Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-01-23
Despor!sm Installed.
The Emlirs ALree.lE G Fact

. 20" '"''' AD~t lA ava seOtlJuN Oh INT county .
warning ihe people in excited tones that free
institutions are ia danger Indeed
/ For ten year. steadily have we been camor-
inc for Oae-Tcrm Amendment, to the Con-
sd;Udoa, as the Only measure which, md
the growing patronage Of the Executive
could save us from drifting into Monarchy ;
while, ir TIE last three years, we have been
largely pitiel as hopeless lunalic, for pro-
claiming that Grant intended to ucrpetuate
lis authority, by running fora tirl Presi-
dental term.
To-day, nevertheless, there are Jut few to
dispute that Grant mcditates retention Of tho
supreme power and none, except his party
miuions, TO deny, that t G deliberate AMI
most decisive step in this campaign, was to
plant tie sword Of Sheridan into the bosom
Of the Constitution at New Orleans on the
l,h Of January last. The occasion and The
time were ripe. Barely two yeas remain 70
. Grant previous TO the crisis Of 1876, when, if
he is to profit any longer by his place our in-
situations mus, ta.ea SO fire-new stamp and
coinage, for his sake. The late elections,
which administered rebuke 20 bis ambition
were held under constitution declaring the
military TO De subordinate to tie civil power
Having no further hope, therefore under the
sanctions Of that instrument, he syails himself
suddenly, Of the opportunity made for him in
Louisiana to abolish it; and this lie does by
oFpror'ag through bis ecyorWar, ofthe sup
precision Of a civil legislature By the military
power It matters not who made The situa-
ton far him, nor does it matter much just how
The situation was contrivel the vital point for
our consideration is-What doctrine does the
despot who thus ratronizes, with his o2proral
the violent suppression of our previous form
Of government, declare
Every one can trace the minor motives Of
the man In his desire to win two new senator's
zone belonging to his family to ,he support
Of bis Interior plots and aims; but his oP-
Praell Of Dc Trotriand acts as thing Of
broader magnitude. The desire to create
senator's after the Napo,eouic plan, is Of course
royal yoaruing; and it is much betrays a
logical provision in any royal a,prsnt as does
the careful making Of his family rich before
assuming royal attributes. These, al we said
before, are minor signs, bu; tie great inquiry
before us is-What does the endorsement by
he president, Of the military suppression in
Louisiana. Of tie Constitution Of ha United
States, mean? The Governors, the lesisla-
hrres, aud the lawyers who have thus far
spoken say it threatens, if tolerated, to sup
plant ouT liberties aud then they call upon
Congress to inte-pose and save them.
Such is the limited view Of the subject
which at this moment psryades the country
and dictates its action. TO our miud, how
ever. the aspec, Of affair, is much more ,cri-
GUS, f5rwe regard the usurpation Of dictatorial
functions by Grant as having been effected by
| Grants ourcrql Of Sheridan's dispatch,
through the Secretary Of War, on the 7th in
slant. From that instant will date the sub
version Of all other force, Of the Constitution
to the arbitrary supremacy Of the Executive
The very approval of Sherilnns dispatch was
an assumption by Grant Of supremacy for
himself as the head Of the army and navy
and wc very much fear we shall not be able
90 ril the country Of him, exccp; at the ex-
/ ..-.. .F Lf...1.Irl A. a., .,... s4,,.Is .,