Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-21
FREEMEN, AWAEE-DEsPOTIS IN
tHE AACENDANT-THE FUTURE
81 THE REPUBLIC

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The country is on the eve Of the most
extraordinary and exciting crisis it has vet
witnessed While the darkness Of the fi-
tire ~, of course, impenetrable and the
eye of apprehension or of hope may be
panied in the effort 10 penetrate the gloom.
the light that the present sheds upon our
entrance into il makes il look most for
bidding and uninyiting. Clouds and dark
ness rest upon the future Of the republic.
The blacklist record ever made hy the rep
reseutaliyes Of free people ha7 been made
by the American Congress 10 disGgure the
escuicheon Of popular liberty. The cheek
Of every American citizen sh0uld burn
with shame, and his nerves thYill with in
dignation at the insult put upon his coun-
try, npon the memory Of the patriots OF 10,
end upon himself, by the passage through
Congress of the bill 10 govern the Southern
states by q military dcspOtism.
The Senators and Representatives who
voted for the bill should never be forgotten
IN the deiestation Of every American. while
liberty has a voice 10 proclaim their
ignominy. The principles of the bill are
the very essence Of despotism. Il subjects
one third Of the people of this country to
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straInt on that power, except that life
under sentence Of death cannot be taken
without the approval of the President being
first had and obtained A military COM
mission, drumhead courtmsrtial. an order
Of the commanding officer speaks. and per
sOnai liberty, political rights. and material
property disappear Bayonets take the
place of warrants, summonses aud otEer
aH8Ht.fal e Il
preme Court of the United States, ofUnited
States District Courts, Of State Courts are
made second in importance 20 the mere fat
ola military officer.
such bill is a horrible mockery Of free
institutions, and the completest yindication
OF the despotism of the old world ever
presented TO abash and put down those who
had aspirations for popular liberty. II
breaks down all the barriers that protected
the citizen in person aud property. Free
dom Of the press is tramped under the
feet Of infantry and cavalry Free speech
ia silenced by the presence of bavonets.
No citizen can keep a irOsarm for protec-
ton or defense. No citizen can shut his
door against arbitrary search or arrest. No
citizen can demand a trial by a Jury OF his
peers for an ALLEGED ofiense: nor Is he al
lowed 90 resort 90 the ireeman's writ of
right, kGbeJs corpus. An unbroken solitude
Of military despotism covers fully one
fourth Of the United States Such is a very
faint outline and character of the bill
passed by Congress 20 make a Poland. and
worse than an ireland of the Southern
States. And all this is enacted in a time of
profound peace, with no foe foreign or
domestic, in the field, no opposition any
where 10 the processes Of the count, OF the
regularly constituted authoritics Of the
government
Ii the President signs this bill and
carries ont It's provisions, the South viii be
utterly ruined, and the North will be sub
iected 20 an amount of taxation IL has not
yet felt But, beyond all that the whole
country may be conyulsed with the throe4
OF new revolution, involving the North |
aud the South alike in a common ruin.
The people cannot in such crisis. be
indifferent 70 the signs of the times. Chester
events are before them than they have vet /
witnessed, If the Congressional schemes are |
not arrested by the President. the Supreme |
Court aud the people themselves. Anv |
citizen who shuts has eyes, and T. ready 10 |
Told has arms in indifference 60 the future |
is IL 20 be a slave. and the truth is he i |
nearer 20 that deplorable condition than he |
las any notion Of