Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-28
Let them Have It.

uOILu VI N4dSOu u OlAUu lluc, InoI lhAAS1SSG
spirit of resistance to the tyranuical usur-
pations of the so-called Congress. We breath
freer and take new lease of hope, when We
read such well matured and defiant articles as
the following, which We copy from the Lam
caster (Pa.) lnteMgencer
The New York Tribune declared in its
Fridays issue that negro suffrage must be
established by the Republican Congress, and
that "if President johnson is an impeachment
he must be removed. THIS is the logic of'dte
hour" This announcement may fall very
pleasantly on Republican ears, but we Won
der how it would sound to them should we,
on the other hand, say that negro suffrage
must not be imposed upon us, and that ''If
Congress is an impeachment it must be re-
moved. This is the logic of the hour"
And yet we presume that we have quite as
good a right to make the one announcement
as the Tribune has to. make the other. Ii
Republicans can claim the right to depose
the President because he is an impeachment
to the accomplishment Of their wishes. they
cannot refuse to us the right to eject the
present Congress from the capital because it
is crock of offence" in our path.
This being conceded it would not be diffi>
cult for US to make up a bill of indictment
against the present "infamous Congress" as
Fernando Wood justly styles it, as an enemy
of our country and itsinstitutions. We would
start out with this advantage that 1Hhaddeus
Stevens and other of its leaders openly
declare, that their legislation is in opposition
to and entirely outside of the Constitution,
which is unquestionably the foundation upon
which are based all the rights and liberties
H. ~ Of fhic IF
that is swept away or disregarded, might will
become the only rule of ri ght, and the weak
will be under the absolute dominion of the
strong therefore, they who knowingly violate
it, are guilty of the grossest crime and are
worthy of the most condign punishment.
Then again we have good reason to believe
that the Supreme Court, which is the ex-
plounder of the Constitutions, is about to de-
clare that the act which Congress has passed
for the reconstruction Of the Southern States
and upon the successful execution Of which
depends the whole fabric of the Republican
party, is unconstitutional; thereby endorsing
the opinion to the same effect given by its
chief author, Thaddeus Stevens. So conscious
is Congress that its measures will not stand
the test Of law, that it is meditating the pas
sage of an act requiring unanimous or nearly
unanimous opinion Of the Supreme Court to
declare its Legislation void which act would
also be unconstitutional. In fact it seems as
though these men were unable to digest a
constitutional measure, and this significantly
indicates that the objects which they are
aiming to attain by their legislation, are them
selves radically wrong. We have in truth
the best reasons for believing that the aim
which the Radicals have in their various re-
construction enactments, is to wield the political
power of the Southern States for the advan-
tage of their own party in the coming election.
To this end they have disfranchsed the white
citizens of the South, and put the suffrage
in the hands of the negroes, whom they,
through the military machinery which they
have spread like a net work over the coun>
try, can manipulate as suits them. For this
purpose, also, they strip the President of the
powers vested in him by the constitution, and
give them to General Grant; whom they
make their candidate for the Presidency, and
who is expected to use the power conferred
upon him, to secure his election.
For these and many other reasons, we con-
ceive that the present Congress amply de-
serves to be deposed and dispersed; we should
prefer that this be done by the people in the
regular way and through the expression of
their will by the ballot. The Democracy are
law-abiding, and seek remedies for their
wrongs pcaceably and lawfully. They thus
propose to remove the impeachment to the
welfare of the country which they believe
this Congress to present. But should the
Tribune and its friends prefer another mode
of settling our differences should they pro-
pose violently to remove ''the impeachment"
which they find in Andrew johnson and i'm.
peach him for no cause but his faithful de-
fence of the Constitution, the Democracy
will not refuse the gage thus thrown down.
If violent mode of settling the dispute
between us is more acceptable to our oppo-
nents than peaceable one, we will not re-
fuse to satisfy their desire. Our party has
never had the reputation of being backward
in a fight, nor are they disposed to think
they can easily be whipped. One thing can
be relied upon with perfect certainty, which
is, that good and legal cause must be shown
for the removal of President johnson or he
,cont be rcmoccd. That he is an ''impcdi-
mcnt" to the Republican party will not, by
the Democratic party, be taken as an indica-
ton that he is an unfit President Of the Uni
ted States.
DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN.-The Rev.
Amos Smith, of the Baltimore NJ. i Con-
ference, died on Monday, at McConnellsburg,
Pa, in the I'D year of his age. The de-
ceased, who was the father of the senior ed
itor of the Lancaster (Pa1 ItelLj9encer, was