Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-07
GRANTS Desposic Nature.

Grants Desposic Nature.
What does Gen. Grant mean by his
persis. ent persecution of the South ?
The right Of self-goyernment belongs
to those people, as it does to all who
I've under republican institutions,
nd no,man Of them can be judged by
law in the making of which he has
.ad no voice. 1t is a divine
natural right, for nature has obliged
crseif to give the powers of protec-
zion and preservation TO every man to
whom she has given being. It is a
Irvine right, for God himself pre-
sumes our responsibility to govern
ourselves, and the right Of seIf-gov-
ernlnent is the foundation Of all NOR
al responsibility, both here and here
.iter. The inquiry has been suggested
by The report Of conversation that
was had in the cottage by the sea-"
in reference to North Carolina. Just
before the recent election Grant was
asked, What would you have done
if North Carolina had not satisfied
Republican anticipation" And the
answer wasworthy Of the despot that
he is: haoe the posUer usder the
Ku- -Kzlr bill to haze made ker." =
Let him hold in remembrance that
every despotism that attempts to des-
troy the forms of government, the
spirit of liberty, and the institutions
Of a civilized people, must prepare
to destroy the people at the same
time. As despotism can have no
guarantee and safety in the mutila-
ton, only determination can consum-
mate the work.
Scotland understood it. When the
Duke of Argyle went to see Queen
Elizabeth, said she: You have mur-
dered my provost marshal in Edin-
burgh." MAY it please your Ma
jesty," he replied, "he was killed"
!" You have killed my provost marshal
in Glasgow, said she: "No," said
the Duke; he only cannot be found"
You have killed two more of my
provost marshals in the Highlands
said the Queen, with the terrible
blasphemy that characterized her
bitter conversation, and shall send
my troops down to Scotland to make
hunting ground of your country. >
MAY it please your Majesty" re-
|sphed the Duke, 'juss, be hnd enougEc
to let US know when you send them
down, and we will have our hounds
ready" Scotland by this determine
tion was saved from the tyranny that
crushed out Ireland.
Is it manly and noble in Gen. Grant
to play the despot over an oppressed
and down-trodden people? These
Southern people have their constitu-
tional rights, sven if they have teen
rebellious. He would not dare threat
en- such interference in the case OF
the State of New York, and why
should he do it in the case of North
Carolina, now supposed to be restored
to all the constitutional rights belong
ing to all the States?
But the fact is, Grant cannot divest
himself of the idea that the country
is to be ruled by military despotism.
When Gen. Hancock, in command CT
the Fifth Military District, issued his
famous order No. 40-in which he
iold the peole of that district: "Thc
nght of trial by jury, the habeao cor
oas, the liberty Of the press, the free
,om of speech, the natural rights of
persons, and the rights Of property
:aust he preserved. Free Institutions,
vlile they are essentialto the happi-
ness and prosperity of a people, al
y&ys furnish the strongest induce
,nents to peace and order by the
iriends of constitutional liberty this
order was hailed as voice OF resur-
rection. But from the day that Han
cock issued that order Grant COM
menced a system Of petty persecution
against this, one Of the noblest aud
most magnanimous soldiers of the
war, revoking his orders. degrading
him from his official rank, and placing
him in subordination to juniors ins
commission, which has not yet ceased.
Grant cannot be anything but des-
potic-it is deeply gravenin his ma
ture; and his gross ignorance OF the
spirit and form Of our entire system
Of government leads him into count
less stupid blunders.-N. Y. World.