The Van Buren press., 1868-02-07
White Man 8 Club, Van Buren, Township

Mr. EDrToR: The political issues of the
day, however numerous they may seem, are
in fact reduced to one, to-wit: Shall white
men or negroes control in public affairs?
Doubtless, there are many good men who do
not think that this question is really the one
involved; many have not interested them
selves sufficiently to know what legislation is
being fastened upon u.s. and others there are
who thoughtlcssly encourage all that is being
done because, in many respects, it seems level
ed against those whom they are pleased to
call rebels. 1t is time for the former to awaken
and. for the latter TO consider whether they
themselves will not be engulphed in the CON-
mon ruin that must overtake our country un-
less wild and proscriptiye legislation is cheek
ed. We wish every voter in Crawford to be
well posted in regard to the one. vital i;sue
now presented; and, as the speech of GEAN-
VILE WILCOX, Esq, before the white Mans
Club of Van Buren Township on Saturday
last, was replcte with calm, dispass)nate
truths, it may confer a favor upon maly Of
your readers to have brief review of hts ar
gumcnt appear in your columns. This main
issue, involved in political movement" ne said
"waS too often disguised by minor and uniin-
portant ones, put forward for mere party pur-
poses and to secure party success; but in the
present contest fortunately for us, the issue
was so cminently important that it could not
be disguised. but stood forth in all its hileous-
ness. Negro suffrage and equality was the
issue and the white men of the South must
mcctand grapplc with it; hence how appro-
pirate the name adopted for the clubs now be-
ing organized throughout the country. The
White Mans Club was based upon the assum-
ed superiority of the AIglo Saxon race, and
its members were all expected to oppose the
degradation of the white man to the level with
the negro. The Radical party, since the close
of the war mad broken the National faith, de-
tuted the supreme Court and all other depart
mcuts of Government, and finally had fasten-
ed its poisonous fangs upon the helpless South
by means of the Military bills. BY these they
would not only deny rights to the living, but
would even rob us if possible, of our respect
for the dead. Over the grave of Sydney john
son no unpretending shaft may be raised but
for him anH'ior the noble, though humble
deed who could forbid the silent tear? The
Radical party assert that war has decided
estates Rights" to be " a damnable hcreresy. :,
But, in fact, war never did and never can de-
eide right, if so, then We must admit that the
blessed doctrine Of the child God of Bethlehem
has. time and again, been determined 10 be 4
hcrrsy; it was 50 decided against the IIugue-
nots and even against the Puritans them
selves,
such doctrine was the offspring of tyranny
and misrulc, and upon it no Republic could
stand. 1t was proposed 10y these bills to give
Us Constitutions Republican in FORM How
could such thing bc2 was it rcpuhlicanism
to force upon US doctrines and laws which in
our hearts we loathe2 Was not rcpublicanism,
rather, born of the free choice of the people
uninluenced by aught, save the concentrated
rays of the sun of civilization, shining for CEN
turies on mind and heart, But granting that
Republican Governments In form would re.
suit from these measures what price does this
party demand. Had amy one stood before YOU.
ten years ago. and plead with you not 10 al
low your State Governments to be surrender.
ed to the negro, he would have been greeted
with Kisses and his predictions spuncd with
contempt. Yet such, to-day was the issue.
the price demanded for these pretended Gov
cnmcnts, Republican in FORM, was the sur
render Of the state Governments TO the negro
were white men willing to submit their dear
c.trights of life, Of liberty and of property TO
the pleasure of negro jury2 Were they
willing TO see their civil offices filed by ne
grocs? Such he submitted would be the in
eyitablc result, il the pnty in power succeed
ed in carrying ont their present plans and II
we joined in these measures, by adopting this
Constitution. We not only abdicatcd state
sovereignty. but opened the way for Congress
to change all our laws relating to property,
to marriage, to everything They would, In
short. levy and collect our taxes, wholly