The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-01


Congress and the five military dictators recon-
struction 1t should be called destruction.
That is the proper word. The so-called recon-
struction acts Of Congress are fast destroying
that fairest portion Of our country, and unless
thorough change be made in the policy Of
the government the South will be destroyed
more completely than San Domingo or Jamaica
was by similar radical legislation But that is
not ALL fearful as such state of things must
be. The North, the loyal States, will also
suffer. Our liberties will be endangered by
maintaining military government over SO
large portion Of the republic, and military
government will become a chronic necessity
under the policy pursued by the radicals. We
shall lose the valuable productions and trade
Of the South The expenses of the government
will be enormous and the public debt will be-
come burdensome beyond endurance.
Let us look at the present condition of the
Southern States. The negroes in nearly all Of
them, If not in all, have the political power in
their hands; and though they are too ignorant
to use it Cat least for any good), it will be used
under the direction Of white demagogues and
political knaves for evil The greater part OF
the intelligent white people are excluded from
the exercise OF political privileges But few
of those to whom these privileges are allowed
are capable of making laws The highest
legislative ability is required in framing or
ganic laws; yet we see the forming OF new
State constitutions committed to q mass OF
poor, ignorant negroes, who hardly know their
right hand from their left, and to the lowest
and least cultivated portion Of the whites.
Even the few intelligent whites who are per-
mitted to vote take no part in political mat
tiers, because they see they would be powerless
to do any good. II, therefore, sufficient num-
Der Of votes can be obtained under the pro-
visions Of the reconstruction acts of Congress
State constitutions, these new governments will
be made by the ignorance and not the intelli-
gence Of the South. It seems, however, look
ing at the vote In Louisiana, that the negroes
have not sense enough to know what voting
means or what they are voting for. With all
the radical machinery put to work, with
all the speeches Of radical emissaries and with
all the promises of coniscation and power, it
is doubtful whether the mass Of these poor
creatures know yet where they stand or what
to do. It would be strange indeed il these
millions Of benighted blacks, who were slaves
a year or two ago, did know anything about
using the elective franchise or making gov
eminent The radicals may say that the
negroes not voting, as in Louisiana, arises
from apathy; but 1t Is evident that utter
ignorance OF what to do is its real cause.
But suppose q sufficient number Of votes
should be given--that Is, the majority Of those
registered, for holding conventions, the negroes
would have the political power. Would Con-
gress approve OF State constitutions formed
thus and admit the States to representation
under these circumstances ID Congress pre-
pared to admit negro supremacy in the South,
negro conventions, negro representatives to
Washington, negro balance Of power in the
republic, and, may be. negroes to hold the
highest offices In the government? Yet such
would be the consequences of reconstruct
ing the South under the present acts Of
Congress and the military dictators. We hardly
think this radical Congress is radical enough
for such revolution. Certainly the people
Of the North are not prepared for it. Reckless
as the present Congress is, 1t will hardly risk
the everlasting infamy of turning the
government Of this great republic into a
negro government Should the Southern States
be reconstructed by the benighted and de-
graded negroes, as they would be under the
present arrangement Congress would find
some excuse, probably, to still keep them out
Thus, In whatever point Of view we look at
the matter, it is clear we shall have to support
. military government over the South unless
the radicals be driven from power by the voice
Of an indignant people.
The alternative is, then, negro supremacy in
the South with negro balance of power in the
republic, II the Southern States be reconstructed
under the present radical plan, or continued
exclusion from representation in Congress
with despotic military government over
that entire section OF our country. Who can
contemplate the fearful consequences Of such
q state OF things without alarm? We should
be disgraced in the eyes Of the whole world.
republican lnstituuonS Woulo DC ueSpl6eo.
The South would become depopulated and
ruined, as San Domingo was ruined. The
white people would fly from 1t and the negroes
become depraved, idle, and die out The North
would soon lose its liberties under the use and
influence of military government over so large
portion Of the republic. Our burdens would
become unbearable and reputation would
follow. Such are some Of the evils we have
every reason to fear from radical rule. Such
will be tho inevitable results Of the so-called
reconstruction acts Of Congress unless the
people elect other and better men 10 harmonic
and save the country.
what Will Thcy Doe
What will Weed and Raymond do in regard