Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-25
Civil versus Military.

StrumeutS Ut falsely named republican sys-
TEN. What the negroes cannot DO by the bal
10, is enforced by the tayouet test Of the
fqbearance Of the white men Of the country
viii be made in the course of the next five
moaths.
The subjoined article states the case so clear
ly and forcibly that the most ordinary mind
may at once comprehend the issue We there
fore give it prominence in our editorial column,
and invite the readers attention;
THE cANPAIGS OF 1865.
From the A,,aapolis lHdryiaHdl Repu6. Con. ]
The campaign Of 1865 will be fought upon
A single issue-ciyil authority against military
lespotism.
The absolute supremacy Of the civil power
Of the State will be maintained by the Demo-
Gratis aud Conservatives, while the Radicals will
affirm. under color Of loyalty the right 10
subvert civil government, and set up in its
stead udespotiSm supported by an armed force.
This single question, and those that logically
belong % 1t, obscure, if they do not extnguiSh,
all other issues that under ordinary circum-
stances would mark the contest.
In 1861 the country WAS informed by a reso-
luton Of Congress as % the object Of the war.
The people accepted the proposition in good
faith, and supplied the Government with men
aud money o. put down the rebellion and re-
store the supremacy of the laws.
Year after year the contest continued until
az last the o1rct l1r which Congress aud the
President informed uS the war was prosecuted
became au accomplished fact by the surrender
0f t-e Confederate army. with all it possessed,
CA tbc simple condition that those who had
uk.u mp arms should not be mocsted so long
as they obcyej the laws Of the United States.
This guaranty of Federal protection was
sr'cuu'v pledged by the present candidate of
che Radical party, then and now the General
iu-Cuef Of the army Of the United States.-
Since then three years have elapsed, during all
of which time there has been no war. insurrec-
tom. or resistance 10 the laws. Throughout
the length aud breadth Of the land there has
been peace, and vet what is now, after three
years Of peace, the condition of that people to
whom the Radical candidate for the Presidency
guaranteed safety and protection?
They are denied the right Of suffrage
They are deprived of the writ Of habeas cor
pus
They are denied the right Of trial by Jury
Freedom Of speech and of the press, the he
redit9ry rights of freemen, are withheld and
the title 90 life, property and reputation are at
the disposal Of a >ubaltern of the army or an
employee of the Freedmeus Bureau.
To support this deSp1tism, large standing
army has been organized in time of peace, and
millions Of money have been wreSted from an
Oyer-taXei people 70 maintain il. Taxes and
tIN--athererS, oppressive tariffs and OdIouS
stamp acts are multiplied, while our currency
Is deprecated and our national credit impaired.
The once productive fields and rich planta-
tions of the South, still pregnant with reSour-
ces that would pay the national debt, are to-
day as the solitude Of the desert aud its rivers
which once carried the inland commerce Of the
nation are now a waste of waters
This is what Radicals call reconstruction
and with an efruntery only equalled by the
atrocity Of their principles, they have placed
In nomination as their candidate for the Presi-
dency the embodiment and incarnation Of this
iui4uity.
Their candidate Is not only the General-in-
Chief of the army but military dictator and
despot above and beyond the law in an the
several dependencies 10 which through his sac
traps Bee administers Radical Justice % a dis
tuaet.sei pei pie
Throughout DIS doui1ious the rights of bis
subjects are mockery. O. utter complaint
i> OBJ merit che tr~-ie. free speech is crime.
ami On strktin so.f-is,srcc is O. invite the cord
ol tte provost rar-tlI
I.r ra' iv ry De tenders ,he drumicai
c..-t martial Trey petition iHr Lale4s cuT-
Tr- and FC give, chem % halter
I'ais the r0Hrlie NJ stanton reehir- with
tre pollution ., che War Once To-. Oh Capitol
-Es i,s false arrests. i,, perurc- by hired
.I i.,.rtges and uinrucl witnesses. lbs
r--'.r ~ -.tzar, lycHg-t ulr.ial-its whole
,a'erstlr-ue nf crimes sl black and Infamous
t.lt che i.et, Hi ,He iH0ui-tiun and the juhu-
rlrI-y Ht lr-ar t.r,ure 90 deicuceicss women
..t.r ,Ht. yItup.
Del, 'he ia'y ~ ihc people who are opposed
o. CHS ufn lrt f.e faction thHt supports him
O. rlr' 'r.u i's fur latr1 this fabric which
tyranny hls reared. and rc-erect the temple Of
liberty ana Justice which rUr fathers had fash
.rci ana c1nsecrl'ei by their blood % vim
frlfet0e American name. ana Oh show % the
r'i that we deserve o. be free To shjvor
to atoms. With the swift vengeance Of an out
RACED and BETRAYED people, this hideous baStile
which The fees 0t free government have erected
rs the sepu.chre 90 rlhertics. and then. upon
our affairs. O. rckiude the fires which dcspot-
ism ha5 extinguished
On this Issue we @ before the people as the
advocates of free government, civil liberty. and
equl richt>-a hnd and defiant platform,
which viii challenge the respect Of honest men,
and spread CONSERVATION in the ranks Of the
enemy.