Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-25

nc at Walliaiia OH that day, for the
purpose of addressing the people of
l'irlicn's District.
am truly rcjoiccd to soc the pco.
pic OF South Carolina at last aroused
toa srnac of their danger, and that
they appreciate the Importance Of the
ensuing Presidential election. Two
years ago it seemed 10 me that their
spirit waS crushed, aul that they were
apathrtic rs TO the condition Of the
country. When commenced writing
!, my ARTICLES for the C"lur:h::: pArniy,
a!"aInSt th" reconstruction Hri% Of Con.
cross, there was but one solitary news
paper in the Slalc-thc Ninm;:rCr
| Stu'-which endorsed them! Now
the whole conEtry-north, south, c:,'a
and wcSt--iH in y blaze OF enthusiasm
in opposition to those Injurious, dcs,
ro;ic, oppressive and cruel measures
The Democracy, everywhere, have
risen UP i'll the majesty CT their
strength, resolved to hmrl from power
and place tho Radical Party, restore
the Constitution, and maintain our
Republican form Of Government.
Mover, in the history Of the Amcrl-
can Republic, was there II Presidential
election Of such vital Importance to
the country. At the North it is Il
question Of liberty or dcSpotism! but
1T the South it is Il question OF life or
death! If the Radical party succeed
in this election, our republican govern
lacnt will be converted into an oiious
dcspotism. and Il war Of races will in
cvitahly follow at the South, the most
horrid and bloody that ever dcvas-
tatcd the face Of tho earth!
The great heart Of the American
people is dcvotcdto republican princi-
ples, and it is impossible that they can
continue i'll power - party whose rule
has been characterized by such mon
Stous acts Of tyranny, usurration and
hcarttess oppression. The govern
mcnt Of the United States, prior to
1850, WAS i'll the hands of the Demo-
cratic party, and the country prosper
CD and was happy, grew great and
powerful, and ranked as ono Of the
first powers of the world. In an evil
hour, by our own disscnsions and Cfi-
visions, the Eadical party were per
mittod to seize the rcins Of govern
mcnt. What diro calamitics have
since bcfallen this onco happy and
prosperous people! Il bloody civil
war for four long years! The loss OF
ono million of human lives, slaugh1cr-
ct in battle or tho victims Of war!
Zen billions of dollars, more than one
half of the entire property OF the Uni
ted States, expended or destroyed !
Onc-third Of the Republic dcsolatcd
and ruined, and tho other two-thir,ls
impoverished and crushed with taxa
ton! Our national debt increased to
three billions Of dollars! The annual
expenses Of the Government increased
from eighty millions to four hundred
millions. Ten sovereign States Of the
Union struck down at ono fell swoop,
and military tlcspo:i&m erected over
them. The white race disliane.iscd.
and negro supremacy established! IN
stead OF courts Of justice, We have mil
uary commissions to try, condemn and
execute our citizens! The bayonct
has taken the place Of the writ OF
hnoeos corpus, that great charter of
human liberty!
The radical Congress- have set aside
the Constitution which they sworc to
support and defend, and have us,lrpcd
all power, Legislative, executive and
Judiciary, in their own hands. They
have stripped tho President of his
highest constitutional prcro@ativcs,
and impcachcd him Of high crimes and
mIsdcmcanors for defending the Con-
stitution! They have struck down
tho Judiciary, and declared that no
appeal shall be had to tho Supreme
Court to test tho constitutionaIity of
their odous and infamous proceed
Jugs.
1t is impossible that such q party
can be continued in power BY . people
devoted to republican principles and
constitutional liberty. The news from
tho North is of the most cheering
character and / havo no doubt Scy-
mour and Blair will be elected by the
North, without receiving single cleo
toral vote in tho Southern States.
Butt am certain of Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Virginia and Texas, if
those States arc permitted to vote.
And | do not despair of North Caro-
Lima, and oven South Carolina. But
VIC must stir up tho eolorcd people to
thciP true interests, in order TO carry,