The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-05-26
Obedience 10 LAW, Then and
Now.

In his recent extraordinary procla
nation calling public attention q tn
late infamous Ku-Klux bill, His Elk
cellency is made to say: . -,
4 1t is my earnest wish that pesc
and cheerful obedience to law ma,
prevail throughout the land, and tina
all traces of our late unhappy civi
strife may be speedily removed.
! If the Occupant of the Whit,
House really knew anything of wha
he was supposed to be talking about
he conld not but know that every
law of Congress made in the spirit Of
honest legislation, is obeyed in The
South as cheerfully and executed at
promptly as in any part of the coun.
try. He can but know that every
law intended to operate equally and
equitably upon all sections and all
persons, finds as willing obedience
in the Southern States as in any part
of the North. He knows full well
that the greater part Of the legisla-
ton of Congress since the Radicals
have been in power, has BEEN carried
on in an anfriendly, an iutolerant, an
uncharitable, an unconfiding, an un-
just and malignant and demoniac
spirit, by the party; yet he knows
that such obnoxious legislation is
obeyed implicitly, and universally
if not cheerfully, still without COM
plant or murmur. He knows that
the very force bill to which he SO
solemnlyr calls attention, overflows
with direct and implied false accusa-
tions against our people. an"GSr'
The various Reconstruction acts
passed by Congress contain many
features obnoxious to the Southern
people as they are equally MS repug-
nant to the better class of even Nor /.
thern Republicans ; hut being the law,
are submitted to by our people.
History informs us that in 1850 law
was passed by Congress called
the Fugitive Slave Law. Its name
indicates its character. But how
was it executed at the North? With
few exceptions it was a dead letter
in the statute books. An Infatuated
mob of fanatics and hypocrits every
where in tie North openly defied
the law when attempted to be execu-
ted, spat upon the Constitution and
denounced it as "a league with death"
a covenant with hell" Behold the
difference! The South submit quiet.
ly and heroic:y to laws passed by an
unprincipled partizan Congress, in
plain and palpable violation of the
Constitution and in open and bold
defiance of right and principle. The
North fatty and contemptuously re-
fused to obey plain and simple law
enacted in almost the exact language
of the Constitution, to carry out
provision of that instrument.
AS to the wish expressed by the
Pref ident that "all the traces of our
late unhappy civil strife may be spec
Oily removed" is in fiat and palpa-
BILE contradiction of his administra-
ton since its commencement, and of
every public act of his since he lent
himself the willing instrument, to do
the bidding of the bad men who con-
troll the Radical party. Instead of
adopting conciliatory and conser-
vative course toward the people of
the South, the President has fallen
into extreme opposite; instead of
counselling with statesmen and pat
riots, who, whatever may be their
political opinions, seek to advance
the good of our common country, he
has leagued himself with the NOR
TONS, Beast buffers, CAMERoNs and
the worst men of the present age.
Poor GRANT! From an object of
pity he is fast sinking into an object
of contempt.