Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-12
What the Governor Of Georgia Says.

The message Of Gov. Smith, read in both |
Houses OF the Georgia Legislature yesterday, |
has the following comment 90 Federal relations:
Before closing this, NY last annual comnun'
icatiou to the General Assembly, l cannot 1or-
bear a brief reference to the grave clrcumstan
ces which DOW surround US, and seem 10 threat
en- the existence Of the liberties OF the people.
On y piyen da7 over eight millions OF lreemeo, |
renresep,ing nearly forty five millions of people,
came forth from their abiding places and quiet
~ nroceeded to the ballot box Tor the purpose
Of choosing their rulers for the next four years.
This grave proceeding was characterized by the
utmost good order, notwithstanding the pres,
ence 10 many places OF the military forces OF
the Government sent thither TO overaWe the
weak ard ignorant, and to secure the election
Of particular Candidates. The law pointed out
the mode of sclactiog the President and VICE
President Of the United States The question
as to who should fill these high Offices bad been
referred to the ballot box. The true result OF
that reference 90 candid man can doub:. The
election was held in pursuance OF the laws OF
! the United States and OF the several States. 1t
was leaceablc and orderly, and Tree from 10
timilatiou. We find few adventures, acting
under the direction OF ambitious leaders at the
Federal Capital, and backed by the military
| forces of the Government, attempting by fraud
| and clicaue 10 set aside the eminent statesmen
chosen by the people, and to force iuto their
places persons whom the people, after lair trial,
had refused to elect. The question arises here,
shall The candidates fairly aud legally elected
by the people be placed in Office? or shall per
sons rejected at tic ballot box be elevated to
power? Shall law and order prevail, or shall
fraud and violence have the mastery Shall
the people OF the United States choose their
own rulers? or shall political cheats and sWlnd-
lc!s he permitted 10 perform that vital othce
for them? We have appealed to the ballot
box; shall the result ct this appeal stand or
shall it be set aside by force and fraud: Ii the lat
ter then our free institutions are already at
a. end, and constitutional liberty on the Am
ericap continent has received its 6nal blow. The
right of The people TO choose their own rulers
is the corner. stone Of free democratic Repub-
lie, and when they voluntarily abdlcate this 10
valuable privilege, or allow it to be wrenched
from them, they have already obtained their
own consent to become slaves. No more sa :
cred cause Gao engage the patriotic efforts oil
q nation than the firm maintenance OF the tun-
damental right in all Tree governments to say
who shall rule over it. This right the people
of Georgia, and | trust Of every other State 10
our Federal Union, will never willingly abaD.
don. No divisions oil the dirty spells of Office,
ne promise Of personal advancement, DO en.
gasement TO withhold the iron band of power,
can ever compensate the people inr the surTeu.
der Of a right at once so dear to themselves and
50 vital 10 the very existence Of constitutional
liberty. The people al the United States are
thus brought face to face with most momen
tous possibility, what shall be done What
shall VIC do? The motto OF our noble State
furnishes the satrgullc for our own action in
this solemn margcncy-"Wisdom, justice,
moderation. 1t is not for us to lead or even
10 suggest, but 10 follow. 1t is the plain duty
eli Congress, by adhering to law and establish.
cd precedent, to give effect to the clearly and
legally exprcssa4 will OF the people, but il Con
sress should unhappily isiI to do this, then it
is believed that the proper determination OF the
grave questions uow confronting US can, IN the
last resort, be safely lett to the sober Judgment
Of the right minded people in the Northern
States If it cannot, then We arc powcress,
and they Us we'll as US will nave lost the ineSti-
Unable right Of freemen--the right Of sell-goV-
crnment. When they shall have decided what
is proper to be done for the preservation OF this
right, it is assuming but little 10 say the people
Of Georgia will be found ready to co operate
with them and to do their whole duty under
| ,nu q nj oil ri rnum sfanoas