The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-07-17

inc supreme JuulClal tr1Dunal, anu
threatens to curtail or destroy its origi-
nal jurisdiction, which is irrevocably
vested by the Constitution, while the
learned Chief Justice has been subject
ed to great and atrocious calumnies
merely because he would not prostitute
his high Office TO the support of the
false and partisan charges preferred
against the President.
Its corruption and extravaganza have
exceeded anything known in history,
and by its frauds and monopolies it has
nearly doubled the burdens of debt cre-
ated during the war. 1t has stripped
the President of his constitutional pow
err of appointment even of his own cabi-
net.
Under its repeated assaults, the pill
lars of the Government are rocking on
their base, and, should it succeed in No
vember next, and inauguratc its Presi-
dent, we will meet as a subject and con-
quered people amid the ruins of liberty
ana tie scattered fragments of the Con-
titution; and we do declare, and re-
solve, that, ever since the people of the
United States threw off all subsection
to the British Crown, the privilege and
trust of suffrage have belonged to the
several States, and have been granted,
regulated, and controlled exclusively
by the political power Of each State,
and any attempt by Congress, on any
pretext whatever, to deprive any State
of this right, or interfere with this ex-
ercisc, is fragrant usurpation of power
which can find no Warrant in the Con-
stitution, and, if sanctioned by the peo-
pie, will subvert our form of Govern
mcnt, and can only end in a single, CEN
tralized, consolidated Government, in
which the separate existence of the
States will be entirely absorbed and an
unqualified despotism be established in
place of Federal Union of equal States.
That we regard the reconstruction
acts of Congress, so-called, as usurpa-
tions, unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void.
That our soldiers and sailors, who
carried the flag of our country to vic
tory against most gallant and deter
mined foe, must ever be gratefully re-
membered, and all the guarantees given
in their favor must be faithfully carried
into execution.
tributed as widely among the people as
| pOSSlUlc, ttHu SnOulu Uc ulSpOScu Vi Cl-
Their under the presumption or the home.
stead law, and sold in reasonable guam.
titles, and to none but actual occupants
and at minimum prices as established
by the Government. When grants OF
public,lands may be deemed necessary
for the encouragement of important
public improvements, the proceeds Of
the sales of such lands, and not the
lands themselves, should be applied.
That the President Of the United
States, ANDREW JOHNSON, in cxercisin.
the power of his high Office in resistin!
the aggressions of Congress on the con
stitutional rights of the States and TIL,
people, is entitled to the gratitude O
the whole American people, and on be
half Of the Democratic party we tende
him our thanks for his patriotic effort
in that regard. (Great Applause.)
Upon this platform the Democratic
party appeal to every patriot, includin.
all the conservative element and al
who desire to support the Constitution
and restore the Union, forgetting al
past difference of opinion, to unite will
us i'll the present great struggle for tn,
liberties of the people, and that to al
such, to whatever party they may hav,
heretofore belonged, we extend til,
right hand of fellowship, and hail al
such operating with us as friends ant
brothers.