Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-14
OUR HISTORY ANTICIPATED.
Narrative Of an Imaginary Coup
D'etat.

A Partisan Of Imperialism Describes
q Faneied Revolution by which o..
q. q. 1alEes Himself Dictator I'm the
Year IS7z.
Monthly Imperial Review, Published az Pough-
keepsie.
at Il O'Clock, the hour fixed upon for
the assembling of the Senate, and the
counting of the votes Of the Electoral
College, the private secretary Of the
President stepped into his carriage and
proceeded first to the Government Printing
Bureau, where he remained for few mo-
ments, and then proceeded to the Senate
Chamber. lie was attended by a body
guard of 300 marines from the capital navy.
yard. On reaching the Capitol building
the marines we're ordered TO take posses
sion Of the halls aud corridors leading TO
the Senate Chamber and the House Of Rep
resentatives. The Senate was already in
session, and at the conclusion Of the PRAYER
BY the chaplain, the members Of the
Lower House presented themselves st the
doors Of the Senate chamber, in obedience
to the constitutional order requiring their
presence a. the counting Of the electoral
vote, seats being provided for them on the
floor Of the chamber. At the proper mo-
meut Senator Freiinghuy-eu rose in hisseat
and moved that the vote be counted. AT
this moment the private secretary Of the
President entered, and was recognized at
once by the Clerk Of the Senate, with the
usual "Mr. President, a message from the
President" In place Of the expected mes
sage, the following Proclamation fell upon
the stunned ears Of the Democratic Sena-
tors:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 20, 1S77.-
To the President Of the Senate Extensive
and glazing frauds having been detected IN
the electoral certificates returned By GER
tain of the States, therefore, as the execu-
tive head Of the nation, and acting in its
behalf, forbid the counting Of the votes Of
the Electoral College, and hereby declare
the Senate dissolved.
Given under my hand and seal this 10Th
day Of February, 1877, etc.
TIE SENATE sUERENDERs.
A similar proclamation was sent to the
House Of Representatives upon its re-as-
sembling. The Senate, always the ex-
pCuent Of centralism, surrendered without
a struggle, after voting down a resolution
offered by one Morton to postpone the
counting Of the vote to a subsequent day.
The House, the immediate representative
of the people, refused to adjourn, and a
scene Of the widest confusion fol-
lowed, during which a member
from New jersey, Andrew jackson
Smith, Jumped into the Speakers desk and
commenced 10 address The House. He had
scarcely begun when a squad of soldiers
under Gen. BabcOck entered the hall. Or
der was instantly restored, and in a firm,
distinct tone the proclamation Of tie Pres
ident was again read by the Clerk of the
House by the order Of the General. In five
minutes the hall was closed and the nation
al Legislature was suspended, and a guard
Of 500 regulars was stationed around the
Capitol. On passing into the street a proc
lanatiOn from the President to tee people /
Ofthe United States was in the hands Ofthe /
pOpulace, now occupying every aYenUe and
cross street leading TO the Capitol. It had |
been posted besides in every public place, |
and read as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 20, ISL !
To the people Of the United States-CIti- |
zens: Frauds, the most glaring and over |
whelming, have been detected in the re-
turns Of the electoral vote transmitted to |
the Electoral College.
The sacred right Of suffrage has been |
trampled into The dust by those who should |
have upheld lt,
As Commander-iu-Chief Of the army and |
navy Of the United States, have placed !
the whole country under martial law. The |
military power Of the nation is al this mo-
meut in full possession Of every State and |
Territory, and subject to Iay order.
have forbidden the counting If the |
electoral vote in the Senate, and have dis |
solved the national Legislature.
4 new election viii he Immediately or !
dered, but in the interim the civil power Of |
the nation will giTe place to the military |
arm, in eri5r that justice may be promoted |
and the public tranquility be preserved.
SECURING THE CAPITAL.
Passing under the bayOnets Of a strong |
guard into the street, the members of both |
houses beheld a scene never before witness
ed by republican eyes in republican Ameri- |
ca. There were no barricades thrown up /
at the corners Of streets like those that met /
the gaze Of all Paris al the fatal insuuec-
ton Of June, 1913. No mob sent its discOr-
dant yelis to the clouds on that memorable
day. In place Of ba-ricades and bastiOns, the /
glare Of torches, and the sObs of women flying
before an Infatuated pOpulace, there were
seen here and there, At convenient points
between the Capitol and the Treasury, the
mouth of a cannon guarded by q squad Of
regulars or marines. In an hour, as if by
magic, every vulnerable point in a city Of
more than a hundred and fifty thousand
souls was secure against any attack that
could have been made upon it by an IN
armed mob. at the navy yard, around
the Capitol, the Postofice, Treasury,
Interior, War, aud Navy buildings a
strong guard was placed, ready for any |
emergency that might arse. At the sight
Of the sOldieTy a panic ensued, not one |
which arose from any fear of immediate |
disaster, but from a nameless apprehen-
sion Of something terrible to come. A
vague feeling that the nation had surren-
ierad and without a blow being any
where struck in its defense paralyzed /
ear ITSELF aud for the moment, re
,istance was impossible. Would the
-sacti0n ever come, or would these
little squads ofarned men continue to hold
nation in subsection at viii. At o'clock I
rush was made for the telegraph Offices
throughput the city, The military had
AIKEN possession OF each, and an order had
,een issued prohibiting the sending Of a
elegram not authorized by the officer in
Simultaneous with the order 10 place
under martial law, a similar
rider had been executed at each Stale cap
tai, go that By Encouragement, by the
lick Of 4 single battery, the whole nation
r.fo a. Tho faaf Of ffc military mas