Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-10-27
D.spo.1sm or a Republic.

! The sO-called reconstruction laws, says
the Nashville Union, were simply intend
cd to reduce the Southern States to the
! lowest condition Of political vassalage.
But they have failed, and now a new deal
is demanded. The Washington National
Republican, usually termed Grants hand
organ, comes out in it's issue Of the 18th
instant, in n manifesto which fairly illus
tIates the wild ideas and desperate pnr-
poses of Grant and his advisers towaId4
the Southern States, for there is little
doubt that it is suggestion from the
throne or the Cabinet. That paper says
''Ever ekeptical of partisan charges. the Re-
publican muet indOrse the opinions of msn like
Judge Bond and JUICE Brooks II tho United
state Circuit and District Courts. We regret
that it is necessary to promIig ate the doctrines
OF entire abolition of state Rights but must
confess that il the leading men of tho late Con-
federacY persist in their Oppoki ion the gov
eminent, thereby reatening the lite of the
nation, then bat one course is open to thu lOoers
OF true De )cracy and self-gOVernm 3nt. The
reconstructed States muat be reconstructed
over again, and the 'Oon1ederacy be pla ced under
national law and undes mon who will carry out
the intentions OF congress IN spirit as we'll
letter; thus making treason crime and assist
ing in building up Southern society on the basis
of liberty and not class lule.'
The work here foreshadow we'd has already
commenced. The placing of portion of
South Carolina under martial law is only O
snbterfuge. 1t is tho prelude to graver
work. Grant means to elect himself if
possible, and to 40 this he il ready to
SEIZE upon the Southern Stat, s., and under
the Suspension of civil law, hold them as
conquered provinces, SO they cannot vote
10 the Presidential election. The pretexts
for this emp de'at are being manufactured
In the different Southern States by the
Radical partisans Of the Grant adminis:ra-
ton. rs remarked by contemporary,
the Issue in the great approaching contest,
disguise 1t as We may. is not whether the
Radical or the Democratic party shall pre-
vail, but whether the people or the Presi-
dent shall rule whether we shall have
Federal Republic Or a Central Deepotism.
People may 6neer at such suggestion
but it is Justified by facts. What popular
verdict can be rendered, asks the same
contemporary, that the President cannot
set aside with the aid of the prerogatives
which Congressional laws have conferred
on him lie Is III possession of all the ma
chlnery OF Government. The country
swarms with his official creatures ready to
support his usurpations. He is the head of
the army and navy and The center Of a mon
eyed aristocracy. He commands both the
sword and the purse. He controls an infiu-
entail force in every State. of custom house
and internal revenue officers, United States |
and deputy marsha:s, who can be |
multiplied at will. He has an organiza-
ton of armed men bound by oath and
secret pass words. and ready to rally to his
support. The interest of every Postmast-
or, assessor, collector, with their clerks |
and messengers, is Identified with his per-
in power. He can march United |