Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-11-19


1 of the country, commissioned toinquire wheth
/ er certain states, some of whom were born witt
4 the revolution, have republican forms of gov
ernment. The public mind scarcely heeds sucf
/ a monstrous proceeding. This committee is al
lawless in its formation, and with no more lega
power to enter upon such a mission than Sc
many Italian banditti, and SO all men know
yet they are at their work at the home ano
grave Of Henry Clay, and by the tomb of Pinek
ney, preparing to destroy other and more States
and subject them to the increasing and insatiate
demands of military force Where is this
! spreading plague to stop? Where is your quar-
antine againstth scourge? What castle is Sc
cure from assault? Will California next be as
sailed Is Pennsylvania secure? More than, a
year ago Mr. Stevens declared that her form oi
government was not republican. The recent
election there, doubtless, deepens the conviction
What is to protect even the Empire State if it
IS conceded that Congress may inquire into your
State government and enforce It's conclusions by
the use of a standing army? Does the states
man see no danger in all this? Does the stu
dent of history see none !? The testimony oil
| the ages is all in vain if military government
can exist In harmony with free institutions in
| the bosom of republic The voices Of warn.
| ing which emanate to US from the sepuchres OF
| dead republics in far distant periods of space
and time, all foretell with fatal prophecy the
downfall Of American liberty everywhere, North
as well as South, if the principle of the present
Congressional policy is upheld and fostered by
the American people. This policy gives power
unlimited, absolute power over all sections.
| Who can thus be trusted? The uniform, un-
broken history of the human race makes an
swer ''Not the lustful, aspiring heart of man
none but the merciful jehovah" And pray
Him tonight to avert the dark calamities now
impending over US; and still more, if it be His
will that they shall burst upon US, L pray him
to renew within us the hearts of our ancestors,
when IN the cause of free government they fol
lowed Washington at Long Island, Trenton,
Monmouth, and Yorktown. But there is an
other frightful aspect Of this Congressional
policy yet TO consider. approach it as the
great question of the present age. l have
shown you the abandonment by the radical par
ty of all its declared policy during the war. l
have shown you the adoption of present pol
icy which carries back the government of ten
States six hundred years, to a period prior to
Magma Charta or any known principle of free
government-thu destroying the american Re-
public in immense portions of its domain. and
deeply endangering its existence everywhere :
These propositions will not be disputed by any
candid mind, elevated in its view OF affairs above
the narrow and mOmentary purposes OF the
hour [ now seek to discuss the motive which
has inspired the conduct of the party In power
since the coming peace, and caused it to COM
nit deeds of lawless despotism and open shame.
By the act of reconstruction the entire black
population Of the South has been enfranchised
and invested with the power of political control.
Nearly the entire white population OF the South
has been dlstranchised and deprived OF any
voice ln controlling the present or shaping the
future. Thus, about six hundred thousand ne
gro votes are added to the strength OF the Rad
ical party, and nearly million OF white votes
are stricken out of existence. This is the initial
starting point of Radical reconstruction, and 1t
was doubtless chiefly designed In the beginning
as gigantic partisan scheme to ensure future
party triuulphs; but it has rapidly arisen far
beyond such ordinary dimensions, and now con
fronts us a question of national wealth, clvllza-
ton, and social philosophy. The r cent regis
tration and elections in the South establish, In
the face Of the world, the appalling fact, that
from the waters of the Chesapeake to the mouth
OF the Brazos from the tide-waters OF Virginia
to the far distant plains Of Texas, the negro
holds dominion, and is upheld In the dominion
by the Federal army. Where the white race
out numbered the black in the registration, as
in Virginia and Georgia, fraudulent apportlon
ment of the basis OF representation changes the
majority. and the barbarian race, In all Its re,
pulslve animal force, rises predominant, and
salutes the North as the undisputed governing
element of the rich and inviting regions OF all
the South The ancient Commonwealth, the
mother Of the peerless Washington, of the
philosophic Jefferson, Of Madison, Marshall
and Patrick Henry, is now given over to the
African, and her future fortunes are wholly In
his hands, The Carollnas bow to the same yoke,
and beautiful Alabama and Louisiana, with New
Orleans, the natural commercial capital OF the
Mississippi valley, and all the rest are to have
their destinies shaped hereafter by the brain
and enterprise Of the negro. By this vote they
will be governed, and the immediate results are
plainly visible to even the most casual observer
The Instructive separation which God has I'M
planted in different races for their purity and
preservation is already at work. The races arc
arrayed against each other throughout the earth.
Each one, as is natural, votes for It's own color;
and the negroes are forming vigilance commit
tees to enforce an obedience to their Opinions
and submission to their views. AS inevitably
as that harvest follows seed time, so inevitably
will the negroes fill the offices in these unhappy
States They are now engaged in framing their
new constitutions, under which we are to behold
the wretched farce of their admission into the
Union State elections will soon follow, and
negro Governors will deliver messages to negro
Legislatures, and together they will assert
SupTCu0 COuIIOl OVCI luUCiOoOo hioiO
those of many of the leading nations OF theworld.
Recent plantation slaves will take their seats as
members OF Congress, and In committee, and on
the floor, give deciding votes on the vital ques-
tions of finance, commerce, and NATIONAL pro-
gress. II Mr. Sumner, few months ago, In open
Senate, said he hoped soon to welcome negro
Senators as his associates IN leglslatlng Tor the
country Well might he anticipate such an
event. No power can prevent 1t under the
present organization of the South Soon the
negro will ill the Senatorial seats once adorned
by Webster and Silas Wright, by Clay and
Woodbury.. There is no escape from this loath-
some conclusion of the scheme ofreconstructlon.
These are its certain and speedy results. Are
the people of New York ready for them? The
black vote of the South will elect twenty Sena-
tors An equal or superior vote In the State OF
New York elect two. Are your interests safe
under such legislative influences? 1t will send
more than fifty members to the lower House.
You send thirty-three Thus the Southern ne
gro will possess more than twice the power which
you yourselves possess over your own puDnc a!
fairs. Shall he also dictate the elect OF Presl-
dent? He holds nearly a hundred electoral
votes. This is a fearful balance OF power, and
subjects the lottiest positions OF the government
to the domination OF the negro. 1t is the design
of the Radical leaders to WELD 1t In the coming
contest Who can look upon this portentous
issue without the saddest tOrebodlngS! Are
these vast powers safe in the hands OF this widely
alien and unclvillzed race? l speak not with
the prejudice of caste. All the works OF Deity
find sympathy with me- [ would tighten the
burden of the oppressed, and help forward the