Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-11-28
WOODSTOCK

i F
race makes answer: "Not the lustful, as
piring heart of man none but the merci-
full Jehovah" And I pray Him tonight
to avert the dark calamities now impend-
ing over us and still more, if it be His
viii that they shall burst upon US, pray
Him to renew within us the hearts Of cur
ancestors whom il the cause of free gov
eminent they followed Washington at Long
Island, Trenton, Monmouth, and York
town. But there is another frightful as
pect Of this Congressional policy yet to
consider. I approach itas the great ques-
ton of the present age. I have shown
you the abandonment by the radical par
ty Of all it's declared policy during the war.
| have shown yoa the adoption Of a pres
ent policy which carries back the govern
ment of ten States six hundred years, to a
period prior to Magma Cbarta or any
known principle of free governmental
destroying the American Republic in i'm
mcnse 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 dis
cuss the motive which has inspired the
conduct Of the party in power since the
coming peace, and caused it to commit
deeds Of lawless despotisIn and open shame.
By the act of reconstruction the entire
black population of the South has been en-
franchised andinvested with the power Of
political control Nearly the entire white
population of the South has been disfran-
chised and deprived of any voice in con-
trolling the present or shaping the future
Thus, about six hundred thousand negro
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 re-
construction, and It was doubtless chiefly
designed in the beginning as a gigantic
partisan scheme to ensure future party tri-
umphs; but it has rapidly arisen far be-
yond such ordinary dimensions, and now
confronts Us question CT national wealth,
civilization, and social philosophy. The
recent registration and elections in the
South establish, in the face OF the world,
the appalling fact, that 2ronl the waters Of
| the Chesapeake to 6he mouth of the Bra
zos frorn the tide-waters of Virginia 70
the far distant plains Of Texas, the negro
holds dominion. and is upheld in the do
minion by the Federal army. Where the
white race outnumbered tho black in the
registration, as in Virginia and Georgia,
fraudulent apportionment of the basis Of
representation changes the majority, and
the barbarian race, in all its repulsiye an
imal force, rises predominant, and salutes
the Norte as the undisputed governing ell
ennent of the rick and inviting regions Of
all the South The ancient Common
wealth, the mother of the peerless Wash
iagton, Of philosophic Jefferson, Of Madi~
son, Marshall and Patrick Henry, is nov
given over to the African, AID her future
fortunes are wholly in his hands The
Carolinas bow to the same yoke, and beau
tiful Alabama and Louisiana, with New
Orleans, the natural commercial capital of
the Misaias;ppi valley, and all the rest are
to have tae:r 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 in
stinctive separation which God has i'm
| planted in different races for their purity
and preservation is already at work. The
races are arrayed against each other
throughout the earth. Each one, as is
natural, votes for its own color; and the
negroes are forming vigilance committees
to enforce an obedience to their opinions
aud submission to their views. AS ineyi-
tably as that harvest follows seed time, SO
inevitably will the negroes fill the olnees
in these unhappy States. They are nov
engaged in framing their new coRstitu-
tions, 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 MESA
ges to negro Legislatures, and together
they will assert supreme control over in
:erests more vast than those of manv of
the leading nations of the werld Recent
plantation slaves will take their seats as
members of Congress, and in committee,
and on the floor, give deciding votes on
the vital questions of finance, commerce,
and national progress. Mr.. Summer,
few months ago, in open Senate, said he
hoped soon to welcome negro Senators as
his associates in legislating for the country.
Well might he anticipate such an event.
No power can prevent i. under the pres
ent organization Of the South. Soon the
negro will fill the Senatorial seats onoe
adorned by Webster and Silas Wright, by
Clay anl Woodbury.. There is no escape
from this loathsome conclusion of the
scheme Of reconstruction These are its
certain and speedy results. Are the peo-
pie of New York ready for them? The
black vote Of the South will elect twenty
Senators An equal or superior, vote in
the State of New York elect two. Are
your interests safe under such Legislative
inhuenoesf It will send more than City
members to the lower House. You send
thirty three. Thus the southern negro
will possess more than twice the power
which you yourselves possess over your own
public affairs. Shall he also dictate the
electiod of President He holds nearly