Year: 1866

IL the history of all republican govern
ments, there has been a time when party
has arisen, whose principles, hidden from
the popular understanding of the people
under cover of measures of popular preju-
dice or national feeling, have rendered to
subvert the principles of the government,
and overthrow the constitutional limits
and restrictions of legislative power. The
violence Of such parties has always aroused
an opposition which succeeded in over
throwing them. In some cases the form of
the government was changed in overthrow
ing the party that ruled. This was because
the party had become so tanatical and had
so overridden all constitutional restraints
that the people were ready for any change
that the victorious party might inaugurate,
Two notable instances viii readily occur to
our readers, where in overturning such par
ties, the constitution Of the government was
subveIted. We allude to the Roman and
French Republics In these two instances
ambitious men were the prime smovers, bay
onct5 were the auXiliaries, and crown was
the game played for Both Caesar and Ma
polcuu oycrthrew a republican tyranny to
iuaugurate a royal one In both instances
popular tyrany had gone to such extremes
that all faith in and love for the republic
had vanished. Our condition now, is such
as TO call upon every one to put forth his
hand and lift his voice in an effort to pre-
vent il from becoming worse, and, finally,
drifting into the maelstrom of corruption
and lust Of power, in which all efforts are
useless to effect a regeneration. The dis
ease has not advanced to that stage where
change Of the form Of government becomes
necessary upon the downfall of the party in
power. 1t is not too late to apply saving
remedy. But we must do it quickly. The
Radicals, it appears, have no limits to their
ambitious purposes. They would subvert
the constitution to maintain the party
They would hold one section with the ibayo-
net, and fItten their corrupt followers with
sugar-coated pills of confscated property.
They would stide liberty of speech, action
and person, to build up power to be gov
erned by radical laws. The President has
come out boldly, manfully and openly, in
opposition to these despotic principles. He
has laid down a platform as broad as this
whole Union, and based upon the constitu-
tiou which it made. He has invited all who
love their country,aplw lwho desire the inaugu-
ration of good feeling and the perpetuity of
our republican institutions, to stand upon
it. There can be no doubt as to the duty of
the Southern people. No matter what may
have divided US heretofore, it is our solemn
duty TO stand by him III his struggle. 1t is a
struggle for the nations life-for us-tor all
who may come after us. Let us bend all our
energies iu aid of this good work. Let the
people meet and endorse the Presidents pol
icy. Let us Sbor him that we will stand by
him. and let US send to the moderate con-
servativc men of the North, who are regard
ing our course with anxious eyes, messages of
good Will aud friendship. Let us tell them
and show them that we are willing to stand
in the same boat, and embark with them in
the cause of the Constitution and the
Union. The Presidents hands can be very
much strengthened, and his supporters
greatly encouraged, if Ethe people of the
South will only show by their action that
they are willing to take once more i'll fell
lowship the hands that may be extended in
their aid Good feeling can be and ought to
be encouraged. No party can be built up at
the North sufficiently strong to overthrow
the radicals and rescue the government
from their control, without the support of
the Southern people. Let all old party ques-
tions go to the winds The causes that di-
vided us in past days, are Of the past. Every
thing now demands our united action. Let
us give it, For ourselves, we shall support
the President in his policy, and our efforts
shall be directed to the building up of that
just party without whose rise the South
will he overwhelmed and the government,
III time, entirely changed and subyerted.