The Van Buren press., 1868-04-03
Villainy.

Perhaps no people were ever called upon to
witness more unblushing rascality and scoun-
drelism than has characterized the conduct of
the political leaders of the Radical Party in
our State. Pretending to evoke the "will of
the people" they practice multitude of stud
led arts to smother the voice of the people and
force upon them an obnoxious instrument
fagrantly miscalcd Constitution. Among
their devices is to bo found a flaming hand
bill pretending o announce the vote Of divers
counties. Many of these counties are an
nounced as having given majority for the
Constitution. when they knew perfectly well
that the majority was decidedly against the
Constitution. What think these counties of
this degrading Insult. But with all their
machinations they have failed most decidedly
and ANONYMOUSLY 10 force this disgusting
"so-ealled Constitution upon an indignant,
proud and unwilling people. Let them now
call their Convention and convene their bogus
Legislature, and perhaps the General COM
mandng may do his duty. The Reconstruc-
hon laws (acts) provides that until the peo-
pie shell retby' constitution to be framed in
accordance with those acts, and Congress shall
act upon It etc. the Governments of said
States shall be deemed provisional only"
and all vacancies in Office shall be filled by
appOintMent by the Military Commander Of
the District, etc. Now suppose these fellows
(the Constitution being rejected and rot "rat-
itnl'' he Ia, l.N ebn,,1l az -.
vene the Legislature elected at the past cleo
ton to inaugurate the man Clayton as Gov
ernor and proclaim all the ether bogus officers
"dnly eleetnd.7 and require present incun-
bcuts to yacate, would not this be in violation
Ofthe Reconstruction acts, and would not the
Commander Of the Military District be COM
PEELED by these acts to interfere aud disperse
this Legislature! as being calculated TO dis
turb the peace of his District, and as having
no authority, but being on the contrary rev.
olutionary body: The people having refused
to ratify the Constitution, submitted pursuant
to the Reconstruction acts, the functions of
the delegates to the Convention have ceased
and they have no shadow Of authority TO re-
seSo'uuC ioA iPp>ts ilti " doSCUlblc II
Legislature. Having adjourned subject to the
call of the President gives them no authority
because they had no power to so adjourn
After the adoption, by them, of the Constitu-
tion and providing for the printing, and pro-
mitigation of 1t, they as a Convention ceased
TO have legal existencc--thcir life is derived
from the Military bills or Reconstruction acts
and they were authorized, by the people, (or
IA minority ofthe people under these acts, to
assemble for the sole purpose OF adopting "a
Constitution republican in form" and for no
other purpose. The Convention, therefore
having been created by and under these acts
for specific purpose. had no power OF per
petuatingits existence beyond the accomplish
ment of this specific duty but it ceased to live
legally, as n Convention having authority to
act Its adjournment followed as a matter OF
course, upon the full performance OF its as
signed duty, and was sine die, necessarily
After the constitution was submitted. ifit had
been ratified by the people, and legislators
afterwards elected under it they would, when
convened, be the legally constituted body
through which Congress could act. Any
meeting of the Convention or Legislature so
called, now, after the failure Of tlp people to
"ratifyT this Constitution, will be revolution
AIRY In Its character. We are opposed to the
military interfering on any prctcXt, with ~.
assembly duly authorized by the law and tn,
people, but these asscmblaaos are only com
posed of bad hearted men, who are not acting
Tor the people, nor the peoples good. Theil
only object IL plundor, and the Commander
should protect his subjects from the burdcr
of taxation which must follow the rc-asscm.
bling Of the Convention, as well as gnart
them from the disorder and strife that mus
also follow.
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