Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-02
RITlA\p HERALD.
MONDAY, APRIL %, 1867.
Political Equality Sou tn.

EohttUas sfe~'S 'S:
1t will be remembered that one of the
principal objections urged by the De-
nocrscy against the military reconstruc'
ton act was that as soon as 1t went into
practical operations its workings would
autail a war between the different races
st the South, engendering as 1t would a
feeling of jealousy on the part OF the
whites against the negroes of that sec
ton. But Notwithstanding their croak-
iugs the law went into effect and every
mail and telegram from the locality Of
its operations brings us joyful tidings
OF the salutary results produced by lis
elective administration. The prophets
who foretold anarchy and strife as its
fruits, have had but short time to wait
TO see the fallacy Of their predictions,
and they to-day are living witnesses
that the Congressional reconstruction
policy is doing more to reconcile differ
ences and produce good feeling in the
Southern States than anything which
the administration, Congress, or the
armies, has yet done.
In these States, we hear, through their
public journals, Of Union meetings, OF
Republican organizations,of free discus
sions; of arguments by and with ne
groes, and urgent appeals for their suf-
Erages from men who since the close OF
the rebellion have expressed their deter
nination to die or leave the country be-
fore they would suffer the negroes to
vote The advancement OF the down
trodden race in social equality, as well
as in political, has also been wonderful
OF late. In Charleston they are allowed
to ride in the street cars with the whites,
and II is no rare occurrence to see a
negro seated side by side with his late
master, both agreeably engaged in dis
cussing the political topics OF the day
and the merits of the military bill. In
Richmond they hold meetings and are
addressed by many scions of chivalry.
In Petersburg "a mass meeting Of white
and colored citizens" unanimously
adopted resolutions asserting the rights
of the blacks to education in the free
schools of the State, and the press OF
Richmond declare that sensible men OF
all parties will agree to the favor asked,
and aver that it will be conceded. In
Georgia the Republican party declares as
its fundamental principles equal rights
to all without regard to color" in
Alabama reconstruction meetings are
being daily held which are attended
and addressed by the leading men Of
both classes while in Tennessee the
politicians are vieing with each other in
extending courteses to the negro, the
Democrats having issued document tc
the effect that Brownlow is their mortal
enemy, and that shey should, to protect
themselves, vote the Democratic ticket
1t having become settled fact thai
the colored man is entitled to the privi
iege of exercising the right of the cleo
franchise, and must consequently welC
q considerable influence in the govern
ment OF the uurestored States, his i'm
portance as an individual Is suddenl.
assuming monstrous proportions in To,
eyes Of the whites, and negroes who les
than six months since were to be fo-
ever excluded from the polls, are, in al
most every southern state, taking part il
the political conventions OF both parties
and addressing not only their own PEG
pie but the whites and some of tn
journals which but a little while agl
prophesied war of races, now relat
with pleasure what we'll conducted an(
useful citizens are the blacks of thu
South. We recommend these express
ions of the Southern press to the men il
the North who advocated restoration
upon the basis that white men only
should rule the South, and think tina
after sober second thought they mus
come to the conclusion that to make
suffrage general and equal was the only
way to avert "war of races, ;" and Il
establish at once peace, quiet, and tran
guilty throughout the unrestored sec
ttOn.