Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-05-23
6alIipolis ynnrnal.
GALLIPoLIs. MAY %. 1867.
Drift at the South-Reconstruc-
tiOn.


The Supreme Court of the United
States have dismissed the Georgia
and Mississippi injunction bills for
want of jurisdiction, and there now
remains no obstacle to the speedy
reconstruction of the South in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Mil
itary Bill. If reason and common
sense have net entirely departed from
the South, they viii now accept this
measure as finality, and go to work
in good faith to restore their States
to their practical relations with the
general government, upon the terms
and conditions prescribed by Con-
gress. The reliance of the South
upon President johnson having
proved vain, and the Supreme Court
having refused to interfere with the
legitimate action of Congress, it is
certainly sheer folly for the Southern
people longer to insist upon uncon-
ditional restoration to the Union,
and thus delay the work of recon
structisn. If wise, they will new
cease to war against the inexorable
logic Of events, and accept the situa-
ton in fact as well as in word.
The city Of Mobile, Alabama, was
last week the scene of disgracefal
riot. Congressman Kelley, of Penn
sylvania, attempted to address a
meeting there, but was prevented by
a mob of sx-rebels, whe had gather
ed with the premeaitated purpose of
breaking up the meeting. Finding
that Mr.. Kelley could not be put
down by groans and Kisses, these
cowardly ruffians commenced an In
discriminate fire with guns and pis-
tolls against Mr.. Kelley and his
friends upon and around the stand.
Several were killed and many wound
ed, the meeting dispersed and order
only restored by the interposition of
the military. 1t is with regret that
we record these disgraceful facts,
but it is well that the American peo-
pie should know that there are still
sections of our country, where the
right of free speech is not respected.
Before the war no Northern man
dared at the peril of his life to ex-
press his opinions openly at the
South. But we had hoped that the
results of the war had guaranteed to
every man in every nook and corner
of the land perfect freedom Of opin-
ion and of speech. And if the
South is still inclined to resort to
mob law and violence to suppress
free speech in her midst, then it is
full time that the strong arm of the
Government should be interposed
for the protection of its citizens.
There was row and some shoot
ing at a Radical Convention in
Brownsville, Tennessee, last week.
Three negroes and two whites were
shot, but nobody killed. The diff
Guilty originated in an attempt on the
part of ex-rebels and Conservatives
to break up the convention.
The Republican nominating con-
ventien held in Washington City a
few days since, preparatory to the
city election in June, was composed
of equal numbers of white and color
ed delegates, but no negro candi.
dates were nominated.
Horace Greeley and Gerritt Smith,
while at Richmond last week, ad-
dressed the negro population of that
city. Both gentlemen took strong
grounds against cenfiscation, and
favored the full enfranchisement of
rebels as constituent part of the
general idea of universal suffrage e.
Mr.. Greeley urged the colored peos
pie of the South to unite in petition
ing Congress to remove the disabili-
ties imposed upon leading rebels.
Mr.. Smith gave the negroes the fol-
lowing very good advice: "Be or
derly, law abiding; seek justice in
the Courts and at the ballot box /;
build schools and churches, and
drink no rum"
There was what the telegraph calls
"almost riot" at New OrleSRs, one
day last week, among the 81 pres.
The dispatch says only nj we're
concerned in it, but thaf Itful.
At meeting at CAV I, on
Wednesday, negro speaker w. in
terrupted by some United States sol
diers, so the dispatch says, and both
parties began shooting in Texas
style.
1t has been discovered that party
of Southern rebels, who were il
Washington after the surrender of
Lee, negotiating for their pardon.
were at the same time engaged in an
effort to induce the Emperor Napo-
leon to aid them, promising to rehew
the rebellion with vigor. Such men
deserve banging rather than pardon.
The Union National Committee
has issuedTan appeal to the Union
party throughout the country to or