Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-06
Democratic Address of the West Virginia
Convention

Democratic Address of the West Virginia
Convention
To the People Of West Virginia.,
We invite your attention to review OF
the general political situation, its evils
and their remedy. Since 1861 the harmony
of this nation has been sadly disturbed. =
For four years of the intervening time, the
interruption of peaceful relations was due
to state of war. The practical disunion
existing since 1865 is reterable to course
of Congressional action, wicked in motive,
illegal in character, and ruinous in result.
While the war for the Union was in pro-
gress, its successful issue was anticipated
as the guaranty OF prompt reunion and
permanent peace. Such contamination
was the aim of patriotic efforts in the field,
the object of solemn pledges in the halls OF
Congress, and the confident expectation OF
the masses of the people. The war has
long since ended. The rebellion has long
since been crushed. Every obstacle placed
by Southern movement in the way of the
nations unity has long since been removed.
Nevertheless, disappointment waits upon
the peoples wish. The pledges Of Congress
have been repudiated. The triumphs of
our armies have been neutraljzed, and the
purposes of the brave men who secured
u. ~
dissolution more disastrous than that now
existing between the Southern States and
the Federal Government could scarcely
have been brought about by the success of
the rebellion. A condition Of affairs SO
much at variance with the wishes and in
terest of the people Of our entire country
demands reference to the acts and aim
of those who producedit.
| CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION.
For more than two years the Southern
States have desired to renew their old rela-
tons to the Government Congress has
constantly prevented that resumption
| They are entitled to be restored upon the
basis of the Federal Constitution. Congress
has confessedly thrown aside that instru-
ment, and obstructed restoration with
terms and conditions of it's own prescrib-
ing. Affecting to desire the perpetuity of
the Republic, it has made deadly assault
upon republican institutions. Processing
to aim at the salvation of the Union. it has
wrought the destruction of ten CT the States.
The right OF each State to regulate it's own
internal affairs, enfranchise its own voters.
and choose its own rulers and lawmakers,
is as sacred as our Constitution, and as in
destructible as our Government Without
it republican liberty is worthless, for when
the people cease to be free citizens of the
States they become the subjects of unlmi-
ted and irresponsible Federal power When
Congress abolished the local government
of the South, 1t violated q vital princi pie in
our system. When it erected military es-
Establishments in their stead, it introduced
the most abominable features of despotism.
In further pursuance of its purpose. Con
gress has thrown the political power of the
South into negro hands. To assure this re-
suit it has DISTINGUISHED tho white popula-
ton by hundreds of thousands. Enfranchi-
sing the blacks, it has made voters Of the
ignorant, vicious, and the brutal legisi.-
tors of those who regard liberty as license,
and law as the Instrument Of revenge; and
rulers of a class whose ideas OF government,
like their notions of religion, tend directly
and inevitably to barbarism,
MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND IT'S RESULTS.
Having given tue negro the right to vote
and the power to rule, Congress confesses
his incompetency for either by insisting
that the hayonet of the soldier the dis
reimbursement of the citizen, and the SUI
pervisiOn Of the Erecdme0's Bureau are
necessary to sustain him in his new rela-
tons. By such declarations the dominant
party would Justify the continuance of mil
itary despotism erected within tho South
%.
ty, let us examine its results 1t found
civil governments in successful operation
it abolished those governments, and made
the will of brlgadier generals supreme for
all purposes, Southern elections are Or
dered, supervised and approved or set aside
by district commanders. Southern justice
is what the bayonet may provide. South
ern law is what the sword may decree.-l
Southern peace is the patient submission
of a conquered people, a peace Threatened
10y impending negro instructions. which !
white scditiOnists are melting, and liable
at any moment to disappear before the
terrible tumult of social anarchy. The
military governments found business re- |
yiving, and enter prise struggling to repair
the ravages of the war. They abolished
labor. and offered army rations as a pre-
MUM on negro idleness. The country
ceased to produce, and trade and commerce
with other sections persisted Capital left
a land which promised soon to be given !
over to confscatioD. General poverty fol !
lowed the encouraged Incidence of the !
laboriDg classes. Actual and almost uni !
versal restitution exists among the people; |
the unhappy victims of Congressional
cruelty must become pensioners upon ma |
tional charity or perish from starvation.-
Hordes of thriftless and Discontinued ne
groes, passionate almost to brutality, in
duced to vice by idleness, melted to yio-
lence by evil counsellors. fed and pam
pered at the public cost, with great army
for their protection, roam at will through
out the land upon a mission of evil, carry !
ing dismay to the hearts Of helplessness
and innocence, and shocking civilization
with the worst of nameless crimes. Such
is the condition of the South. A military
despotism is over her people. The hand
of lawless violence threatens them. Desc
lation reigns on every hand. About them
are the graves of their countless dead. The
past is strewn with the wreck of their great
ness. Present suffering surrounds them.
Their future is thick with peril and dark
with gathering misfortune. The foes of
the nation are at her feet. Broken in spir-
it. stripped of fortune, wasted, ragged,
wretched and ruined, their situation in
voked the magnanimity of kindred man
hood and appeals to the generous mercy OF
a noble enemy.
DISTRESS AT THE SOUTH PRODUCES PROSTRA-
TION AT THE NORTH.
a., 60 >,oct1,1