The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-10-12
Africanizntion Of the South,

Have our readers ever pOnuercd over the
meaning of tins new phrase? The radicals
have dared to talk of the mercies of the recon
struction measures Of Congress. Can they do
so in the light of the following well digested
article on the Condition of the South" from
the ably edited Round Table, a publications claim
ing no utilization with the Democratic party,
but if anything, more friendly to the Republi-
cans:
"The plain meaning Of the pseudo-reconstruc-
tion acts OF Congress, now being pushed to their
most merciless contamination, is simply this:
LIST To register in the South the entire negro
population, and such whites as may unite with
them in supporting the radical party in Con-
gress.
I'd. To prohibit the registration of the vast
majority of the whites who have real interest
in the quiet and prosperity of the country.
Sd. To submit to the voters of the States thus
registered, the questions whether they will or
will not hold convention for the reconstruct
ton of their States under the congressional PLAN
Under this mode of procedure, it may be seen
what hopeful future lies before the South and
the whole country. Either the States will vote
for or against a convention. The white vote will
be cast largely against convention; for the
present military rule with all its disadvantages
at least affords protection, while reconstruction,
such as has been perpetrated in Tennessee, gives
little protection but to negro brigands. The
radical whites and the negro voters who are in.
terested in subverting all decent rule and au.
thority. WILL Of course unite in favor of conven-
ton. Now, suppose-although the case is hard
ly possible-that the convention is by such
mockery of suffrage rejected They, the radi-
Gals, will avail themselves of the cry of South
ern c0ntumacy Mr.. Stevens mild confscation is
brought into play; the South is wholly rnned
by this villaipous atrocity for merely saying,
our generous Congress has invoked her to say,
that she prefer. the rule of military satraps to
the harder rule of uninstructed negroes. and
white brayoes. On the other hand suppose
and this is the only supposition justified by the
registration which is being made-that a con-
vention is desired. Then it is practically ne
gro convention. 1t will frame constitution
that will throw the whole power of the State into
the hands of the negroes and whites who hope
to profit by the suffrage Of the negroes The
prescription of white men will be more sweeping
than congressional prescriptions. Confseation
of the property of white men by their negro
rulers will be moro destructive than confiscation
outright The ruling class having no property
themselves, will look upon the tranrfer of their
| subjects property into their own possession as
the one great end of government With PEN
niless negro legislature to tax, and defenceless
white men to be taxed, the issue cannot long be
doubtful. In every county taxes will be laid in
the same way by negroes upon white men. in
the towns and cities negro councilmen will vote
themselves large salaries, create unnecessary of
foes for purposes of plumber, and for like ends
undertake enormous jobs Of financial public i'm
provement Justice administered by negro mag
istrates will be farce; redress of wrongs will
be impossible. Liberty of outrage will be amply
secured. The liberty of death will be the only
liberty secured to men whose crime is that they
were born white.
Let the Northern people ask Themselves nhelAer
0is Is ,c'tat they mean. If MOI, 1t ishtgh time Uey
5essir Nen'selces for acere better to hare taken tie
a7ctce Of certain gentle congressman ind put to
dedM the men, ac0naen and children IF the South at
once, Man 10 de1icer item to such J'ie as nop I'M
psnds.'
And this Radical bloodhounds call merci-
full legislation "Such mercy is strained it is
twice cursed-it curses him that gives and him
that takes"