National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-01-12
Georgia's Sentiments.
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION MUST BIZ LEFT TO
THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS TO soLvK-1 THEY

THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS TO soLyR-TP THEY
PAIL THIN THE SOUTH MUST BE CONTENT.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 1.-THE message of Gov.
Smith, read in both Houses to-day, was devoted
mostly to State Affairs. 1t has the following
comment on Federal relations: Before closing
this, my last annual Communication to the Gen.
eral Assembly, cannot forbesr . brief reference
to the grave circumstances which now surround
us and seem to threaten the existence Of the lib
critics Of the people. On given day over eight
millions Of freemen, representing nearly forty
1--WE millions of the people, came forth from their
sn hs 70
rulers for the next four years. This grave pro-
ceedipg was characterized by the utmost good
place. Of the military forces of the Government,
sent thither to overawe the weak and ignorant
and to secure the election Of particular candi-
ing. the President and Vice President Of the
The question As to who should all these high
true result Of that reference no candid mind can
doubt. The election was held in pursuance of
the laws Of the United States and Of the several
States it wss peacea BILE and orderly and free from
intimidation and violence, and yet Immediately
after the election We find few adventurers, act
ing under the directions Of ambitious leaders at the
Federal capital, and backed by the military
forces Of the Government. attempting by fraud
and chieanery to SET aside the eminent statesmen
chosen by the people and to force into their places
persons whom the people, after q fair trial, had
refused to elect. The question arises here, shall
the candidates fairly and legally elected BY the
Be n or ns
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 swindlers be permitted
to perform that vital ONCE for them? We have
APPEALED to the ballot-box. Shall the result Of
and ffaudf II the latter, then our free institu
liberty on the American continent has received
The right Of the people to choose their own
rulers is the corner stone of . free Democratic
Republic. When they Voluntarily abdioate this
from them they have already obtained their own
consent to become slaves. No more sacred cause
can engage the patriotic efforts Of the nation than
all free governments to say who shall rule over
It. This right the people Of Georgia, and
trust of every other State in our Federal Union,
the dirty spoils Of Once; no promise Of personal
advancement; no engagement to withhold the
o. s.n az the
dear to Themselves and so vital to the very ex-
istence Of constitutional liberty. The people of
me unssd snss are thus DSuKn face 70
shall be done? What shall We dot The motto Of
our noble State furnishes the SAFE guide for our
own setionin this solemn emergsney-wisdom,
It Is not Tor us 70 lead or even to suggest, but
to follow 1t is the plain duty Of Congress-, by
adhering to law and established precedent, to
give effect to the clearly and legally expressed
will Of the people, but II Congress skould unhap-
PLY fail to do this then IL is believed that the
proper determination Of the grave questions now
confronting In the last resort be safely LEFT
to the sober Judgment Of the rght-minded people
in'the Northern States. II II cannot, then We are
powerless, and they - we'll As us will have lost
the inestimable right Of freemen-the right Of
self government. When they have decided what
is proper TO be done for the preservation Of this
right 1t is assuming but little to say the people
ofGeorgia will be found ready to cooperate with
all circumstances.