The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-02-20
The NceroIzed sonth.

aT1le "Reconstruction'blh as 1t Is mock
in gly called-thc bill TO reduce ten sover-
cign States to the condition of military de-
pendencies-is intended practically to
change Gle character Of the governing pow
ers-to make the late slave population mas
tiers and their former white masters, slaves
The Philadelphia Age calls our attention.
to this fact: That In 1860, there were In
Louisiana of whites 35l $50 of negroes 3i5,-
273. Since that time war has reduced the
white male population until now the gap
between the two races is not so wide. In
New Orleans the addition to the colorcd
population from other States has been con-
siderable. while in no part of the state have
white men located in sufficient numbers to
keep up the proportions as indicated by the
census of1SG0. Now. rs the ELIOT bill pro-
scribes and DISTINGUISHES nmetecn-twen-
tieths of the white population, it will not
be denied that the negroes will be the rul-
ing and dominant race. Under its provis-
ions the ballot is put into Che hands of any
negro In the state. No matter how ignor-
ant or d%ebauched, no matter how lily lifted
to discharge the important duties devolv-
ing upon AN American citizen, n person
NAV be, il he has a black face, the ballot Is
his right on that account and no Interior
ence with thai right is to be permitted. ON
the other hand. the most intelligent white
men of Louisiana are to be xcludcd from
the polls, and reduced to the condition OF
serfs.
This bill will. as the rational THtelligencer
says, 'hand one-third of the people OF this
country over to military government. Fol
the rule of law it substitutes the will OF an
officer. For the tribunal of a judge, it
furnishes a drumhead court martial or a
military commission. For the process OF a
court and the peaceful visit of a sheriff, it
profTers the order of petty satrap and the
presence of Il squad of %bayonets.'
This bill will ignore and supercede,
even, the Chief Magistrate of the Govern
ment.
1t invests an Army General with absolute
power over one-third of his countrymen,
and in 4 time of peace.
1t erects subordinate dictators, armed
with mbridled power, from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande.
Throughout the fairest and most fertile
section of the Republic, no man is to have
4 secure title to his property no mans
house is free from search no mans chattles
exempt from seizure; no mans liberty UNI
exposed to assault no mans life safe from
peril. An army officer. a soldier exalted
above the law, may ruthlessly invade q
citizens home and drag him from the
bosom of his family. Such a bill makes Q
mockery of free institutions.
1t assails all the safeguards of popular
liberty.
1t tramples on the freedom of the press
1t proscribes the right of free assemblage
1t closes the mouth of free speech:
1t infringes the right of the people Il
bear arms:
1t forbids the guaranty of a grand jur!
prescntment:
1t abrogates the right of trial by Jury o
ones peers: In q word:
1t tramples upon the prerogative OF tn
President, it makes wal upon the Constitu
ton, it rebels against the authority oil th'
Supreme Court. 1t invades the sacred con
stitutional rights OF the citizen. 1t
treason enveloped in the forms of law. l
is rebellion wearing the garb of legitimat
power. 1t is ~usurpation assuming tn
sanctity of constitutional enactment.
All this, that a band ofinfernal conspira
Trustworthy only of penal colonies tn
bastiIe and the gallows. may perpetual
their accidental power, and execute thei
malevolcnt will,
How LoNG-wE MAY ASK, HOW LONG VIII
THE PEOPLE WAIT?