Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-02-19
An Infamous Bill.


In another column win be found the text Of
an infamous and despoiic measure adopted by
the Radical caucus on Friday last, and which
Il is their intention to try and force through
Congress during the few remaining days Of
the present session. As measure cunningly
devised to give Grant unlimited power in the
Southern States il has no equal ia all the bad
laws passed by that party since its accession
10 power. II is an effort to bring back upon
the country all the horrors suffered by the poo
pie during the reign Of Lincoln and the
tnkling OF Stewards little bell. Under its
provisions the liberty of the citizen will find
no guarantee under the civil law, and he will
be left TO the tender mercies of Grants paid
jnries 10 Federal Court.
The otjec, Of this kind of legislation BY the
Radical party is plainly 10 try and save them
selves from the FINAL overthrow which awaits
them at the hands Of the people in the next
Presidential contest. They act upon The rrin-
ciple that desperate cases require desperate
remedies, and having been defeated at all
points where the freedom OF the ballot has
been sustained, they again fall back upon
their only hope Of salvation-ihe bayonet
But this last desperate effort will not save
them. An overwhelming majority Of the peo-
pie Of this country have given them notice TO
vacaie the places Of honor aud trust which
they have so long disgraced. 1t is evident
they are dying hard-but die they must This
is the verdict Of the peope--and the futile ap
peal TO usiIi,arr law will not avail The whole
country IS aroused at this attempted Outrage,
aud from oil points is heard the stern voice OF
condemnation. Below we give extracts from
rhree of the leading New York papers, and
they but reiierate tie sentiments of the press
and The people of the country at large:
The New York Herald says: " The object Of
this extraordinary measure is not TO correct
an existing condition OF disorder, but ostensi-
bly, to provide Tor disorders which may hap
pen hereafter. 1t is Intended 10 give the Presi-
dent supreme power during tue vacation Of
Congress. and virtually 10 place at bis feet The
Leg slaiures and the Governors OF all tile
States. In other words il is created Tor POI
litical purposes, and not to meet any pracli-
cal necesslies OF the country. We have said
that the country will not forgive the men who
have concocied il in caucus, and we may now
add that IL will not forgive the man who in
spfed that caucus. There is good reason To
believe that this scheme tor establishing mar
tia law throughout the connlry in time of
peace was proposed 10 the Republicans by the
President himself, aud thai his influence will
be exer,ed to carry il through Congress. This
Is made probable By the inct thai he alone is
TO possess aud exercise the unconstitutional
authority the bill proposes 10 confer. II This
belief be true, then the people will be forced
10 receive the attempt aS a new step in the in :
t-igue tor third term =
The Wyrld says: "The men who have
sprung such proposition Ms his upon the
country ~ such n time, with plain II pur-
pose as Invoking force by means Of fraud in
order 10 retain the power they have forfeited,
are traitors If the word traitor has any mean
ing. Are all these men mad What do they
suppose the American people are made Of that
they think 10 convert 4 republic into a mon
arrhy al one swoop like this? Butler all men
know for 4 man without faith and without
shame. Nobody need waste any ast0nishment
Oh him. Morton we know for desperate po-
liiical gambler. who has stakcd his all upon
his cast, aud who will stand the hazard of the
die. But there are men among the majority
reputable at their homes aud in their lives
men trained in the traditions of freedom, men
learned IN the law. To say, as was said ia
Washington last night, that there is chance
this bill may pass. is to saw there is chance
the majority OF The Representatives OF the Uni
ted States may vote a republic into a mon
archy We shall see. But voting is not NIL
il is treason TO American liberty which is plot
ting at the White House aud the Capitol. But
IL is not liberty that will perish from The earth
Let these cut-pnyses OF the empire and the rule
be well assured of that
The Tribune says; Little comment is
needed upon such bill. When il is remem.
bered that the only serious difficulty aboui
Southern elections now is 10 keep the Repnb.
lican State officials quiet enough 10 allow a
fair vote and fair count, the monstrous char.
acter OF the cancus is sufficiently clear