in the most tyran-
nous hour of the Long Parliament misrule;
never. amid the utmost subservience to the
royal mandate of an English King; never, In
the most bloodthirsty epoch Of French conven-
ton, did the representatives ofthe people stamp
themselves with greater ignomy. The bill.
which passed by vote of 100 to 55, hands one
third of the people of this country over to mill
tary government For the rule Of law, 1t sub
stitutes the will Of an officer. For the tribunal
of judge, it furnishes drumhead court-mar-
tial or a military commission. For the process
of a court and the peaceful visit of sheriff, it
profers the order of a petty satrap and the pre-
sence Of a squad of bayonets. 1t ignores the
Chief Magistrate Of the United States. 1t In
vests General with absolute power over one
third of his countrymen. 1t erects subordinate
dictators, armed with unbridled power, from
the Potomac to the Rio Grande. Throughout
this broad domain, comprising the fairest and
most fertile section Of the Republic, no man IS
to have secure title to his property no man
house is free from search no mans chattels
exempt from seizure no mans liberty uneX-
posed to assault; no man 5 life safe from peril.
An army officer, soldier, exalted above the
law, may ruthlessly invade citizens home and
drag him from the bosom of his family. Such
a bill makes a mockery Of free institutions. 1t
despites all the great safeguards of popular lib
erty It tramples on the freedom of the press.
1t annihiates the right Of free assemblage 1t
silences the lips of free speech 1t infringes the
right of the people to bear arms. 1t wipes out
the guaranty of grand jury presentment 1t
abolishes the exemption offreedom from seizure
and from search. 1t abrogates the right oftrlal
by jury Of ones peers in the vicinage of the
commission Of the alleged offence. 1t tramples
upon the prerogative of the President, it makes
war upon the Constitution, it rebels against
the authority of the Supreme Court. 1t in
vades the sacred constitutional rights of the cit-
zen 1t is treason enveoped in the forms of
law It is rebellion wearing the garb Of legiti,
mate power. 1t is usurpation assuming the
sanctity Of constitutional enactment.
As bad as the Stevens bill is which is SO
well described by the LatelHgencer, yet Elliott s
bill for the government of Louisiana, which
passed the House by vote ll3 to 4S, is much
worse Even the New York Times Republi-
can paper, thus speaks of its character and eff
fects:
1T is proscriptiye after the manner of Ten
nessee, and will gi0e rise to the heart-Jmning,
the angry controversies, tie bitter, bloody strife
a0htch preraI IN Tennessee to this hour. It con-
fers the franchise upon the negroes, universally,
while it DISTINGUISHES nearly the entire white
population. Practically, therefore, the re-orga-
nization of Louisiana will be entrusted to its
freedmen; they, and they alone, will have the
election of legislators, and through the Conven-
ton the framing of the new Constitution; the
resident whites being at their mercy in all things
political. No Gift ofprophecy IS needed to fore
tell the consequences Of THIS policy. Il as arita-
ting and dangerous to the last degree, and its
effect upon the property and business interests
Of the State will be most DISASTROUS