The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-02-19
ONWARD,

Moves the star of Empire-not by
luck but by inevitable and memorable
law. We protest, we sheer, we call
names, we entreat, we wax eloquent,
we appeal to the highest faculties ofhu-
manity, we recall the better days ofthe
Republic, we pray, We almost weep
Our modern Demosthenes' prove how
vain is the divinest eloquence when
poured to degenerate hearts. The Agis
and the Cleomenos of the hour exhibit
the spectacle, ever fraught with me-
lancholy interest, of noble natures out
Of harmony with the present, and
spending their energies in the vain at
tempt to turn back the stream of time
and call again into existence the feel
ings and the institutions of an irrcvo-
cable past. Meantime the irresistible
forces which control the destinies of
nations hurry us on to the predestined
goal of all Republics. The arrow let
loose in an evil hour from the string
returns no more. 1t is beyond our
reach. Ixion may start, but who can
top, the fiery wheel. He is bound to it
NTH brazen bands. The stone of Sissy
yphus must roll till it reaches the bot
tom. How facile the descent and soon
comes the "Niagara leap of democra-
cy."
When the electoral votes were count
ed in presence of the Senate and House,
and the name of Georgia was reached,
there ensued scene which the Hart
ford Courant, a radical paper, describes
as hooting, stamping, uproariously
laughing, fisG-shaking, angrily-de-
nouncing spectacle. Ben Wade and
Butler came into angry collision, and
the two Houses were at open war;
Wade carried the day, but Butler, pro-
yidentially spared for the purpose, rails
ed Tophet in the House. His purpose
may be gathered from the following ex-
tract from the stormy debate whict
took place.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio. 1t is reUolu-
konary resolution. The gentleman
wanted to inaugurate revolution and
secession here on the floor of this House.
He proposed, in his eloquent language,
.to kick the Senate" from the presence
of the House, himself to be the captain
In the kicking operation. [Laughtef.l
When that should take place, the gen.
t.eman would see the law-makiug pow
er of the government kicked out of ex-
istence. That was what the gentle
mans resolution led to.
Revolution and secession on the floor
OF the House. Marx the phraseology.
Verify the chickens are coming home to
roost.
Butler ridiculed what he termed the
defamation of Bingham, and the de-
bate went on. A truce is declared,
but the end is not yet. The war must
go on. The forces at play necessitate
IL.
The National Intelligencer discovers
in this proceeding the beginning of Il
formal opposition to Gen. Grant, in
tended to embarrass his administration
ultimately, and at present to throw con-
tempt and odium on the manner of his
election. The idea is to dlVest lt OF lts
proper prestige, and to create thus the
impression that there is something
wrong and irregular about the result.
The shrewder ones know well what
they arc about; they took all the chanc-
es, and they came nearer to grand |
success than is apparent on the surface.
They were foiled by the decision and |
firmness of the Yice-Pfesident elect,
and their best opportunity is now pass
ed. Their next point Of attack will be,
we think, to defeat the repeal OF the
civil-tenure bill in the Senate.
But the conclusion is plain. Fatigued
with these wrangles, disguised with
their representatives, forgetful OF checks
and balances, seeking peace and only
that, the people will hail with delight
the hour when Oliver shall put an end
to the .ong Parliament, and have done,
for time at least, with the farce of leg
islation.
-t AI6sT CAUeES.D