Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-03-23
P O LIT T @ a l.
GOV. BROWNS SPEECH.

GOV. BROWNS SPEECH.
We publish below tho speech of Ex-Gov.
ernor BnowN, of Georgia, delivered at .Atlan
ia, March 4th, in defence of his recent letter
The subject is one Of such vital interest that
We feel bound to lay before our readers all that
ia said by men who sre entitled t., be heard in
reference to the policy Of the South in regard
to this bill. We endorse most heartily Gov.
BROwN's advice that there should be no strife
among ourselves, and that if there is to b.
difference Of opinion, the discussion should be
without passion, AMI solely, III reference to
she best Interests Of our unhappy country.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: IN response
to this call, coming from my ncg'.bprs, and
trust may say my friends | will not decline
to say something, and in any remarks .nny
make will say that do not intend to wound
the feelings Of any one present. think this
is q time when it is much better to pour oil
on the troubled waters, than to excite the
hs,ncs of passion nn,l attempt to divide our
people By angry strife. Remember that Con.
4 gross has already taken action which places all
of us under amilitary government. Rcmcn,.
ber mat in n very few days the President, in
all probability, Will feel it to be his duty 60
place. over the military district OF Georgia,
Alabama and Florida, n man nose viii will
be the law of tho land chat 1t will be a mat
ter OF discretion wiGh this commander whether
hc viii allow uny one charged with offences to
be tried before any Of the civil courts of the
State, or before military tribunal. whore the
pun;shmest and the mcdc Of its iniliction will
l.e alike determined upon in accordance with
military laws 1t may be punishment Of
fine and imprisonment. or with ball and chain,
or any other adopted in the army.
Gentlo,aen, this is not cLild's play. It is n
serious m@.ter. 1t is such state of things
IN you and l have never seen in all our past
lives. In vicw of our responsibility, then, is
~it becoming for Us to quarrel with each other
or to Indulge in spirit Of fault finding. or Of
criminatim and recrimination? ls this the
time to stse up angry strife among ourselves
or to take each othcr by the throats? Would
it not be better in this state of things to differ
respectfully, and if We discuss, to discuss calm
1y aud with moderation
The great trouble with our people seems TO
be that they do not recognize tie fact that
they are a conquered people, aud that they
must submit to whatever terms the conuncror
imposes upon us. They forget that they have
no longer. any power of resistance, and thAt
they must submit to the powers that be- The
strugglc that has ended by the triumph of the
arms o.! tho United States Government was onr
which had its commencement in Il division Of
opinion that has existed since the formation of
the government. 1t had its origin in tho dif.
fnrent theories Of Alexander Hamilton and
Thomas Jefferson, and ragged with moro or less
fury until it broke out in the late unhappy
strife which has deluged tho whole country
with blood. The controversy could not be de-
saiaed by Congress or by the Supreme Court
ut was 'aeft for the sword to decide tho ques
Aion. We appealed to that arbitrament, and
the decree is against us. Congress now claims
that, as tho war-making power is confidcd to
1T, so also must tho power to make poace be
.confded to it; and Congress has maintained
its supremacy by the passage over the Prcsi.
dents veto Of the Bill which has just become
a law.
iisls Gentlemen say. wc will appeal to the Su.
. preme Canrt. But what would Qsncl, an ap.
peal be warth7 Do you not remember few
days ago, It the newspapers report correctly
that Governor Pierpont, Of Virginia, made
requisition upon Governor Fenton, of New
York, fnrsthe surrender Of a vialator of the
laws Of HFHrginiap Governor Fonton refused
on the gr annd that Virginia was not legally a
State, and Tint the question was carried up
before the Supreme Court, who held it to be
I inadtnissskle, because o political one It is
also said She Supreme Court has resolved to