The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-05-14
Fren s. Hanll.sa oa.sl p,n.er...
Resistance to the XVGh Amend
memt.

We have counseled resistance 10 this
fraudulent bantling of mOngrelisn, because
we regard it 8 crime 20 be silent when such
deadly peril threatened the most sasred
rights of the States and the liberties of the
people; and We still earnestly urge the peo.
pie to refuse absolutely and determinedly
to recognize this infamous usurpation,
which is a disgrace to law and foul blot
upon justice. The amendment is not an ae-
compiishsd fact according to the Federal
Constitution and the laws, and demands
resistance as the only means of checking
the violent, unrestrained and perhdious
course of brutal, corrupt and polluted
Congress.
Those who advance the absurd and fool
ism dogma, that negro suffrage is in any way
the legitimate result Of the stern logic Of
Of events, are either blind fanatics or big
oted knaEes, or both. The whole accursed
thing, from its conception to its ratification,
is the direct eOnsequenee-the actual pro~
duct of fraud, brutality and crime, and has
not the shadow of Law to support it War
cannot create, establish, nor settle any new
principle or make new laW; and, especial
ly, it cannot establish justice upon rseking
catalogue of bloody crimes aRd black villain
les, nor uphold q hideORs and IntOlerabie
despo tism longer than the bsyonets are over
the heads Of the people
The fFamers and easily expouadsTs Of the
Federal COnstitutioR acknowledged the soy
ereignty of the States and the inViOlsti0n of
their respective governments. The COBsti-
tuition itself, in the Tenth Article of the
Amend msnts to that instrument, expressly
and pla inly declares, that the "pos0ers not
delegated, are reserved respectively TO the
States, or to the people. The execution of
the XVIII Amendment virtually robs the
States Of these rights, and is, therefore, an
act of usurpation and revolution, which
should be resisted by all the powers we
possess, as the only hope Of Feseuing the
country from the hands of the spOileT, and
preserving liberty on this continent.
The XVIII Amendment is but bastard
of mongreism, and its attempted execution
is preme ditated attack upon our free sys--
tenn of government and should be resisted
by whatever means may be necessary to re-
tain the reserved rights of the States in their
own possession. Submission to this illegal,
revolutionary aboEination, that has no ex-
istence independent of the arbitrary will
and pleasure of a knaveish, apOstate, base
vile and traitorous Congress, and misera-
Bile crew of dissolute renegades and towards
is to abandon constitutional liberty, and
sink hslplessly into the gulf of hideOus
despotism
We urge and re.urgs resistance to this
y
neither fraud, threats, nor bayonets intimi-
date nor deter you from defending the rights
of the State. Congress has no more legal
authority to enforce this vile and offensive
measure upon you than has the assassin
and robber to demand your private proper
| ty, and should receive similar treatment, if
it attempts it ......,- ,.
Adopt at once positive and aggressive
policy towards the mongrel usurpation, that
no longer disguise its purpose to destroy the
Governments of our fathers Throw OF the
devil of supineness and apathetio indifer-
ence, and arouse to the perils and evils that
surround you, and which hourly threaten
to eztinguish the civil life of the Govern
meut An uprising of the people, clothed in
the majesty of right, will strike terror
and dismay to the scoundrels and traitors
who have desecrated and trampled upon the
| liberties of American fresmen; and visions
| of gibbets and halters will freeze their cow
ardly blood, and they will be glad to absn-
| don this hellish scheme and horrid crime
| against liberty and law, to save their rascal
ly necks from hempen neckties Let re-
stOr0tiop Of the Federal Constitution and a
a0hite citizenship be the rallying cry ofsyery
| freeman, and never yield until liberty, right
and justice again holds tbs sway Of empire
on this continent,