The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-27
Arming the South.


In the discussion in the House Of Represen-
tatives on Thursday last, ON the question of
bringing to an end this session of Congress,
Mr.. Stokes (radicaD, of Tennessee, earnestly
pleaded against an adjournment until the new
authorities of the reconstructed States shall
have been provided each with a certain quota
OF arms proposed for their defense against the
Ku-Klux- Klans and the unreconstructed Rebels
generally. Said Mr.. Stokes:-'My people are
expecting every moment that Forrest (Forrest,
we believe, is at Long Branch) and his Rebel
Democratic crew will commence making war
upon them. This is a matter of life and death
to us. | am satisfied of the fact that we will
need these arms at the South at very early
day. The war Cry has gone forth; the rebels
say they will rule the country or exterminate
the Union coloTed men, and, for one, | am dis
posed to meet them" Mr. Washburne of
illinois, was afraid of this thing-afraid that
the arms which might be Sent down to the
toyal negroes would be seized by the rebels.
Mr.. Boyden, of North Carolina Gone of the
new members from the SOuth), was alarmed
at this proposition to send arms to his people
to be used against each other. "Great God ~
he exclaimed, "we cannot afford to fight each
other. Keep away your arms. Do nothing
to irritate our people, but everything to
assuage and heal the excitement. | warn the
House if arms are sent there we shall be
Iuined-we cannot live there. If we need
anything in the shape of arms, in Gods name
send US the army of the United States; but do
not arm neighbor against neighbor." This
has the ring of good sense and honest convic-
tion. But another Republican member from
North Carolina Mr.. Deweese, was not
of this way of thinking. Said he-
'Some provision should be made for the gov
ernments of the new States and for the pro-
lection of their loyal people, otherwise the
Rebellion will be reestablished. If Congress
H. nf six
last traces of republican governments in the
South will have ceased to exist, and the Ku-
Klux Klan the Rebel, the slaveholding, Cop
perhead Democratic party will be ruling there
as they ruled in 1865" Further, as the skir-
mishing debate went on, Mr.. Deweese de-
claIed:-"Under the rule of the Democratic
party from 1861 to 1868, every musket, shot
gun, and horse-pistol was taken out of the
hands of loyal men and put into the hands of
Southern sympathiZers." But with his fear
less war cry of "Come on come on /" Mr..
Deweese, arms or no arms, signiied that he
was ready for the fray.
From this debate it is evident that the Re-
construction syste m OF Congress has not with
their restoration secured peace in the States
concerned, that they are in danger of violent
clashing of the two races on the withdrawal of
the United States troops, and that the State
authorities recognized by Congress ia those re-
constructed States feel that there is no safety
for them if left to shift for themselves.
Where lies the dificulty2 1t is to be found
in this Congressional experiment of South
ern universal negro suffrage and Rebel white
Acknowledgement And where lies the remedy
1t may be found in that new amendment
of the Constitution, known as article fourteen,
restoring to each of the States, South as we'll
as North, all alike, the right to regulate
suffrage to suit themselves. Meantime the
duty of preserving peace in the States re-
stored devolves, next to the local authorities,
upon the President and upon Congress. The
members OF the two Houses want to get off
home, but they cannot trust the President
after his late vetoes and proclamations, and
they have no time to impeach him, and they
are afraid to try this proposed experiment of
distributing arms to these State governments.
So the two houses have resolved upon recess
till September, and then, if they can find
nothing better to do, we may expect to hear
something more on another Impeachment OF
Andrew Johnson. The Presidential campaign
is very stupid and fat just now, but We shall
doubtless have excitement enough before the
Sd of November.