Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-11-02
THE ADVERTISER.
Edgciield, S. c.. Nov. 2, 1871.
Will it be Popular Government or
DespOtism.

Our columns are filled with accounts
of the troubles in several of our upper
Districts. Innocent men are being ar
rested by scores; and hundreds OF the
best citizens are still flying from their
homes. After the unscrupulous trials
presided over, and the terrible sentences
imposed by Judge Bond, at Raleigh late
", no sane man would stand the danger
of arrest. Better life in the woods or
exile in foreign land, than six years at
hard'labor in Northern penitentiary:--
with fineof five or six thousand dol
lars.
The Presidential election is to take
place next year, and looking upon the
campaign of 1872, as Grant has begun 1t
jim South Carolina, it must result either
in the restoration of popular government,
with the success of the Democratic par
ty, or the establishment Of despotism,
with the reelection Of Grant. Truly II
ever the Democracy Of the nation had
stimulous and Indictment to fight brave
ly and in solid body, that time is now'
The work foreshadowed by the suspen-
sion of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in
nine Counties of South Carolina, Is sim
ply the reducing of the Southern States
to the lowest condition of political vas
salage. All these troubles in our up
country are but forerunners of even
eraver work. Grant means to re-elect
himself if possible, and to do this he is
ready to seize upon the Southern Statcs'
and under the suspension of civil Law
hold them as conquered provinces, SO
they cannot vote in the Presidential ei 'c-
ton. The pretexts for this coup a. tat
are now being manufactured in the diff
ferent Southern States by the Radical
partisans of the Grant administration.
AS remarked by contemporary, the is-
sue in the great approaching contest, dis
guise it as we may, is not whether the
Radical or the Democratic party shall
prevail, but-whether the people or the
President shall rule; whether we shall
have a Federal Republic or Central
Despotism. People may smile at such
suggestion, but 1t is justified by facts
In the present state Of our government,
what popular verdict can be rendered
that the President cannot set aside with
the aid of the prerogatives which Con-
gressional laws have conferred on him
He is in possession of all the machinery
of Government. The country, especially
in the South, swarms with his Official
creatures ready to support his usurpa
tions. He is the head of the army
and the navy, and the centre of mon
eyed aristocracy. He commands botf
the sword and the purse. He controls
an influential force in every State, O
Custom house and internal revenue OF
fcers, United States marshals and depu
ty marshals, who can be multiplied n
will.
He has, it is said-and We have NJ
doubt of it-an organization of armed
men bound by oath, and secret pass
words, and ready to rally to his support
The interest of every postmaster, asses
sor, collector, with their clerks and mes
sengers, is identified with his perpetua
ton in power. He can march Unitet
States soldiers and marines to the poll
on pretexts which are never wanting t.
justify such an expedient, and by tina
means can dictate the result of any elec
ton.
The suspension of Habeas Corpus il
our up-country is but such a pretext
And still the masses Of the North seen
to stand by idly, too blind to perceive o
too Indifferent to realize and provid
against the coming evils. When we Sc
them under the heel of a vulgar, grasp
ing despot, as we are now, we shall She
not a tear.