The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-08-01
rAE SOUTH As TITS.

The following is the concluding portion Of
the report of the committee investigating the
Memphis riot of May the LIST and I'd.
From the testimony taken by Your COM
mittee, from personal observation and from
what they could learn in regard to. the state Of
feeling ia Memphis, aud indeed, through that
entire section OF The country, they are Of the
opinion that there is but little loyalty to the
Government and flag The state of things in
the city OF Memphis is very much nov rs it.
was before he breaking out of the rebellion
Many OF the same news papers published there
then are published now, by many of the same
men--hy men who. during the war, were in
the rebel armies lighting for the overthrow Of
the Government. Processing to accept the
situation, they seem inspired with as deadly
hatred against the Government as ever, and
are guilty oil the same mediation to violence,
persecution. aud oppression toward the men
holding opinions obnoxious to them, that they
we're towards the Union men in 1861. Your
committee say. deliberately, that, In their
judgement, there will be no safety to loyal
men, either " HE or black, should the troops
be withdrawn and no military protection at
| forded They believe that the riots and mas
sacres Of Memphis are only specimen Of
what wouid take place throughout the entre
South, shoald the Government fail to afford
adequate military protection. There is every
where too mach evenomed feeling toward the
blacks, particularly those who served in the
Union armies, and against Northern men and
Union people generally who love the Govern
ment, and who desire to see It sustained, its
authority yiudiceted, md who believe
that treason is crime that should be punish
ed There is no public sentiment in the
South sufficiently strong TO demand and en-.
force protection to Union men and colored
people. The Civil Rights Bill, SO far as your
committee could ascertain, is treated as
dead letter. Attorney General Wallace, in
fragrant violation Uf his oath and duty, whose
name has been heretofore alluded TO in this
report has according to the newspapers, pro-
claimed thar he viii utterly disregard the
Law.
The Lo9es based upon this law that the col
ored people might find protection under it
are likely to prove decisive: for, where there
is no public opinion TO sustain law, but on the
other hand, that public opinion is SO over
whelmingly against il, there is no probability
of its being executed. Indeed, your commit
tee believe the sentiment of the South which
they observed is not sentiment of full acqu
eseence IN the .csulls o NE war, bat that
there is among then Il lingering hope that
their iayorite doctrine OF secession may yet be
indicated II il the same idea that JEFF
ty in fight. a traveller remarked 10 him that
the cause was lost. Davis replied lit ap-
pears so but the principle for which We con
tended is bound to reassert itself, though it
NAV be at another time aud in another form.
pollard 5 Southern History OF the War, vol.
2, page $751; They believe IN the principle
ana doctrine of secession the same as ever
Though they have been beaten by arms, they
assert and maintain that the principle is the
same, and hope for its vindication hereafter
in some way. Recognizing the friendship to
them Of what was called the Democratic
party in the North during the war, and &C
Bnowledging the aid aud comfort they de-
rived from their sympathy, and from their Ell
forts TO eMtarrass the Government IN the
prosecution Of the against them. they
lope, py combining with them in their poiiti-
cal movements. finally to secure by ballot
what they failed TO achieve by arms.
The faet that these chosen guardians OF the
public peace. the sworn executors OF the law
fur the protection of the hives, liberty and
property 1T the people, aud the reliance of
Tie weak and delenceess - time Of danger,
we're roona the rsren6st 10 tpe WORK OF rhpr-
Der and Diilage. gives character Of infanly
10 the whole proceeding winch is almost with
out n pars.ilri in the annals of history The
dreadful massacre Of Fort Pillow, which excl
ted the horror Dl the country anu IN the Wv
lized world was attempted to be pailated on
the gruufsa shat the garrison was taken after
the most desperate resistance. and after hav-
ing been repeatedly summoned 10 surrender
that .ae blond of the assailan's had been heat
ed to such q degree and their passions so
aroused ihat there was no controlling them.
though II j. alleged that some OF their ofheets
vanity attempted 10 40 So bnt no such
ground III pailation can be advanced III the
case of the Memphis massacre. After the
first troubles on the first evening, there was
no pretence of any disturbance by the colored
people, OF anr resistance TO the mob, calcu-
lated to excite cir passions and what sub.
ssquently took place was the result OF cool
aud mature deliberation to murder and de-
s,roy the coiored people. Like the massacre
Of ST. Bartholomew, the Memphis massacre
had she sanction Of official authority aud It
is no wonder that the mob, finding itself led
by officers OF tie law. butchered mseraby
and without resistance every negro 1t could
find. and regpe,tlng that death had saved
Their victims from further insult, exercised
on their dead bodies all the rage OF the mos'
insensate cruelty.