The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-11-16
Grant and Martial law.
From the Lagrange (Ga,) Rcportcr.l

. 'NH' i"'5 i"HFN \p"J h'pOi'Ni'I
When james the ii was warned By
the Emperor Of France that William,
Prince Of Orange, contemplated the
overthrow Of the English King, his
monitions were treated with contempt,
until it was too late to retrieve that
which he had lost by u >supinc indif-
ference TO the shrcwd and mastery
schemes Of William. Thames had but
listened to those who lad the good Of
the house Of Stewart at heart, the
sccptre would not have passed from
his hand. But James didn't listen and
he lost his crown.
That the Interior design Of Grant
and his evil counselIors is the over
throw OF our present Constitutional
Government and the establishment Ola
centralized or monarChial system, we
think there can be no reasonable
grounds for doubt; and, any candid,
rejecting thinker will certainly arrive
at this conclusion, if he will but open
his eyes, and with the light of history
before him, look at passing events, and
weigh the intentions Of our rulers by
their actions.
When the Southern army was dis
banded and returned TO their homes,
they said in eficct--"thc war is over,
and it has been decided against us, we
accept its results, and will abide them
in good faith" The war was then over.
Our Constitutions were modified and
laws amended 50 as to declare slavery
abolished. secession a lallacy, and that
the Confederate debt should not be
paid. These, and these only, were the
results, the fruits Of the war. Quiet and
order everywhere prevailed. There
was harmony between the races. Hope
revived and reconciliation was almost
triumphant In December, 1868, Gen.
Grant said in a report, made by him
TO the President 81 an satisfied that
the masses Of thinking men Of the
South accept the present situation Of
affairs in good faith. Slavery and
State rights they regard as having been
settled by arms. My observations lead
me to the conclusion that the citizens
Of the Southern States are anxious to
return to scl!-govcrnmcnt within the
Union, as soon as possible. 1t is to
be regretted that there cannot be a
greater commingiing at this time be,
tween the citizens Of tue two sections,
and particularly those intrusted with
the law-making power"
These were the words OF Grant, ut
tered at Il time, when, perhaps his as
pirations had reached their climax, and
before his evil advisers had insti.led
into his mind an unholy ambition for
power and Capitalization. But the
tcmpter cGmc and pointed to the Exc
cutiye m%ansion-he is nominated for
the Presidency accepts the nomina
ton and says, "let us have peace" All
was this the honest sentiment Of his
heart, or a political bait thrown out to
be used by his part, for selfish and
wicked purposes2 Surely, the South
orn people have prayed that peace her
solve wand extend,
And bid wild war his rayage end,
Man with brother man to meet,
Ana us orotler kindly greet.
1t is more than six years since any
man, with arms in hand, disputed the
authority OF the United States. During
all these years we were entitled to
peace with all its attendant blessings.
But let us pass over all the u~ncOnstitu-
tional legislation from 1856 to 1870,
the manner IN which the XIV and XIV
amendments to the Constitution were
declared to be adopted, and during all
Of which time faithful sentincls upon
the watch tower were warning the pco-
pie Of the approach Of the adversary Of
their Liberties. Let us pass ell those
grievances and look calmly ut the stu
a.ion in our sister State, South Carroll,
M. In a time Of peace and quiet, and
when the local authorities Of that
State are fully prepared to punish all
violations Of the laws, the President
declares martial law and suspends the
writ of AoJeos corpus. DID the public
safety require such step on his part,
there would he some excuse for it.
Why take such q step on the eve of the
Presidential election? Grant and his
party well know that their sole object
was first 70 fan tho Nnrthprn minds