The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-10-29

sire peace, which gives them hOpes,
and secures the good order of society
Despair ever makes disorder Anoth-
er great object and end was 10 lift up
the African, as far AMI as fast as could
be wisely done. Humanity dictated
this; the interests Of the white pcpula-
ton of the South demanded IL. As the
two races were TO live upon the same
soil, their common interests called for
harmony Of purpose and of feelings
Under this state Of facts, wise men
would seek the aid Of the most intelli-
gent and influential men of that sec
tion of the country, taking care to
guard against any influences springing
from their prejudicos.
Have these obvious truths been re-
garded by the men in ower2 Has not
reconstruction failed because they dis
regarded them2 The first step toward
restoring order and producing harmo-
ny between the races was in all ways TO
minister 10 the prosperity Of that sec
ton which prosperity would be shared
alike by the white man and the negro.
The industry of the South should be
made profitable. Unless the employ or
made a profit on his cotton he could
not ay the laborer. Falling to do this
disaster brought not only poverty, but
confusion ana discomfort
True statesmanship would have
stretched out a helping hand; but
what was the first act of the men in
power2 1t was to put q monstrous ex-
port tax Of six cents pound upon the
cotton raised by the labor of the negro
upon the plantation of the white,
struggling with the evils OF poverty,
With the difficulties of their new posi-.
tions and relationships. The FIRST fee.
BILE efforts Of their people to gain the
means of livelihood were blasted by an
unwise, selfish and vindictive act.
say unwise, because il has much to do
with the failure of the Republicans to
restore order at the South. Tho negro
exasperated by the failure Of his ruined
employer, became hostile TO him the
employer, losing the little credit he
had before in the Norrh, renewed hi,
efforts under still greater difficulties
than before. say 1t was a selfish act
because il was done in the interest Of
the Eastern manufacturer, already
wealthy from the fruits of the war.
Protec cd by the enormous tariff
this tax Of six cents q pound upon all
cotton exported, was simply imposed
80 that he might buy it for price siN
cents less than it was worth in the
markets Of the world. say it was 4
vindietive act, for if you will read tho
debates in Congress when this tax wal
levied, TO cover the selfish interests
that prompted it, you will find that il
was urged upon members from the
W estein States who voted against the
interests of their constituents, upon tn,
ground that it was to DO imposed upor
the South as a penalty and thus ",
find the black and white men OF the
South were alike stripped Of the mar
ket value Of their staple product under
circumstances Of such gieat difficulty
that they were hindered and not help
cd on the road TO rrosE Gritty by mon in
power.
Imight 90 on and show how, in ad
dition TO this wrong, they were tramp
led upon by military despotIsm; how
they were placed under the unTestrain
ed power ofvagrant men, who gainco
wealth and official positions by mimic
toring to the passions Of the public, and
keeping alive disorder. These men
who now, in the Senate of tho United
States, without constituents, vote
down the Senators of New York, Penn
sylvRnia, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana
gained their power over the South ano
over us because they ministered to
passion in tho North aud stirred NJ
disorder in the South. No fair,mindeO
thoughtful Republican will calmly si
down and look over this action, and
not feel that the policy Of his party
has been unwise and huItiul.
During the progress of the war an
other national difficulty grew up
which excited alarm in the minds o
all thoughtful men. 1t was found, a
our debt relied up its great volume
that the government bonds were takeI
iD the Northern Atlantic States, anC
our Union was thus dissolved into
eel tor or creditor States. THIS is
perilous relationship. 1t could no
we'll be avoided, but tho evil Nigh
have been mitigated if there had becl
q wise aud economical Administration
which should have kept down tho vol
ume of indebtedness
But the men in power saw fit TO d.
another thing, They drove out Of eS
istence, by heavy taxation, the cur
rency Of all State banks. They the
grasped tho exclusive power Of issuin
I paper money they gave TO the holder
Of Government bonds the privilege G
issuing bank bills under what is know
as National banking system. Thi
was privilege of enormous value.
will not stop uow 10 discuss the wisdor
of that system. AS Governor of thi
State vetoed a law authorizing ou
banks TO organize under that system
because ! saw as far back as 1868 tha
it imperilled the future harmony of ou
| Union. The point to which | wish I
call your attention is the unwise an
unjust manner in which this great priv
ilege was distributed. Wise men woul
look to see how it could be given ou
so as to minister to the general pro
perity Of our country, but, regardles
Of all this, general monopoly was siV
en- TO the first comors. They wer
mainly from the old and rich State
which had been enabled to take up til
Government bonds.
Thus, not only our debt, but ou
currency WAS sectionalized While tn
State OF Massachusetts,, with about
100000 inhabitants, has about S57, ,00C
900 ofthis currency, the State Of III
nois, with about twice that population
has less than SIC, 100000, In the Stat
Of Rhode Island they have about fort
dollars to each inhabitant, while in /
linois, Michigan, Wisconsin and othC
Northern States, they have only abor
eight dollars. Ifso much currency
good for Massachusetts,, why is it not
a 4.