The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10

their legitimate govemmsun. yhe Exe~usive tas
failed to protect them, ths coars have been fvp
last grand trbunal-ths American people - the ba-
lot box. shall they appeal In vainr n %. then.
ta6lisSsd By wns. % pso sSs sdcorssS q law
may De oyerthrown BY fraud aud vioence; white
a sn 11rmea ny negroes and srangrr
Then, the great principle OF American governments
ON which all constitutions, state and federal. were
destroyed and the principle or fore loI Aslafc des-
p0tlsm) will be substituted.
That OF secession was a sad dav. That IN which
originated the insane cry Of .conqueror AMI con-
quered' In government OF equal States aud Of free
people was q sadder day. But the day on Witch the
American people at the ballot box shat declare that
an amendment TO the constitution made by tie
bayonet Shall stand and that State governments
may be overthrown by force under the dciation OF
central power win be the saddest OF all the days In
The people OF the South accepted the army terms
OF peace and were made glad by their magnanimtv.
They accepted the Executive terms OF restoration
without co1plaint. They accepted all the Congress
sional terms OF onstruction-Preedmen's Bureau,
Civil Rights bill and taxation without representa-
tlon-until Congress required them TO dslranchise
their own leaders for doing as the people had asked
them TO do. TO grant this could not benefit the
North or strengthen the Union. il would dishonor
The South. Therefore they unanimously refused.
Congress then destroyed their State governments
and erected new constituency for this work Of dis
honor. To the new governments created by this
new constituency the white people have refused
their consent, and while they remain white they WIN
Pardon me for so often placing my views before
your people. l serve no party. The repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise fell on my ears "like IRE bsll
at nght and called me into politics. From that day
to this have been fighting the progress OF the
luton then clearly begun. The struggle Is plainly
between constitutional free government and central
despotism. III the American people have not subj
cient intelligence and virtue to retain liberty when
they possess it vain will be the effort to recover 1t af
ter 1t has been lOstvthrOwn away. Nearer and
nearer we approach the fatal goal.
Once more repeat the issue--the Southern people
ren0unce secession and renounce slavery for
cordial and permanent reunion under the
Constitution SO modified, and will, In good
faith, maintain that Union against all enemies,
foreign and domestic. The Southern States are will
ing, for their internal governments, to make c0nsti
tntiOns similar to those OF Illinois, OF Ohio OF New
York or OF Massachusetts, and Will claim no more
power to modify and change those constitutions than
Is conceded to those States They may submit for
the time to constitutions forced them by the bay
0net, but they will never consent to those cOnstitu
lions nor become willing parties to the destruction
OF lfe society and property which adventures and
strangers instgate under cover OF those c0nstitu-
tons Now, Will the Northern people-will the cap
alsts, the religious men and the lovers Of freedom
and peace vote to maintain and perpetuate those
governments over the Southern States by forcei
This IL the issue. The North has the numbers and
must decide the question and pay the expenses The
South with sOcitude, but with calmness, awaits the
decision. How strange that Virginia cannot have
voice IN such question i. II. HILL.