The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-06
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1866.
Southern BIigandage and BIack-mail-A
Threatened Evil TO the Cotton states.


cised just now over tue threatening condition
of Southern society. 1t would seem that the
castigation of that ill-fated country has not
yet been concluded. The war, although it
has desolatcd it's fields, and made its gardens
billowpd with graves, has not yet compelled
il to drain the cup of bitter repentance to
tie 6regs. With the exhaustion OF peace has
come a rev ahliction, which threatens TO
destroy its rising hopes even more than did
the desperate charges of the military. We
refer to that brigandage which, If we can
trust our Southern exchanges, is about to
OverTun the cotton States. In recent arti-
Gle on this additional punishment, the Rich
mond Times says, editoriRlly:-
''Is brigandage to become established in this
country? If so, then there never was a tsrer
beld opened for its successful enterprises than
is presented by the topography OF our country
and its condition since the conclusion OF the
war. Nor will there be men wanting to avail
themselves OF the facilities afforded by the state
of the country to earn an easy livelihood by
criminal avocations. Such men have already
been found, and the materials out of which
brigands are made are abundant, both North
and South.
'0The war, therefore, while it, did not create
brleandage, has given it new impetus, aud has
taught IT that organization and strategy so use
iul for it's successful exercise. And by the
general unh Dging OF our laws, tho destruction
OF social and political ystems, and the demora-
lization of the people, brigandage has presented
for its occupation and employment most
inviting field. In the Loose and disiointed condi-
tion of our society, in the poverty and suterings
OF the people, IN the fires OF sectional hate,
nnquenChed BY any course of conciliat0ry kind
ness on the pant OF the North; In the thousands
Of idle and desperate soldiers disbanded by the
war; in the vastness o. our country the number
ranges, n field opened for the growth of
brigandaee in lis most alarming and formidable
proportions"
Nor does it seem to us that the anticipation
Of our contemporaries is az all misplaced.
The evil that they dread is not at all unlikely
to ensue. All great wars have been followed
by prevalence Of the system OF thieving and
murder, whether its perpetrators were termed
ioresters, brigands, bandttl, or patriots. The
War of the Roses in Great Britain, was fol-
lowed by predatory bands of both parties, who
following in the wake of the contending
armies, were either for York or Lancaster, as
policy suggested. The whole of the kingdom
of Grenada was, for half century after its
subjugatlon by Spain, the scene OF blood and
carnage; while, up to the present day,
journey of fifty miles from Rome VII bring
the traveller into the camp of bandittl. The
nature of that department of literature which
has treated OF these lawless bands has been of
a character to promote the growth of
brigandage. The exploits of ROBIN
HOOP, DICK TURPIN, and JACK SHEP-
PARD have been so brilliantly celebrated
in prose and verse by English writers, that it
would not be strange If these worthless had
many disciples and imitators wherever the
country and the feelings of the people should
prove favorable. II brigandage existed in
densely populated England; ii it even thriveS
and prospers now in ihickly settled Italy; if
it has been successfully followed in the Oldest
and most refined portions of Mexico, there is
but too much reason to apprehend its appear
ance in the late Rebel States.
There is, therefore, strong possibility,
not probability, that the South will be
shortly infested, even more than she at pre-
sent Is, by a lawless band of depredators; and
that America will yet be able to rival the Old
World in the possession OF DE La MARoKs and
ROBIN HOODS. In view of SUCH possibility,
the Southern papers suggest peculiar
remedy One of them says that sit is in vain
to rely upon the forces of the Federal Govern
ment for a suppression of such a system, when
once established, because the army is being
too rapidly reduced to make its presence and
influence appreciable over country of such
vast and illimltable boundaries. Where mar
tial law exists, the evils OF brigandage will be
aggravated by the paralysis Of civil and md-
nicipal law, inseparable frcm any system OF
military government. If brigandage, for CEN
turtles, has existed within twenty miles OF
Naples and fifty miles Of Rome, when Italian
towns and districts have been crowded with
French and native troops, all striving to de-
stroy it, can Federal troops prevent it hare Z
Whether the evils which we now see--bri-
gandage and its consequences-are to Increase
or diminish, will depend upon the establish
ment of civil law and order in the Southern
States. When we are left to manage Oul
own affairs, they will be managed well
With the best efforts and intentions, Fedora
and military government are insufficient re
presentatives of State and local authorities
No one can manage house so well as thos'
who own and reside in it. IRA
We cannot agree. with our contemporary il
regard to the remedy. If theiorees Of th'
United States authorities cannot, In addition
to the local police, restrain evil-doers, w
doubt If the police could, do it were the mill
tary to be withdrawn. Let the reiDs of mar
- L. . Il