The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-05-11
A Partisan Proclamation.

Tho President has issued proclama-
ton announcing his purpose to enforce
therecent infamous law, which Congress
passed at his instance, aud under the
pressure of his influence. ITO the extent
of the powers vested in the Executive"
Like all the documents from the same
source, il speaks the language Of one
who is President Of party, aud who
has not yet reached the moral elevation
of being President Of the country. 1t
sets ont with a bold perversion of truth,
by declaring that the necessity for this
legislation sis well known to have been
caused chiefly by persistent violations
OF the rights of citizens Of the United
States by combinations of lawless aud
disaffected persons, in certain localities,
lately the theatre Of instruction and
military conflict" This allegation is
fatty contradicted by the official reports
o. the Governors ofthe Southern States,
aud BY the regular message ofthe Pres.
ident to Congress in December.
II is notorious here that this whole
Ku.klux agitation was fabricated by
Morton, Butler, and other conspirators
for political effect, and that it was at
first opposed by the moderate Republi-
caus of both branches of Congress.
And this fact is made clear as day by the
events which transpired after the fourth
of March. The Committee which waited
upon the President to notify him of the
organization of Congress were informed
that he had no business to recommend.
Buffers Ku.klux bill was ANONYMOUSLY
defeated in the house of his friends
The report of the Senate Committee
utterly failed to make any impression,
and the House, under the lead of Mr..
Dawes, passed four distinct resolutions
of adjournment. All these acts prove
that there was no reason whatever for
such legislation as was subsequently
adopted.
Meantime, Morton and other enemies
of peace were laboring with all their
power to induce the President to take
the step which he finally adopted, Of
sending message to Congress. They
concluded that to adjourn without some
measure would be to convict themselves
as criminal agitators before the country
and. to give the Democrats an immense
advantage. This was the real motive
added to that Of clothing the President
with despotic power, which led to the
Force bill. Congress adjourned, and
the country, from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande, is more peaceful, and more
moral, too, than New England, accord
ing to the sickeniug telegraphic reports
which daily burden and soil our columns
So that the whole scene Of the pretend
ed ''outrages" was confined to Congress
The proofs overwhelming from every
part of the South, through Republican
Governors, Northern settlers, and im
partial witnesses, including General
Sherman, that there is no chronic dis.
order, no combinations against law, and
no insecurity of person or property
which does not exist elsewhere. And
the President is well informed of these
facts, while he'bas endeavored to close
his ear to the truth, and to accept moth.
ing but the calumnies Of corrupt parti
sans, as testimony for the guide Of his
official conduct.
This wicked and wholesale SANDER
against eight millions Of people, oppres
scd and outraged BY power, pluuder
aud malice, cannot fail to react against
its author and the criminal conspirators
who have instigated new crusade oil
persecution. The suffering South has
borne much with noble patience and
heroic resolution. Aud it will not de.
part from that rule of conduct even
under this gross aud glaring proyocation
Washington Patriot