Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-01-16
Another Despotic Measure.

The papers give US the form Of an infamous
new Reconstruction Bill prepared by the En-
gineers Of Mischief in the House of Representa-
tives. which declares that in Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Florida aud Ar
kansas. there are no civil State governments,
and the governments in said States respective
~ shall not be recognized as valid or Regal State
governments, either by Executive or Judicial
power. or the authority of the United States
Other sections authorize Gen. Grant TO as
sumo despotic powers, and to remove one or all
civil officers acting under theSate governments.
repeating the acts which authorize the Presi-
dent TO detail military commanders to military
departments. But the following sections cap
the climax Of audacity, and are the organiza-
ton Of a palpable revolution:
SIC. 4. Beat further enacted, That it shall
be unlawful for the President Of the Uuitcd
States to order any part Of the army or navy
Of the United States to assert by force of arms
the authority Of either Of said provisional 90
vernmentS in said diSorganizcd States, to oppose
OF obstruct the authority Of the United States
rs provided in this act and acts 10 which this
Is supplementary.
SEC. 5. Be 10 further enacted. That any in
reference by any person with intent to pre-
vent by force the execution of the orders of the
General of the army, made in pursuance of this
act and Of acts aforesaid. shall be held TO be
high miSiemeanor and the party guilty there
Of shall, upon conviction be fined not exceed
ing $1,000. and imprisoned not exceeding two
years.
The Natioaal LatellgsHcer, after rehearsing
the several projects Of the Radicals in Congress
to maintain their party ascendancy by strip
ping the President Of his legitimate powers and
setting up military despotisms in the South.
thus f0rcibly depicts the new projects of the
disorganizcrs -
Al this was still not enough. II soon be-
came apparent that even these outrageous uSur-
Ia,i0us might and probably would not secure
the ends proposed to be attained 1t could no
longer lie concealed that. 50 far rs the recon-
StruCtiou Of the Southern States is concerned.
all these Congressional schemes were utter fail
urc~-in fact, uumitigated humbugS. Apprc-
heu,iuuS were Justly entertained that they
would prove worthless even rs a means of Sc
curing Oh the Radicals the control of the S0uth.
Meanwhile the people Of the whole country had
been filed with Indignation. and everywhere.
from ocean % ocean, were manilc>tjug their
eNocrJt.un of these frauds. outrages, and usur-
pat,'uS, that served only To- impoverish the
country. paalyze industry, destroy commerce.
arrest national prosperity, and 70 I'll the whole
land with dleCcSs, anarchy, and individual
suffering.
The Radical rcvolutiouists had. however.
gone I1o farm their downward career % rccede.
Only one brief year is left in which 20 proceed
with their re, kleSS demoui>m Since the rca>-
,cmb.mg at Congress in November last. they
have ta~ked al their ingenuity 20 invent some
new scheme. however villainous. 10 save them
selves from being hurled by betrayed and
indignant people from the places Of power they
have SD ShsnetGlly abused These efforts have
IN the production Of bill which is
nothing more nor less than an oCeu avowal of
revolution. and "a Intention 70 Subvcrt the
whole system of our Government hv the aboli-
ton OF the existing Executive Judicial, and
Legislative Departments, aud the substitution
therefor OF single military despot. with no
limitation whatever ,o his absolute power ex-
,ept hiS own unrestriuei will To this COM
pIcNlon has 1t cnme at last Woe he 20 the
people which fails % see the cuornitv Of this
dStact On the programme Of Radical revolution.
and to take measures promptly to avert the
terrible evil with which they are openly men
Iccd-the utteraholitionof republican Govern
Ucut. aud the establishment Of a purely mill
.ary deSp0,iSm over the whole extent Of what
vas once the land Of the free"