Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-05-10

! UVT ".
/ day or two was occupied in organizing the
House, and even lis radical members saw moth
ing before them requiring such pressing atten-
lion as 10 call Tor continued session. They
leit that an iniquitous ingenuity had been ex-
] hansted by tho Congress whose term had just
expired, in deysing legislation in behalf Of
their party and Mr. Grants personal interest
| they therefore contemplated adjOurning at
once aud the country expected aud indeed
hoped that they would, when Mr.. Grant sent
them special message, requesting the two
| Houses to remain IN session, as he might nave
| a message TO communicate in the course OF a
| week. Obcdient 10 their masters wish, Con-
cress did remuin in session, and thea they
were called upon 10 rip open reconstruction
anew and confer on The President imperial
powers, not only over the devoted south, but
over the whole country as well. Thus at the
Presidents deliberate solicitation, powers were
conferred upon him that no unperJured Olficer
could have asked and ne honest patriot could
have accepted.
On the 10Th Of April, just one gear ago, the
next day after its passage by the two Houses
| President Grant approved and signed with
| aiacrity the Yil,ainuuS measure he had prOpoS-
ed instigated and lobbied, and which made
him Tor a season absolute dictator. he had
tried to have its extraordinary provisions eX-
! tended 10 time beyond the next Presidential
election. The drift Of the whole infamous plot
WAS so plain that even a seryic Congress hest
tated al that time to 60 50 far, and the limit
Of his imperial prerogatives Nas set al the end
OF the present session Of Congress This was
II disappointment and partial defeat TO the
schemes OF The INSCRIPTIONS usurper. But he
accepted what he could get and depended upon
its legislative or iorcbe extension in the iu-
lure Eiatcd with his newborn dignities and
powers, the eager tyrant could not conceal his
delight, and on May Sd, Just two weeks after
the passage of the bill, he issued his famous
proclamation, which began with hyPocrlical
professions and ended with sinister menaces.
He told the people that he "found upon the
staiute-bOok' certain laws, which he had in
trigued and barganed to secure, and which
applied 10 and would he MS reeuilcssly and re-
murselessly enforced in the North as in the
South. His proceedings under that infamous
act are known to all men they are written in
the desolation Of a State and the blood of her
innocent children. On his murderouS hands
are the crimson stains Of the assassins trade,
crying TO heaven against the modern Cain,
who has slaughtered his brethren through ma
lignant envy and with the hope of personal
gain. For one whole bitter and dsgracefGl
year has he narrowed helpless South Carolina
with his brutal bayones, merely TO intimidate
her sister States, to crush her voice and to ed
ucate the North to familiarity with the exer-
else Of arbitrary power. Human civilization
never witnessed more hideous crime, and no
intelligent yeople on the face Of the earth ever
submitted so insancly to so open and glazing
IL fraud upon their birhright aud manhood.
And now comes the criminal conspirator,
asking Congress to enable him 10 carry out his
whole original programme for the cnslavement
and degradation of the country. lie asks Con-
gress now TO pass il supplementary Ku-kluX
bill extending the operations Of last yeac's act
10 cover the Presidential election. What for