The union Democrat., 1870-03-05
The Situation LA Georgia.

hon, pot we cannot helm thinking thar tHe
present posture IT political Affairs in Georgia,
taken in consideration with what has precei-
ed 1t, will finally terminate IN good 10 The
country by showing the heaeSt masses 1T the
Radical party the direct tendency aud certain
result OF the principles they have hitherto
iadorSed. We say ID" masses et that marty,
not the leaders; Tor those Senators and Rep
resentstiveS. who were instrumental in re-
msn6ng back . sovereign State - the grasp
Of an irresponsible and v,ndetive military
desnosiSm. knew perfectly we'll the iniQuity
they penetrated, and did il deliberately aud
with malice afortheught. The case was fair
" presented and fully discussed IN advance,
not merely in Congress, hut in that broader
tribunal Of popular opinion which finds an
appropriate channel Of uueraace through an
untremmellod public press. These leaders
cannot plead ignorance or mlSconeepticn;
they wiltullv chose the wrong. aud must
abide the consequences vt their choice. But
we have not entirely lost confidence in the
honesty. the common sense. the treedom-lov-
! ing instincts of the American people, and We
can hut believe that our opponents, however
blinded by prejudice. position or misstate-
ment. must eventually view this matter IN It's
true light, with their eyes open 10 the eaor-
nifty Of the crime OF which they are now the
ahe.tors, act in accordance with the prompt
lngs of better Judgment |, cannot be pos
sihle that any considerable number of intelli-
gent and thou ghttul men, men born on u soil
which the courage and self sacrificing ratri-
otisIo of noble ancestry wrenched from the
thraldom Of the British yoke, men in whose
veins run tie brave blood Of those heroes who
Staked their lives. their fortunes ana their sa-
cred honor in defence ofcivil liberty and the
cause OF self-gov cannot be possi-
HE that these American citizens can lend
their sanction u such infamous outrages as
are now transpirins in Georgia. Party asso-
Citations and party discipline will lead them
far. and secure their appreciation of many
measures which have no foundation in law or
equity, but. when asked to accept aud sup
port monstrosity like this. surely they must
refuse. and Spurn the proposal as an insult,
Glance n moment at tho situation as reveal
cd hy late kilograms from Atlanta. The
Legislature is called together; the Governor,
in violation ct an act of Congress aud tue code
! of the State, appoints one of his own employees
named Harris to organize the House. Not
satisfied with this exercise Of arbitrary pow.
er. and ascertaining that, with all his man'p
ulation, n majority composed OF Democrats
his policy, he issues an order adiourning The
House for three days, has it countersigncd by
General Terry, ahd when the calling Of tht
roll is over, en.orces his mandate and dismiss
es the Assembly. Meanwhile he summons
certain members 10 appear before military
commission If two Generals aid u hIaior. I,
| prove their right 10 the seats they held. They
/ present themselves and are told that the Gov
] - 81
the trial. and that they must wait until the
next day. When the court assemblies, tn,
members through their counsel protest
against its jurisdiction as suhversive Of then
right to be tried before u civil tribunal, guar
antecd by the Constitution, and urge thai
Congress never intended To confer on military
power the prerogstive to thus interfere in th1
reorganization Of the State. Protest and urg-
incs are alike treated with profound con ntempt
and the two Generals and one Mnior proceed
to examine witnesses and decide whether
these citizens OF Georgia, duly elected to the
Legislature, shall be permitted to remain in
that body, Prominent carret-hag Radicals,
in close alliance with the Governor, swear
that Georgia shall be kept out Of the Union
five years rather than yield 10 the control Of
Democrats. Bullock with Terry and hnyo-
nets behind him, and tho stars and stripes
waving over all, plants his heel upon Geor-
gia and demands unconditional submission TO
his wishes before she can rise from the dust
into which Congress- and Bullock have flung
her! And Radicals Of the North look on the
spectacle without blush, and thank God that
this is great. glorious and free country!
If. .the lightning flashed across the ocean
to-day the intelligence that Napoleon had
prorogued the Corps Legis!atf, and ordered
half dozen Of the Liberal members to prove
their eligibility before board composed cf
officers drawn from the Imperial Guard, who
Of us would not exclaim that such despo,ism
as this deserved to he overthrown that hnrri-
cades ought to rise in every Partisan street
and the dynasty of Ronaparte be driven into
perpetual exile? Vet we are doing in n re-
public what Napoleon. with half million
soldiers Mt his back. darcs not attempt in an
emnire. The Government of France rests up-
on the point nt the sword, the Gnsernment Of
the United States is supposed to derive its
lust powers from the consent Of the governed;
but if Georgia hehkcnns an exponent, which
country is the freer of tho two.-MiSsoad Re
publican,