The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-04-01
MARIETTA GEORGIA.
Friday Morn. ApriI 4, 1870.
THE OLD GUARD ON THE CRISIS.

THE OLD GUARD ON THE CRISIS
"The Old Guard and it is a worthy
Guardian ofliberty, in the April num-
Der, among its articles of excellent merit,
furnishes ga Dialogue between Dem
ocrat and Conservative" on the great
political measures-thc XVIII Amend
ment and Negro Suffrage--which so
strongly mark the tendency Of the rev.
Olu,ion through which we are passing.
The Democrat scouts the idea of
getting the democratic party into pow
err, through the aid Of negro suffrage
'that vote in the main is the property
of the mongrcl party" The Conserva-
tive replies "then We can do nothing
as the Fifteenth Amendment will be de-
clared lcgally carried and will be exc
cuted by authority" The Democrat
rejoins-"a thing that is .fraud and H.
EgtHy produced is not carried at all
in any legal sense" Conservative =
"LegaHy perhaps not, bhS necessarily,
yes, as Congress will enforce it." Dem
ocrat-"lIow can Congress enforce a
measure which seven-tenihs Of the pco.
pie condemn 7" Conservativc-"The
difficulty is Scucn-tcnthS Of tho people
sCOn't more and the Hrce-trnthS WW, and
the latter will be acting under the sem
blance of law while the majority would
not. The Government is generally in
the hands of the party Of Congress and
there is 10 chance for any movement by
authority" In reply the Democrat gave
the following cxtr"ct from the late
speech of the Speaker Of the Legisla-
ture of New Jersey, and asked "why
that state should not move at once and
put itself in a position Of sclf-dcfcnsc
This is the programme If force not reason. Of
power, not # privilege; Tor contend. Elr, that
there has been no tree action on the part of the
SOuth States in regard Ia this radical alteration
called an amendment only by courttsy-of the
National Constitution; they have been inianonsly
coerced. you have sent thithrr your military "a.
traps and surrounded the people with The bayonfts
OF yor soldiers and by these tyrannical means you
have Influenced and controlled their elections
You have ,!isfrauclii~ed thousands Of white men
without the authority nf law. and you have entran
chised tens of thousands Of nrgroes, 10 be led like
cattle 10 the polls. equally without the shadow OF
Constitutional right to do These are facts and
hat tla4
YOU desire 10 advance, hnr his vote which you are
determined to secure for the Republican party,
To accomplish this purpose the most infamous
means have been resotted to. The freedom Of de
bate has been denied and the very Republican arpn.
ments Of force and fraud have been freely employed
TO compel the adopt of these measures as party
necessity, aud not public benrhl.
Further on the same paper continues !;
Conserpatire-I far there is too much truth in
what YOU say but what would you hav" us do now,
to undo the mischief which has been douef
Democrdt-I would have you wash your Lands OF
the blood OF the war, and proclaim aloud To the PEG
pie everywhere how you have been cheated and
abused by the Internal Williams who, under the pre-
tpnce of war tor the Union, have waged one Tor
the destruction Of the government that was 50
wisely framed 10y our fathers, and WHO have. by
these false prepuces obtained power, which they
are using 10 ensIave every white man who will not
Join them in the abominahr plan I" Atricoz' our
country il would be an easy thing for the Demo-
Gratis who wee cheated into supporting the war; t"
influence the people 10 piich of reslsr>s fury by
q simple narration of the crimes of thIs party
Conserrdtire-Thar ! have no doubt we coui do.
but in what way would thai benefit the country
Democrat. In the first place. it nnldimpress the
traitors Ia the Constitution with the niahe instinct
thar theI ntcks and threats are IN danger aud II
would also produce wild, popular reaction when
would sweep everything before il. and bear the Dem
ocratic parry into power the wings of universal
triumph We have no faith whatever in noinna-
t0ns gRnbled over 10y Democratic politicians We
believe only in II ing the hearts # the people to
pitch of fury against every ensign of The party now
in power. Set the public mind on fire for reStord
ton Of the Constitution and AS an adjunct hot
spir Of revenge towards th" traitOiaas leaders who
have led Congress 10 commit all lis horrd crimes
against liberty and law. would lie healthy sign that
honor aud manhood not dead in the bosoms OF
Americans.
We will feel disposed to shout, huz
xAh when the Democracy of the North
commits itself unreservcdly in defence
Of Constitutional freedom; but we are
afraid the Conservative has the best of
the argument-'that the seven tcnths
tCon't more AID the three-tenths ciH. -
And vet the fires of liberty are being
lighted all over the North, even away
down in Boston the Post says, in view
of the progress of radicalism ~ here IS
but one alternatire to aLgect Submission ~
Which the less ofaU rights IS inroteed /;
and that is immediate, organized, rcSo-
lute resistance and mdying hostility to Its
further ddrNnce."
VERY LIKELY.