The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-07


THAD. STEVENS AND JUICE TANEr-'Mack" tn
Washington correspondent of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial gives the radical Stevens good dTdbbng for hi
remarks in relation to Judge Taney:
The concluding sentence of Thad Stevenss speech
wherein he snaches the scepre of eternal justice from
the Almighty and passes sentence of everlasting dea
upon the late chief justice of the United States is
of the most disgraceful utterances that ever fell from
the lips of an American statesman j. would be hart
to find in the United States to-day an apologist for
defender Of the Dred Scott decision but do not be
leve the American people have become so lost to al
sense OF decency and proprety to applaud the
who would like some wild beast of prey desecrate the
sepulehre of its dead author or drag forth his crumb
ling remains to and damn them, and that too il
the presence of those who had known Judge fancy
a kind and loving father, of whom two were in the
gallery OF the house of representatives when the vile
words were uttered.
Mr. Stevens remarked that ''the doctrine that this is
white mans government is atrocious that infamous
sentence which damned the late chief justice to ever
lasting fire." Now, apart from all considerations Of
propriety there is historical lie in this Mr. Stevens
seeks to put judge Taney forth as the author of the
sentiment that negroes have right which white men
are bound to respect"-an infamous expression of
course man of the age and experience of the gem
tienan from Lancaster, must know that Judge Taney
never said any such thing his own opinion but in
the course OF his decision, after citing number Of
facts the subject stated that such was the prevailing
opinion in Europe hundred years before the forma-
| ton of the American government. As this fact is
often furnished for unworthy purposes it may be well
to quote the exact language Of the court delivered
by judge fancy. 1t is as follows:
lt is difficult at this day. to realise the state of pub
lie opinion III relation to that unfortunate which
prevailed in the cvilised and enlightened portions Of
the world at the time Of the declaration of independ
ence, and when the constitution of the United States
was framed and adopted. But the public history Of
every European nation displays it in too PLAIN
tn Ia I.l H.
before been regarded beings of an inferior order
and altogether unfit to associate with the white race
either in social political relations and so far inferior
that they bad rights which the white man was bound
to respect; and that the negro might justly and law
fully be reduced to slavery for his benefit
The perverson of historical truth for political pur
poses is thing of altogether too frequent occurrence
in this country, and ought to be dscounenanced by
right minded men of all parties A parallel case to
that cited above will readily the reader in the
history of the late Thomas Corwin, whose political
opponents published him to the world as saving that
he hoped the Mexcans would welcome tie American
army with bloody hands to hosptaJlc graves" Mr.
Corwin never said any such thing What he did say
was that if he Mexican as he was an American
he would welcome, etc.
The Dred Scott decision is bad enough without seek
ing, by fasyng the record to make it and its author
more odous in the estimation of the civilised world
and especially of nation who have so lately paid so
dearly for that decision.
~-
How THE SoUTH CARoLiNIAYs BEAR ADvERsrrY.-
The following picture of the present state of affairs in
South Carolina, is drawn by correspondent of the
Baltimore Gazette We need not say it has its paral-
lei elsewhere:
Ours is poverty of which no one is ashamed, and
of which very few complain. We are willing to bear
it. and its universaity makes it tolerable When
know that the most refined and intelligent women |
in the State deserted by their deluded servants are
doing all kinds of houseworl-sweeping dusting
making beds, and even in some cases cooking and 4
washingit is much easier for me to iron the towels
my little son has washed while turn occasionally
laughing eye towards the fireplace where an invalid
gentleman (son of former governor) is engaged in
churning must confess that this attempt furnished
Us with more amusement than butter. For, believing
this state of things to be only temporary, we make
merry over it, compare notes with friends, and
boast of our success in these untried fields
Many refugee ladies feed their families by exchane
ing the contents OF their wardrobes for articles of food
g How are your sisters?' said | last summer to a
young man who had left home to become tutor
{" Their complexons look badly" the reply "but
that is not surpriSng, when You consider how lone
they have been eating old frocks' F" Have they any
fghts?' was my next query With perfect gravity,
he replied, ne; when the moon does not shine they
W to bed bn Aahtting." But matters are mendng
In this very family ght-wood has superseded light
ming in the chambers and in the paror a small petro-
eum lamp (price one dollaT dfuses light and happi-
ness around.
But there are cases over which no one can laugh
know of family whose property was counted by
hundreds of thousands who have not tasted meat for
mouths gentleman of high scientific attainmens,
formerly professor in college, is literally trying to
keep the wolf from the door by teaching few scholars
9ne of whom, girl of sixteen, pays quart of milk
Der diem for her tuition Innumerable widows,
orphans and single women, whose property was in
Confederate bonds penniless, and seeking en-
oloyment Of some kind for bread.
On the whole, our people are bearing their trials
)rarely and cheerfuy; but widespread is the ruin
hat if the system works well, it will take at
east half century to put where VIC were. Geor-
ia will recover much sooner.