The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-05-02
The Prospeet

VINO believe that the days OF constitutional
government in America are wellnigh ended
They argue says the Louisville Courier, that
the removal of Andrew johnson from the
Presidency viii be but the first of a series
Of high handed measures eliminating ia the
complete destruction of the old system We
see no good reason for giving ourselves up
to such gloomy anticipations. That impeach-
ment Is intended by the Congressional Jaco-
bins as the beginning of programme Of
absolutism there IS no doubt Nor are we
altogether without apprehension that a
second and even third measure upon that
reasonable programme may be yentured
upon by COngfess-the one or the other Of
them perhaps intimate ? and for a time dis
nstrously affecting the condition of Ken
lucky. But however that may be-and let
us hope that nothing Of the kind viii hap
pen-we have such confdenee in the ianate
patriotism and love Of liberty Of the Ameri-
can people that we eannotan donot believe
the Radical programme will be carried out to
its ruinous finale, or that the Radical
policy will be ultimately triumphant
1t should not be forgotten that the pres
ent ultra policy of the Radical Congress was
resorted to in ft Of desperation. The
leaders of that infamous party were made
conscious last fail, by theresuIt Of the cleo
tons, that the seeFtre would speedily depart
from their hands, unless they could succeed
through coup a. etat in establishing their
dominion upon firm basis. Hence i'm
peachment and perhaps further confscation,
and, possibly, the attempted reconstruction
of Kentucky Maryland, and other States
They hatter themselves that they may, by
bold and desperate proceedings, stay the
mighty reactionary wave that has set in, ana
which threatens to sweep them from power
aud from place. By bold, during measures
they hope first to intimidate and then
shaoSle the people But win it be so Will
the sequence be such as they desire and hope
for +? We are confident that it will not We
do not believe that the people have at all
made up their minds TO submit to any such
programme al. that marked out by the Radi-
cal leaders If we are mistaken then do
the American people, and we mean espe-
cially the people of the Northern States, de-
serve the fate that awaits them.
The indication of the great popular reao-
ton to which we have referred as melting
the Radical leaders to their present extreme
policy, let It be remembered, were those
which came from the North. Impeachment
and any kindred measures by which it may
be followed are for the intimidation and sub
lection of the people of the North.
If what is now going on at Washington,
and what is yet to be done in the same direc
ton, suffice to smother out the fires Of lib
erty that seemed of late to be burning SC
brightly in the Northern States, there viii
indeed remain no hope for constitutional
government and republican liberty in Amer
ca. The Southern people, it is but too well
known, are utterly helpless and they can Of
themselves do nothing.
We confess the Indifference with which
the unlawful Impeachment and removal of the
President are looked upon seem at first sigh
decidedly encouraging to the Radicals, and
very discouraging for the cause of the Con
stitution and of the old Government; and
as we have intimated, there is some reason
to fear that Congress will presume still
further on this apparent acquiescence Of the
people If we arc not much mistaken, how
ever. the Radical leaders will soon learn
that they are in error. The course of An
drew johnson has been such as to cause ar
indifference in regard to his fate which could
never have been felt for any other President
under like circumstances. 1t was not posi-
bic that an administration like Johnson,
could enlist in his behalf strong friends
among the opponents of Radicalism. True
he has at times talked well enough, anC
none can fail to acknowledge that the cause
for which he is to be removed is altogether
insufficient when view ed in the light o
justice and the Constitution; but his acts
undecided and temporizing as they hav'
been, have rather tended to strengthen the
Radicals than their opponents. 1t must alsC
be borne in mind that in this matter of i'm
parchment, he has made no bold firm anc
decided issue with his enemies Had h'
declared the proceeding a foul usurpation
aimed less at him than the Constitution o
which be has talked so much and so well
and announced his determined purpose t,
resist Il to the bitter end Tor the sake of tia
CONSTITUTIONS ard the country. many Thousand
stout hearts would, for the cause, have
forgotten his shortcomings, and many thou
sand strong arms would have sustained min
But lac has done nothing Of the sort, H'
suffers himself to be led to the slaughter 3.
INTERESTINGLY as lamb Thes
the slightest reason to suppose
will not when the iniquitous sentenes Z
pronounced against him, walk the plan
quietly and without show Of resistance
What opportunity, ther, IS there for the
people to show the estimate % which the5
hold this Radical experiment Of impeach
ment2
We conclude, therefore llst the sppareni
aeqniescenee in the Impeachment o4f