Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-09-06

BEVILR' w. fRlDA1 I
q the virtue Of the South
~ 49,. gill that people, who have
n..uo, .Ees capable of making any
RI ~ IS for the sake of their prin>
=. o:.I. q low as to buy the mere
~ ~ r, :.:, even if they live slaves
- f.. all that they have heretofore
y. aand all that makes life itself
~ ..as,rfng9 Will they allow their
.o,;.S Sinfuenced by threatsa Threats
. .sgoyern brave men. Are they
ho .fr.Scouiscation by Congress If
:. h,a. these Reconstruction Acts, they
- III assuredly suffer coutiscation in its
- I'D most tyrannical form, through |
CONSTRUCTED" States. 1t is for .hem
-, ,mine these momentous questions
"a naselves. They have already carried
-. ion to the verge of folly. Hear
-, s,nother Northern writer says on this
ty
- The programme Of the ruling party
IN. ot be altered or changed by con-
;ts 'ons. That has been tried in the South.
Of, the demands Of Congress have been
hoplied with by the States lately in revolt.
hey have altered their constitutions,
sopted the amendment abolisl,ing slavery,
ytebded to the condition of the freedmen,
spudiated the debt contracted by them
'r war purposes, and in this manner
howed their anxiety to resume constitu-
ional relations with the Federal Govern
nent. But each concession has been met
With fresh demand, until, at the present
ime, ten States have been turned into
cilitary divisions, ten Governors, chosen
" the people, superseded by five brigadier.
GENERALS, and the will Of a minority in Con-
,ress placed over and above the power
Ine authority of the Constitution +
In order to carry out this scheme,
which was concocted by the. Revolutionary
of Congress, the Southern States
arc made subject to a military tyranny,
without Limitation or responsibility, or other
checks or instructions, than that it shall
use its powers literally to carry out the
political purposes Of the ruling party in the
nation"
Has this policy Of concession to unlawful
demands been so productive of benefit thai
we still desire to pursue it2 Are we pre-
pared, for tue sake Of erpeliency-tha
fatal falIacy which has lured US so far o,
the road to destruction-that Trojan Hors
which has brought with it an Ihad Of woe
to barter away the few rights remainin!
to usa Yet 4his is the course we mus
follow, if we accept terms Which we kno'
to be contrary to the conditions on whic
we surrendered, which are inimical to a
true reconciliations, and which are in ope
and palpable violation Of the Constituiio
of the United States-of that Constitute
which we swear to support, at the vc'
moment we are grossly outraging its MOI
sacred provisions Would not those wi
vote for these laws, knowing them to
unconstitutional, be guilty Of perjury
What good can come flaws which beg
in fraud and can be carried into effect on
by perjury2 Let me not be understood
making any reflections on .hoss Southe
men who honestly and conscientiously a
vocate our acceptance of these militia
bills. Any divisions amongst us are to
deprecated, and.it is IS nnwise as is u
kind to .impugn the motives of men vi
on many field, have proved their dev
lion to the South. Especially do I reg
. the virulent attacks which have been mi
J.: on that gallant soldier who SO long and
ably led the illustrious First Corps Of
: Army Of Northern Virginia. It has b
his hard fate, in peace as in war, 10
wounded by his own people. That ch'
}, " which "thopsth all things" and nat'
9 distrust Of our own judgment, should M
. US treat the convictions Of such men y
:. at least kindly aud proper considsret
o But for those Is who see the right. and
It the wrong pursue" who, while their CO
1T try seems 70 be struggling in the .hroe
y death, consult only their own bsse
=, and low instinets-who, to save their
" property or still more vile persons. VI
pt degrade their state-who bid US &C
te diahonor as the price Of safety-lang'
~ ha. no terms strong enough TO brand I
''s infamy. They are as far beyond the r
vs of adequate punisbmen. in: this -'wor
NJ. they are beneath the scorn and CONT
he ofall honorable men.
|" But 10 return to the consideration Q
. ! tRecopstruction Acts, from which thi'
:" eression' has led me. What iuducer
ne do thss advocates of these measures
90 out to % to aecert them Can they I
to' 'Ei Eiss ii us peseef, Look At Tennessee,
! 'na IA learn what kind Of peace wear to.
my iCea hey promise :us an acceptable
vi Eqeonsiituton--ons that will not be
ma -. .ts-s 49,