The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-06-25

indeed, they transferred to their own
adopted federative form, but from a con-
viction that ideas outside of that
spirit and that purport were about to con-
troll the central government and submerge
the rights of the states, ana extra-consti-
tutionally sap the foundations of an insti-
tuition which was confessedly within their
separate control.
When the millions of southern white
people, who had been up to that time sus.
tanned by the then ever faithful and loyal
black people, grounded their arms to the
mole numerous forces Of the federal gov
ernment, it was only on the oft.renewed
promises and pledges of its congresses, its
presidents and its generals, that they--its
congresses, presidents and generals-would
be true to the dear old constitution, nor
make any absurd pretence to curtail any
of the constitutional rights Of the southern
states.
In the inception Of the most lamentable
sectional war there was very great diverg-
ence of southern opinion and feeling.
During its continuance southern feeling
almost altogether, and very greatly south
ern opinion, was cemented by the blood of
ou. heroes and patriots, and by tears and
prayers and self-sacrifces of our matrons
and maidens. Some divergence Of opinion
however still remaired. But at the ter
mination of the bloody and cruel, but
hercis drama, the south, ever chivalric,
surrendered her separate nationality, and
tho arms by which she sustained it, as
frankly and sincerely and unreserycdly as
she had welded the latter heroically
bravely and admirably.
Having by the aid of these free white
people, SO promptly and unanimously Civ
en-, secured thus much, the federal con-
gress Whose mutilations, however, self
inflicted, we all deplore) has thought
proper to usurp the province OF de6nir g
aud limiting the right of suffrage and mo-
nopolizing all the functions of the south
crn state governments, and has established
moDarchial and aristocratic forms of cov-
ernlnent therein, with the obvious object
of compelling portion of the subjugated
whites, by the pressure Of bad aud oppress
i've governments, 10 unite with the mass
of newly cmancipatcd negrocsin excluding
from judicial jury and suffrage, as we'll as
from legislative and executive duties, and
4 most numerous white class, for no other
crifninality than that ascr;bed to them o.
uniting in sympathy with the whole vas
mass Of southern white people. This nu
merous excluded class comprises, in a very
large proportion, the most honored, be
loved, refined, intelligent, just, reliable o.
the southern white race. The newly ele
vated and subs ituted class to perform
these most important and deli duties
is composed Of savage African race, de,
veloped, OF course, greatly beyond ttGi
nationalities or wild tribes OF Africa bu
Iudicrously and ridiculously incompetent
and also not suitable associates and com
panions for a refined race, in the rerform
ance of these important duties. Thi
class of people, no more, or hardl
more than the Indians of superior race
Is admitted to those duties in the mort
and west, where it has been much longe
free and partially educated The objeC
of both the inclusion and the exclusion
to brutalize and vulgarize our temples q
justice, and to prevent full expression {
the thought and sentiment, the inteiiet
and heart of the southern white race i
federal and state legislation to destro
our whole social as well as polite al fabri,
and to brand as felons the loftiest brow
and purest hearts of christendom. Sue
is the proposition, couched in that extra
ordinary production of the nineteenth Gel
tury. known as the l4th so-called ament
ment of the federal constitution, and upo
which aportion Of our white people al
in effect and substance called to vote, mi
cleaning bayonets and flashing ensign
and dusky, unconscious mobs, directed b
cunning and incendiary pale faces.
We, the white people of Russell count,
Alabama, met in council, propose to Civ
our answer, and put it on record for ou
; selves and our posterity; but as we pr,
pose not to give the verdict Of passion, "
, deem in not inappropriate to refer to som
important considerations bearing on th
subject, before we record that answer.
1t has been Insisted on by persons is,
I lated in the southern, but more numeror
In the northern states. that we should ra
ify the so-called amendment, not becau:
it was just or right, or in any way prop'