The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-09-03
More Fruit.

When the ruffians who led in the burnin9s
and butcheries at Memphis were suffered 10
90 UNPUBLISHED and no notice was taken of
that atrocious affair beyond cool expression
on the part of the city authorities and chief
citizens of their "regret" for the unfortunate
occurrence" the clearsighted were not slow to
predict that the seed thus sown would bear
fruit in further violence. Only too soon were
their predictions verified The bloody scenes
of New Orleans bore swift testimony to the
ready ability of the secession leaders to take
the hint afforded them. They saw that it was
intended they should have complete immuni-
W In the preparation of every species OF out
rage SO it were levelled against Union men,
white or black, and they proceeded to give iuli
rein to their malignant and deviiisn spirit
The result of their second experiment was %,
encouraging as that of the first a nandiui VI
white Union men assembled for peaceapie
discus ion. and harmless procession OF ne
groes carving the American flag were set upon
and murdered in cold blood. When the work
of butchery was over the murderers went scott
free but such of the assailed as were lucky
enough to escape being mastered were ar
rested and sent to Jail!
Certainly, it would be very strange if with
two such striking illustrations of the kind of
law and justice which is approved under the
present regime, the brutal and the lawdefying
element of Southern society failed to profit by
the lesson. The negro and the white Union
ist are put in the same category of helpless
ness and contempt. "Hit him again; he's
got no friends" is the sentiment entertained
towards them. The telegraph yesterday
brought us the details ola fresh instance OF
the working of this precious "policy" A
peaceable band of colored men assembled to
hold camp-meeting, engaged in no more Of
fensive demonstration than the offering OF
prayer and praise to the God whe made them,
are set upon by gang of armed ruflians
beaten, shot and pounded, some Of them kill
ed, and the rest, men and women, driven
| shrieking away, alter which the assailants
proceeded wantonly to destroy the tents and
other property which they had left behind
them. A minister, neeling in prayer at the
altar was shot dead. The assailants stimulat-
ed each Other with fierce rallying cries, among
which derisive and significant references to
New Orleans were frequent, and plainly
showed whence came the impulse to this
new atrocity. 1t is but another outbreak of
that fell spirit engendered in the South by
caste and oppression, that spirit which it took
four years Of war to beat into submission, and
which now, lnistaking the magnanimity and
| temperate bearing of the loyal people, and
| taking courage from the unexpected alliance
with itself of President false to the princi-
pies and the party which lifted him to power
once more puts on an air of insolent def
ance, and attempts to dictate to the country
it so lately failed to ruin. There is not the
slightest reason to suppose that we have seen
the end of this sort of thing. The impression
has been very generally spread through the
South that the shooting of negroes and the
abuse of Union men are not crimes in the
eyes of those who alone have the power to
deal out justice, and it is not to be supposed
that the lawless rebel element will let slip the
opportunity to wreak on these two classes its
long cherished hatred. The present course of
the Executive virtually puts premium upon
murder, and whit but fresh murders should
be the result? There is but one hope now,
and that lies in the people. Thank God
they have never failed yet when the decision,
lay in their hands. Let them not fail now,
but in the coming elections let them record
such tremendous verdict of disapproval
against all this bloody work as shall make it.
SELF felt in the most benighted region of the
South, and shall convince even the blind ego
tisin that sits in high places of their uncon-
quered and uncomfortable resolution that this
country shall not only be ONE country. but
that law, order. free speech and equal rights
shall yet be established throughout its Dor
ders ~. ---4.=----------