The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-09
mr. Lyons to Governor Kemper. ),
-. y RIcHMoND, January !, 1875.

b.. .-sH.1
Hon. James IL. .Ken,per, GoUernor Of Var.
;, ginid: d .-irt yuT .. 5ai = tL.,c :. s..
Dear sir,-From the days Of Mr.. Madison
to the surrender at Appomattox ever to De
deplored), when the Constitution OF the
United States has been invaded and the lid
erty of the people threatened by Federal au-
thority it has been the custom Of Virginia
TO raise her voice against the usuTpers and
summon her sister States to- counsel With
her. In my opinion the constitutional rights
of the States and the liberty OF the people
have been more violently and danger.
o.1sly assailed by the proceedings of Federal
General Phil. Sheridan-who, unhappiy,
was saved from Castle Thunder by blum.
der of General Bragg-and bis soldiers in
New Orleans than they ever were before
since the adoption of the Constitution, ex-
ceptine always the declaration of war against
the southern States, and their deSolation, for
pcaceably asserting their right to withdraw
from Government which had violated lis
compact with them and grievously oppressed
them. do not recollect that ever before,
the army has been called in by the executive
department of any Government to disperse
the Legislature except in the times of Crom-
well and the first Napoleon and if such an
outrage upon constitutional liberty is tole-
rated in the State of Louisiana it may, and
probably will, be pracliced in every State in
which the Legislature, exercising its inhe-
rent right to judge of the qualification of its
members, shall expel Republican Radical
and admit Democrat, Conservative, to
the vacant seat or, if the Senate of Virginia
shall expel, rs I presume it will, Senator
Graham TOR selling Federal Office We may
expect some Austro Federal butcher general,
more Infamous and bloody than the savage
Austrian who whipped the Hungarian VIC
men, TO march In file Of soldiers and disperse
the Senate, although gallant Federal senator
presides over it; and, as if in triumph over
the ", the Constitution, and the liberty Of
his country, this ferocious and heartless
mercenary insults the President and the ma
ton, and stains the uniform which be wears,
By proposing to the President still further to
trample under foot the Constitution and lib
erty, and outrage civilization ard humanity
by declaring by his SIC colo peaceable citi-
zens "banditti" because, as be alleges,
they committed offences (undefned) in Sep.
tember, and leave to him to execute them
men who, in fact. have committed no crime,
unless selfdefence against other mercena-
res and prompt submission to the author.
ity of the United States be crimes according
to the code of this military laW.giver.
Nothing so atrocious has been said or sug-
gested, AID nothing like it ever done, since
The massacre of the auguenots and the su' :
jugallon of "the fair land of Poland" al d
the slaughter of her children. / have SUI
tanned tue President, as YOU know, in his
early proceedings in Louis misunderstanding
the Kellogg government because l believed
tue law authorized them, and honestly be-
lieved he wished to do right; and will net
believe be has authorized or will sanction
these proceedings, or lend willing ear to
this howl of his butcher-dog for the blood Of
southern men; but if he does, he ought 10
be Immediately impeached and expelled
from office and the infamous Phil. arrested
and sent to look after " Captain jack"
Now. my dear sir, We have once more q
true. hearted, gallant, and patriotic Virginian
in the Executive chair of the State, and 10
him appeal to arou>e the Legislature to the
dangers and horrors which surround US, and
urge it to summon our sister States, North
as we'll as South, to counsel with her as to
the proper means of meeting and repeling
them. With great respect, your friend,
| JAMES LYONS.