The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-26

stand. And can tell you that all over this land,
in every neighborhood, there are the soldiers that
have returned home who will vindicate and defend
their own honor against this effort to appropriate
the glory of the white ''boys to the negroes.
There is not o battle in the war that was won by
the negroes. There is not point that was carried
by them That they did their duty am NOT going
now to question; but it was the courage ana high
qualities of the white troops OF the North that car
ried our flag in triumph from the Potomac 10 the
Gulf. Then, sir, to return to the question:, why
have you pursued this course? The commanding
Gensral of the army said that the public sentiment
at the close Of the war was in most healthy con-
diton. My colleague bore testimony of Ike ehar-
acter. That was the judgment Of all men in the
country The condition of the country was auspi-
cious, aud the popular mind was in proper condl-
ton for free government them and We ought 10 have
taken advantage of it. And the President and the
people did take advantage of it, and amendments
TO the State constitutions were adopted that you
say TO day were right. Now, want to know why
it is that these States have been kept out; that
loyal representatives have been denied admission;
that controversy has been kept mp over the coun-
try, and strife instead of peace and quiet! have
my opinion about it. It wns necessary for pnry
ends. But aIr. President, if | concede NIL that
you claim-that if you have the power, under the
clause of the Constitution which has been 60 fire.
ouently referred to- TO reorganize the States-have
your duty, is to guarantee to the States republican
forms of government. Have you done it will
barely refer to the principles you have established
What is republican form of government! Now,
sir think republican form of government Is
form of government in which the people make
their own laws through legislators selected by
themselves, execute their laws through m exccu-
tive department chosen BY themselves, and admin
lister hcir laws through their own courts. Is not
that MS near republican form of government as
you Gun have? That was the state CT things when
the Congressional policy sent FIVE armies into the
Southern States when ten Governors were deposed
by the paramount authority of the military power.
That the state Of society there the judiciary,
the legislative. and the executive departments OF
their governments were in the exercise of their or
dinary and legitimate authority and power in each
State; in that state of society where the laws are
made by the men whom the people select; where
they are administered by the courts that have the
confidence Of the people, and where the laws are
executed by an executive department selected by
the people, there is peace happiness and prosper,
ity. You have broken that down, and in its stead
you have done-wlat? ]. You have made ten
States subject to military authority. 2. You have
made the civil tribunals subject to military rule.
3. The lives liberty and persons of the people are
subject 10 military authority 4. Juries are aool-
ished. 5. Habeas corpus is abolished; mean OF
course. at the pleasure of the military command
ers 6. You have clothed conventions with author
ity to fix their own salaries and levy taxca from
the people for their payment. I. YOU have en-
powered the commanders to displace governors,
judges, and legislators, and fill their places, thus
making them dependent on the will Of the COM
maadcrs. What q spectacle We behold, sir. The
Judge iakcn from the bench and the lieutenant
placed in his stead! Legislators driven out and
others appointed BY the military to make the laws
which the people must obey Sir, what were the
Causes of complaint which the colonies made
ugnins, the British Crown? Speaking OF tie King
Of Great Britain our fathers declared:
..IIe has made judges dependent on his will alone
for the tenure of their offices and the amount and
payment of their salaries
"Hc has kept among us in times oil peace stand
ing armies without the consent OF our Legislatures.
'.Uc ha. affected to render The military indepcn-
dent of aud superior to the civil power
sFor imposing taxes on us without orr consent.
"For dcpriTing us in many cases oil the dement,
of trial by jury"
You were kind enough in the law to say that if
the military commanders thought il goo'l policy
they might continue the civil courts and try crlml-
nails in the civil courts; but if they thought best,
they might organize military commissions: but
they should not take any man s life without 4 re-
ference of the case first 10 the President, and that
limitation was put only after great deal OF con-
| ,royersy So, sir, the property tke hfe, and the
The military auihorty and this is policy that is
called policy of reconstruction, of restoration;
and this you claim to be done under the guarantee
clause which directs this Government to guarantee
10 each State republican form of government /!
You find no other point in the Constitution where
YOU can stand. There is not rock in the Con-
sitution large enough for your feet 10 stand upon
except this, that il is your duty 10 guarantee re-
publican form of government TO these States; and
in the exercise of that power, in the discharge OF
that durr. You establish military rule and dospo-
tism which is defined in the language of the De-
claration of Independence Diet l.rng The offences of
the British Crown towards the colonies. This is
NIL under the prerext Of the guarantee calse. l
had some respect for il when II was c!amed ms un-
der the military authority of tho President; be-
cause when you say il is n military necessity, do
not know any argument i'll answer 10 that. Mill
tary necessity has reply except obedience; but
lv say to an ini ielligen peoplc-to people who
have seI::o2ough to know when they are hungry
that you are guaranteeing republican form oil
government to States. when you arc srl.1cting
them and all the legitimate and rightful authority
OF their State governments 10 military rule ~, IN
my humble judgment. an insult. know the an
swer to this very we'll that your establishment in
the Southern States is only provisional; that 1t is
only to last for short time; and that out of its
ruins there will .'spring ap, phG1l1-hke TO Jorc,
republican forms of government. iou lay the
foundations of free institutions on the solid rock OF
despotism, and expect il 10 grow up to beautiful
structure do not believe in the doctrine that yoa
can do wrong and expect good to follow. believe
in the doctrine that good the result of good that
from pure fountain You may expect pare waters;
from foul and poisonous fountain you may expect
impure waters And when you SOW the seeds of
despotsm in any country, expect the fruit to
correspond with the seed.
The concluding paragraph of this speech is so
pertinent and appropriate that we must not omit it,
Mr.. President, nny c'';!,ssne has spoken of col
umn-the column Of congressional rccp"s::actioa--
and has said That sit is not hewn of single stonc
but is composed of many blocks" Sir, think he
is right. It's foundation is the hard flint stone of
military rule brou cht from the uuarries of Austria