Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-04
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
81 We Have No Gag

FELLOW CITIZENS After all you have heard
TODAY had supposed you would want nothing
more, The programme opened anu cohGl"uoo
with prayer. Those who have waited ninst Coaie
in at the close; but my friends, we stlll have a
place in the hearts of the people. When you come
to Pennsylvania will let everybody speak, we
want to hear. Thanks to Almighty Coo iOr LIS us
preservation and care of the country, we nave no
gag. We have no programmes for TINS purpose
Governor Gedrg at Anttetdnt
"Wehave no gag? If there has been one
characteristic of Radical legislation more
nrominent than all others, it is the gag 1t
has placed upon the Southern people since
the war. Fettered by oaths, burdened by
taxes, shackled by bureaux, muzzled by
the seizure of political rights and trammel-
ed by threats of the contiscatlon OF 'hoSe
of property, their most sacred laws aofo9a-
ted the court martial substituted for the
trial by jury, their governments converted
into military despotisms, presents 10 the
world at once the most wicked and the
most powerful gag ever placed upon free
people.
Unon the defeat of the Confederate cause
on5 the surrender of it's forces, so sudden
" and peacefully we're armed soldiers con-
yertad into industrious citizens 1t seemed
asst
ssFscb warrior VANISHED where he stood"
and conscious of their own integrity IN SUB
scribino to the oath of allegiance, they sus-
nected not the duplicity of the government
In repealing and annuling their ordinances
Of secession, in repudiating their debts IN
freeing the slave and conferrlng upon Ill"
civil rights ample for his protectlon' as con.
siderations precedent to the restoration u
tbe Union. they knew not that these con-
cessions merely encouraged the forging Oh
vet stronger chains and the application Oh
more stringent gags. And there can be no
stronger evidence of the utter wreck OF the
political rights of the Southern people un-
der the influence of the Government gag
than is shown in the character and calore
of the leaders who now aspire to I'LL the
places of honor and trust IN our mloSV'
eve have no gag, indeed
eve have no programmes for this pnf-
pose"? Immediately after the cessation OF
bostiIties the South, hercitizens impoverlsh'
cd her lands laid waste, her cities sacked OF
DESTROYED, her homesteads III ashes, Wlthou
money and without friends, with giant
strength rose up from the ruins and conse
Grated herself to the labor OF rebuildlns
her lost fortunes. In the face OF defeat
rorord1ess of sectional hate and partlza1
legislation. our people devoted themselFe
To the work before them with zeal no les
commendable than wonderful. CramPe'
for the want of means, adverse Legislator
and threats of confiscation locked the treas
urv of the world from our reach In nee'
of population to cultivate the untitled SOL
the uncertainty of titles and OF laws nav
made the teeming millions of the Old Worl
shun our shores.
The same causes have cast their darke1
ino shadows over most of the enterprise
in the South in which our OWL people nav
been bold enough to engage. Under III
malignant influences of the gloomy aspe1
of affairs, the feverish condition OF
political questions, the threats OF conhsc;
ton even in our own State, the prospe'
of continued and increased dlstranchls'
ment. the dangers of national trouble an
financial ruin-the gags in the Radlc'
programme-many of the most promlsln
efforts of Southern industry and enterprlz
have persisted or are eking out prohtle'
existence. while their paralyzing arms al
stretching northWard and westward, ertal
ing uneasiness and loss in many depar
ments of business. But few in this sectlo
have the strength or courage to DAFT
against the malignity of party gags, an
the South with its vast resources undeVe
oped. its rich soil uncultivated, its INTEL
gence and refinement debased, and Its
norance and grossness exalted. is left
the tender mercies of improvident negro
and reckless adventures. We have
programmes for this purpose" indeed
GIVE have no gags on our programmes
The South, struggling manfully III II
adversely, her system of labor changed al
demoralized, the ightnings bearing oV
the wires, the threats Of "mlld conhst
lion" from the seat of government, t
country flooded with Radical preach'
and speakers, more destructive TO
prosperity than would be the locusts
Egypt, her starving poor exciting the sy
pathy and charity of the whole civiliz
world, will pay into the Federal Treasr
by means of the Congressional ta1-g
through Northern tax-gatherers, IN orr
to protect Northern bondholders a
Northern manufacturers, toCe1dy.tre n
lions of dollars upon the article of coil
alone, wrung from her impoverished viii
and penniless blacks. With no rep
sentatiop, without voice IN the
eminent, with terms of reunion otfe
destructive to our interests and degrad
to our honor, and with no choice but
the expense of our property, it may be
our lives, our fates in the hands of tn
who have no interest in our section, {
our very servants and laborers weaned
sympathy and feeling from US, our prot
is as unavailing as our condition is un
viable 1--WE have no gag on Our I