The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-22
RADICAL AGITATION.

friends
RADICAL AGITATION.
The order which we published yesterday
from General SwAyNE, putting Mobile under
martini law--for that is its practical Effects
of special interest to the South in view Of the
prospect which the following appeal from the
National Union Committee opens before us:
The National Union Committee appeals to the
Republicans OF every State for thoir assistance
and cooperation in this auspicious Crisis OF our
country.
We deem it of the highest importance that the
Republicans Of each State should mmedately 1eSL re-
organize for remaining election of 1857, prepar
atoIy to the coming Presidential contest Espe-
cially should this organization be immediately ef-
| fected in those States which have mover before
recognized as the only just basis OF government
the. equal and inalienable rights Of man. Not
jay should be lost in forming and Strengthening
within those States public sentiment in oonso;
nance with the principles which undsrlie the great
political organization to which We belong.
To this end, we desire to prosecute systematic
and thorough canvass Of the Southern States, by
the most efficient speakers of both races: .Te
would second their efforts by distribution of doc
msnts enforcing the principles RGoy and snaGs aims
locality where it is possible meetings for discus
sion where those who are with us in prinoipie may
learn to act with unity and energy. These meas
nres arc required 70 bring out the vote OF snat ina
der the Southern States battlefield Of principle
Il ia the pressing need OF the hour that bold, jul
dicious and able men, thoroughly imbued with our
creed, should there explain our principles, estab-
lish or faithfulness to them, and prove that ma
fional greatness and human freedom depend upon
the permanent triumph Of our cause.
If this appeal is responded to, we may ex-
pect to lave the country covered with itiaerant
orators, exercising the right which the Evening
Post claims for Judge KELLY, ""to use the bit
terest language he can command" The labor
Of the country is to be interrupted, the pas
sions Of the country to be excited, and when
the inevitable result comes as it did in the riot
at Mobile, Gen. SwAYNEs order furnishes the
remedy. A military officer will IA ssume the
maintenance of public order" the administra-
ton of the local authorities will be'suspended;
public meeting after night will be forbidden,
and severe responsibility will be attached
to the exercise offree thought and free speech
Whether Judge KELLY's visit to Mobile and
its consequences, have produced such state Of
feeling as to render this interference Of Tie mill
tary authority necessary, whether a disturb
ance originating in IN accident, has been .e1-
aggerated by the condition of the public tenn
per, or whether the Radical policy requires
another "New Orleans Massacre" as an incen-
tive to renewed popular agitation, we do not
know.
Upon the special case we do not feel called
upon to express an opinion, certainly not until
all the facts are before US. But whatever may
be its character, it is perfectly plain that moth
ing but evil can come from this proposed agita-
tion. ,a5 -.
The educated and intelligent portion of the
colored voters of the South have now ample
means of political information. In all the
towns and villages they havo organizations to
form and direct public opinion among them
selves, and there has not been anywhere the
slightest attempt to interfere with their public
meetings or to silence their orators. There is
the freest field for the exercise of whatever le-
gitimate influence they possess. But an organ
lied effort to gather the great mass of the labor
Of the South in political meetings to be har-
angued by hired speakers who, as general rule,
have neither discretion nor temper, but who,
US q general rule, do havo that ready and reck-
less cleverness which is the Characteristic Of
American stump oratory, can only produce
control the character of the topics upon which
they are to be addressed, and to govern the
great mass of the voters they must be governed
through their feelings Even in SO sacred
subject as religion, those who teach them have
to adapt their teaching to their emotional ma
lures, and we all know what the wild excite
ment of negro camp-meeting is. Not one OF
the signers of this appeal but must know that
to such audiences it would be impossible to
explain the political questions before us. The
only appeal must be, as it has been wherever
the experiment is tried, to the black mans
gratitude for his freedom due to the Republic
can party Then of course comes the contrast
with slavery and the denunciation Of those who
formerly supported ''this cursed institution
These topics are so obvious, their mischievous
treatment so easy and SO successful, that the
temptation is irresistible to the great majority
of the second-rate orators who will be hired
for the campaign.
In his speech at Richmond, Mr. GREELEY,
whose name is signed to this appeal, called
upon those who heard him to forget that they
were black or whitehall they had been mas
tiers or slaves-to remember only that they
were citizens of Virginia, bound to her fortune
and identified with her interests
Now, does Mr.. GREELEY think honestly that
this crusade Of passionate partizan speakers,
whom he is about to scatter over the whole
South, will help forward his mission of peace
Of course it is out of our power to prevent
this agitation if it is forced on US, but when
Judge KELLEY proclaims that he speaks with
the 18th regiment at his back, with the army
of the United States to support him, and when
the Tribune says:
And now Messrs. Military Commandants at the
South q word with you Military rule is open to
grave objection; but it has one good quality-it
makes short work with rioters and mobs. viii you
comprehend that you are in power expressly to
preclude such doings as those at Mobile and Gal
weston, and secure to every one the right to meet
and speak freelyP We don't ask you to silence our
adversaries-we insist that you shall guarantee
them the utmost liberty of speech and action-and
We demand the same, and no more, for our own
eide. II any Of you don't know how to stop such
doings as those at Mobile and Galveston he should
promptly resign and let some one take hold who
has more capacity or moro pluck. Tho people are
paying heavily for the maintenance of order, and
they have right to the article they bargain for.
If you emit supply it, please oblise them by get
ting out OF the way
1t seems to us that the Military Commanders
may safely act on an old and sure proverb,