Year: 1868

ING SIONtTUucul, Dut d uliCCL uSGl pdllOl
Of the freedom and isolation Of the eyecu
tive and judiciary in their own spheres o
action. The curbing Of the freedom o
the judiciary is fatal blow to the justice
or the force of the laws. By controlling
the exercise'of judicial power in the exer.
else of it's grave and responsible duty il
would be impossible to have any other
than decision such as the legislative, ir
the enactment Of laws, contemplated
should be the purpose of the law. There.
fore, no matter how directly in violation o
every sense of justice Or constitutionalty
the law would stand unopposed, and the
decree Of single power unchecked in its
exercises and uncompromisng in its effects
The safeguard which the Constitution
placed upon the legislative protects the
people in the justice of their laws and in
the enjoyment of rights untrammelled by
partisan or other motives. He said, fur
ther, impeachment had the same ten
dency. Though the Constitution pro-
vides for impeachment, the question
Of crime or misdemeanor is one which
involves, in the present case, an in
terminable inquiry into the legitimate
scope Of the legislative arm of the Govern
ment, into the constitutionality of the laws
which it is alleged have been violated, and
whether the franchise Of citizenship, free
dom of opinion, is suppressed for the time
being, during the investment of the high
official functions of President. But one
thing is certain, he remarked-the prece-
dent established will be equivalent to an
aggression which might be at any time re-
peated if the absence Of subServiency on
the part of the executive should give rise
to division with the legislative. In this
view the projected measure is inimical to
the Independence, the dignity, the invola-
biity, and the security of the executive
office. At the same time, the accession to
all the high powers Of the executive by a
party representing a single branch of the
Government, with the judiciary threatened
practically with annhilation, legislation
will doubtless be SO moulded as to secure
party ascendancy and in accomplishing
the consolidation of all the Offices of power
the result will be legislative government,
and the laws enacted, enforced, and adj
Judged by the same power. The Consti-
tuition, then, as a natural consequence,
becomes dead letter, thing of history,
and an imperishabe memorial Of the wis
dom of the past and the follies Of the pre-
| sent.


To the question as to what was his Opt
MON of the political prospects Of the
South, Mr.. Stephens said he thought the
prospects of the South were gloomy in the
extreme. He saw nothing but utter ruin.
The promiscuous enfranchisement of the
blacks throws the control Of six of the
southern States entirely into the hands OF
an inferior race that for time the blacks
might be satisfied to exercise their politi-
cal privileges in harmony with the whites,
but with the knowledge of the power thus
placed in their hands, it would be but ma
| tural for them in a short time to insist
upon exercising that power to the exclu-
sion of the whites. To go further, as the
feeling has already been manifested, the
question of cxclusiveneSS would cut out
all those having the slightest touch Of
white blood in their veins. The cxclama-
ton has already become quite common :
We don't want any one wild white blood
in him. WeS'e down on de yaller mig
gers. Let's hab de black fellers for to
represent de black people" The effect
of registration has tended to excite still
deeper feeling Of clannishncSs, and ire
uuent disputes have arisen upon the ami
NAL formation Of candidates for office. A
swarthy face, closely matted wool, flat
nose, and thick lips, with the sterling ply
steal development indicating an unbrokcn
descent from an African parentage, arc
alone recognized as suitable qualifications
to represent the new instalmcnt of Amerl-
can citizens. The effect of registration,
| .:. Ior tnlv ri 6ampra liz ri
the negro; and though, fortunately, the
crops of last year were maturcd before
registration set in, the mass OF the ne
grocs show little disposition to quietly
settle down to the necessary labor OF
preparing for the crops OF the next.
| The fondness Of the negro for amusement
and recreation finds free scope in political
hustings and mass meetings, and days are
thus occupied in tumultuous JoliiicatoD
with entire obliviousncss of their future
wants. While he disagreed as to the ju-
diciousness of granting universal suffrage
to the negro, he was still IN favor OF grant
ing the right in restricted sense. lie
thought by fixing some standard to attain
which would accord the electoral fran
chise would establish premium upon
merit and kindle a necessary ambition To
self:improvement, and while thus protect
ing the right of suffrage from abuse 1t
would place it in the hands Of those who
know, at least in measure, It's value ana
how to employ it. Now it is right which
any one can demand, and thus common, II
| is treated as weapon OF offence against
order and good society.


| Then we understand the effect of the
congressional policy is opposed to the inte
rests of the South as well as adverse to the
permanent good Of the country.


That is very clearly the case. | think
the policy of Mr.. johnson was generally
accepted by the thinking people of the
South as the true grounds Of restoration
of harmony between the two sections.
Indeed, think this was the unanimous
opinion Of the people, and in the enforce
ment of the opposite policy it is fixed
conviction with them that their doom is
sealed. A war of races seems to be the
inevitable consequence. That it will come,
and at no distant day, is evident by the
clannish tendency already shown by the
blacks.
! Well, what will the white population do
in such an event ?


One of two thingS-quit the country or
remain and fall. For my part, my mind is
made up. have not long to live. l will
stay and go. down with the ship; but to
the young, I would counsel them to find
homes elsewhere.


Mr.. Stephens was deeply affected at
this norton of his conversation and with
a frmness of tone, flash of the eye, he
rose to his feet, and, nervously striking