Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-01-30
The Impending Despotism.


The best of the Radical papers such as the
New York Post, Commercial Advertiser, and
the Springfield Republican, continue to con-
denim in strong terms the infamous scheme of
the Radicals in Congress to create Dictator
ship in the South and trammel the Supreme
Court. The Conservative New York papers
take impregnable ground against the Infamous
propositions.
The World says the House Of Representa-
tives has left nothing undone which could rem
der completely infamous its dealings with our
Cellow-eitizens Of the ten States Of the South
70 whom il denies self-government and repre-
septstion in the Union. 1t has heretofore es-
tablisbed over them a military despotism.-
Yesterday it defed the Constitution anew and
LODGED unlimited and irresponsible power in the
hands Of a dictator Itspeaks Of Gen. Grants
prospects for the Presidency, and concludes
by remarking that in times so turbulent and
chanseru as those in which we are entering it
is not safe for anybody TO turn prophet; but,
as it has cast Grants horoscope at this present
moment, his prospects are verging towards an
eclipse.
It asks the Tribune to join with it in settling
the question about the right Of Congress to
make America whatitplelses, by invitingthree
Of the most conspicuous Radical leaders in Con-
gress to lay themselves their claims before the
people a once in a new election. 1t adds:
Let Scbenck. of Ohio. Stevens, Of Penusy-
vania. and Boutwell, Of Massachusetts,, resign
their seats tomorrow, and challenge new E.
/ lection. In England, no public man would
/ dare face such popular verdict as was CIV
/ en- here in November elections with such an
insoleut perSistency in the policy then condemn
/ ed as marks the present action OF the Wash
/ ington Radicals. Our political forms protect
| the actual Congress in this inSolencc. But can
/ the party of great moral ideas - avail itself
/ of a form TO cheat the people II not, let the
| Tribune accept our challenge. Wemight car
~ this challenge higher still-into the Senate.
! The Tribune knows perfectly well that Charles
/ Sumner. for example. would be defeated for
/ the Senate to-day. even in the Republican %
Legislature Of Massachusetts,, or, in other words,
that this Senator. who by himself makes more
noise and pow-wows now in the Senate in a
week than Webster and Clay put together in
wear. IS politically dead cock in the pit.
But we are pleading for the people directly, SO
we take the popular branch OF this bare
bone nobility which the Tribune is supporting
in its onslaughs upon American liberty and
self-goyernmeut.
The Herald speaks Of the national crisis
The country, it says, cannot be ruined, but no
thanks to those whom we have placed in au-
thority. Still the situation is pregnant with
peril. 1t would like Mr.. Bingham to explain
what the people should DO, or have a right TO
do, in the event of Congress proving unfaith-
ful to their trust. If members of Congress
will not do the work to which they have been
appointed, have not the people the right to in-
terfere and command that the work be done in
whatever way and by whatever means they
may think fit? If the people have not this
right are they not exceedingly liable under
strong provocation to claim il? The evils OF
the situation are not incurab,e butifthe people
do not at once take the matter in hand and
make their voice echo and re-echo over the
land, it is not in the power Of man to foretell
what disastrous future is in store for us.
The Herald alludes to the snubbing Of Gov.
Orr, of South Carolina, BY burly negro
delegate" and, commenting on his address,
thinks II singular the Governor should be
caught in the midst Of an assemblage that has
no other object than the elevation Of the blacks
at the expense of the degradation OF the whites.
Il viii be difficult for the Governor to recon-
Gle his idea about the Intelligence, wealth,
and virtue Of South Carolina with PROPOSE
tions to degrade respectable whites to a level
with people whose instincts lead them to re-
pine, lust, and beastliuess.