Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-09-12
RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1867.
shall The Negroes Rule the south'

MAIL INV
President johnson and Henry A.
Wise, the latter Of which has recently
delivered q powerful speech at Rich
mond against universal suffrage and
equal rights before the law, appear TO be
equally troubled with the fear OF black
domination in the Southern States
They think they s,e in tie operations OF
the military :, .'reunc,ion bill 8 posi-
bic elevation OF Ihe cglo to the ruler
ship of the section in which he has
heretofore b en- n common CT attel and
slave, and In the lie 'peIatloa OF this
dread Wise declares that This is
white mans government" while Andy
falls back upon his iavorite citation,
"the old Constitution and the flag with
thirty-six stars"
PERHAPS this is not altogether without
foundation. If the blacks do not in fu-
ture rule the South, the bestowal upon
them of the electral franchise must GER
tainly allow them to WELD the balance
of power in that section, and should
they, having the power in their hands to
do so, prove selfish and select from their
own numbers to fill numerous Offices,
they will in so doing, but show that in
this respect at least they are Ike unto
white men, and will do nothing but
what Wise and Johnson have done be-
fore, to their own disgrace and the detri-
ment Of the nation.
How far the political revolution which
has raised the black man to the stand
ard Of equality with his white neighbor
shall progress, we are at present unable
70 say, as it depends entirely upon the
unreconstructed States themselves, and
Judging from their past actions, it would
be impossible to predict their course in
future.
WAen the North, in defense Of the
old Constitution and the flag with thirty
six stars" entered upon the stage Of
war, it was with no intention Of even
abolishing slavery; a reconstruction OF
the Union with that institution perpet-
uated would have been satisfactory to
the party which sustained the Govern
ment. But the Sonth, by desperate
and prolonged resistance, made emanci-
patton necessity. Even after Lee had
surrendered restoration might have been
accomplished without the enfranchise-
ment Of the blacks, but the obstinaCy Of
the South to return to their allegiance,
caused by listening to the unholy advice
of such leaders as Wise and johnson,
rendered necessary the passage Of the
civil rights law, and their resistance to
that dictated the passage Of the military
reconstruction bill. Hence it is that
every step taken by Congress in the d.
rection most deprecated by Southern
whites, has been forced upon Themselves
by their own folly and blind adherence
to ambitious leaders.
That Congress will retrace its steps
this people must not expect, and if those
who are accountable for treason and re-
bellion shall continue obdurate and I'M
convinced, they alone will be response
BILE, and upon their own heads must fall
the consequences. Therefore, if they dc
not desire negro domination at thC
South, let them show willingness tt
return to their allegiance to the Govern
ment and be restored to their origina
prestige beneath the folds OF its flag, il
which case, as they outnumber the ne
groes, their can be no fear Of that clas
exercising anything more than just an(
lawful voice in the government o. tn
States which they inhabit.