The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-29
Address.

i4H i.s g. y Address.
The Democratic Central Executive
Committee of Georgia executes q long
address to the party. Among other
things, it says: Notwithstanding we
hold the Reconstruction Acts of Con-
gress were enacted outside of the
Constitution and without constitu-
tional authority, we do not propose
or intend to maintain our position
by resort to force. The constitu-
tionality Of these Acts is q question
to, be decided by the Federal Judicia-
ry upon proper case made. If their
decision should be adverse to the
constitutionaiity of that legislation
we will claim all the consequences
which will legitimately result from
such o decision, and it will not be un-
reasonable In MS to expect that those
who hold opposite views will acquiesce
in the decision and accord to us all
the rights to which it may legally
entitle us. On the contrary, if the
constitutionality of the reconstruction
measures should be sustained by the
supreme Federal Judiciary, as peace
able, law abiding citizens we will
yield submission to that decision,
and cease all further opposition to
those measures; and in another con-
tingency, if the Supreme Conrtshould
refuse to entertain jurisdiction Of
cases presented under these Acts, the
only alternative left will be to yield
them obedience as laws obligatory
and binding or to resist them by
revolution, and the latter we unhesi-
tatingly reject. We desire peaceful
solution of the complications arising
under these Acts, and O finality to the
agitation which they have produced.
In our own State, we recognize the
government which has been organ
lied by authority of these Acts, and
will recognize it now and henceforth
if it should not be superseded by
authority of law. If our State shall
be remanded to the Government ex-
isting prior to the enactment of the
Reconstruction Acts, it must be done
by operation of law and not by revo-
luton. We hold, then, that the ques-
tion of the constitutionality of the Acts
referred to is question for the Judi
ciary and not for an appeal to arms
or any violent revolutionary measures
to be resisted by the President of the
United States, to set up or set aside
these measures by his own mere will.
Whichever of the present candidates
for the Presidency OF the United
States may be elected to that office
neither should use his arbitrary will
either in enforcing these measures
against decision of the Supreme
Court declaring them unconstitution-
al or nsuppressing them, and setting
them aside before the action of the
Judiciary can be had.
We pledge ourselves to submit to
all laws constitutionally enacted; to all
decisions of the courts declaring laws
to be constitutional whose constitu-
tionality may be disputed, and in re-
turn we claim all the rights guaranteed
by the Constitution. We claim protec-
ton of life, liberty and property by
law, and we claim for our State equal
ity of rights and privileges with
other States of the Union. We de-
sire to see our Government brought
back to its original purity and first
principles. We desire an administra-
tion of the Federal Government upon
the principles upon which it was ad-
ministered in the early ages of the
Republic. Let the Federal Govern
ment be administered upon these
principles, and, speaking for the
people of Georgia, we pledge our
fortunes and our sacred honor to
maintain the Union in its full vigor.
The report of the House Commit
tees on the state of the Republic,
submitted by Mr.. Shumate, is an able
document. It reviews the history OF
Georgia since May, 1866; says recon
struction uni sr the .ConRression
plan Is Is accom-. 6iishei and past; dep
recates the infiammatory and abusive