The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-03-05
THE CONSPIRACY.
A War Democrat on the Sltua.
ton of Affairs ut Washing
ton, ll ,sg4.A.l q.
From the New York Cltlzcn.l

From the New York Citizen.
Two questions are fast being thrust
before tic country by tho handed
course of Congress First, shall we re
main Republic .or become an En-
pire and, second, as a corollary to
the first, shall our next struggle for the
Presidency be decided BY the bullet OF
ballots-shall it be tho successful cham
pion of fight, or of ON election, who
will be declared or declare himself oul
next National Chief Magistrate? This
statement may startle, and certainly
should startle, all quiet people Of the
non political class, who either have no
access to what is going on behind the
SCIENCES in politics, or who are too much
absorbed in private pursuits to devote
due attention to the highest interest
of the country. Nevertheless, that these
questions are now up for debates de.
bate which may either be constitutional
and pacific, or revolutionary and blood
y-no intelligent observers, at this cen
tral focus Of political information, can
any longer disguise from themselves.
TuENATURE OF THE CONSPIRACY.
Every day we find the dominant ma
iority Of Congress more openly fling
ing Off the last vestiges Of pretending
to submit their action to any constitu
tional restraints. Every day they are
more widely separating themselves
from the people. And yet the conf
dence with which they speak ofretain-
ing their usurped authority for the
next four years---aye, and forever, If
they plcase--becomes moro audacl6us.
ly manifest. Behind this confidence
6rit is thoroughly real. and not assum-
cd, and the men who express it are
veteran party leaders--there must be
some substantial though as yet secret
foundation. And what can that foun-
dation be? 1t is very Simple when we
examine the matter from proper
stand point-and thus it reads: An
alliance between the Congressional
and military power, each to support
the pretensions of the other in perpet-
uity; and to crush down by whatever
means, and whatever cost may be nec-
essary, any opposing torces-the Exc.
cutivc, the Supreme Court, yea, and
the will of the American people to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
WHAT THE coNspIRAToRs HAVE DONE.
1t is difficult for our quiet folk to rea-
lize that we stand in danger of coup
Getat, which may, before the lapse of
this present year, change our form of
government from its republican to an
imperial character; but unless that dan
ger can be promptly realized and act
ed upon, the event will certainly take
place. A Congress flushed with the
control which was given it
of necessity and cheerfully by all
loyal men--during four years of civil
war, refuses to resign its power. 1t
has usurped from the Executive all his
civil patronage, thus grasping cor
ruption- fund of not less than five hun
dred million dollars per annum. 1t
holds all the financial interests Of our
country under ball-bonds exceeding
two thousand five hundred millions
of national securities. 1t has terror
lied the Supreme Court into disgrace
ful abandonment of that restraining ju-
rsdiction which the Court was special
|y created to exercise. II has organi-
zed mutiny in the army by violently
the President from his con-
stitutional authority as Commander-in
Chief. 1t has created ten Military Sa-
trapics, under the irresponsible rule of
q Dictator, where ten Sovereign States
once existed. 1t has endowed the ig-
norant negroes of the South with abso-
lutte control in their own section; and
expects by negro votes and by negro
bayonets, if necessary to dominate
The whole political system Of this once
free Republic. 1t has stripped from
The President every substantial power
Of his otfice-even to the miserable
right of his choosing who shall or
shall not be members of his helpless
Cabinet; and finally, by its decision in
his seat to Senator Thomas, of
it has established an exam
pie which places all its usurpations and
heir indefinite continuance high up,
beyond the reach of any popular ver-
lict. The people are "playcd out" in
N q word and Congress, with its shoul
ler strapped janissaries, is every
hing!
WHAT THEY MAY DO.
With so much achieved by Congress,
What other usurpation can be consider
ID beyond it's rcach2 What further
,utrages upon public liberty may it not
may, nust it not, for its own safety
be expected to dare2 1t has ad-
'anced, breaking down ali behind it,
,utting itself yet further and further of
rom the people, and making any retreat
1t has progressed 80 far
n the direction of revolution and tyr
Inny, that to halt where it now stands
would be equivalent to self immola-
ion. 1t does not mean to immediate
tself-of that we have good assurance!
t docs not mean to accept any popu'
ar verdict that may be given against
t. And in Its act striking down the
Constitutional Commander-in Chief of
'ur army, and in its decision rejectingI
'enator Thomas, ofMaryland, we see
ully revealed the two agencies upon
1hich 1t uow gloatingly relies both for
be continuance and yet further ag-
randizement of its Jacobin suprema.
y. We are hurrying fast to Dicta
orship, unless the free and intelligent
lasscs of American people can be at